Engagement Rings (traditions, money, diamond, wife)

[wisconsin woman]

Did I ever mention that a previous marriage, my ex gave me a beautiful 2-piece ring set, the band and the engagement ring. I wore it for about 7 years before he told me it belonged to his ex......he took it back when they divorced. I really didnt have a problem with that part, but personally, would have rather picked one from a hockshop, they have very pretty sets there, and the best part, is they have the nostalgic/vintage styles I like. But, Im not doing marriage nor do I wear rings, so....
Again, personally, I dont lke 'new' stuff, my preference is old/vintage.

[McGowdog]

Originally Posted by sedie80

Bring on the shiny!

If there is one thing in my life that I absolutely love, it's my engagement ring. DH saved for 8 months to buy it, secretly, without my input. It's simple, it's perfect in size (not quite a whole carat) and to me, it's symbolic of the fact that DH knows me well enough to know that I would love this particular ring. He was even able to finagle my ring size out of me without my realizing it.

Unfortunately, the proposal was not quite as secret--he told a rather inebriated woman who was hitting on him at a bar we were at that he was going to propose to me in a couple of months, and she walked right over and congratulated me while he was buying our drinks. Imagine my surprise--finding out I was getting engaged by a random drunk stranger. LOL

Yeah, well he had to do something! It was either that or beat her off with a stick!

[beowulf7]

It's funny hearing about how a woman picks out her ring and the guy still tries to surprise her w/ it. It's hard to have both (the perfect ring and the element of surprise), but if a guy can pull it off WeeMadArthur did, all the merrier.

[charolastra00]

I don't want to exchange rings if I get married. Would rather my fiance do something productive with the money or donate it to charity than waste it on me. I would go absolutely APE**** if I was proposed to with a diamond (but I guess that would just show that my boyfriend knew nothing about me ).

In any case, sizing is a problem because my ring finger is deformed due to a childhood accident. My finger broke at the joint but somehow my parents didn't notice until after it had healed back funny (or the finger had ALWAYS been deformed and somehow no one noticed it.. it's still a mystery). So, I already have the Eastern European short, stumpy figures but my ring finger is about a size 12 due to the deformity. I don't think they ever carry women's rings in that size!

[gentlearts]

This thread reminds me of the Sex in the City where Carrie gets "the bad ring".
I may be old fashioned, but I vote for the as-perfect-as-you-can-afford 1 carat solitare.

[Mrs. H]

Originally Posted by beowulf7

It's funny hearing about how a woman picks out her ring and the guy still tries to surprise her w/ it. It's hard to have both (the perfect ring and the element of surprise), but if a guy can pull it off WeeMadArthur did, all the merrier.

I was lucky because DH pulled off a WeeMadArthur! We picked out the ring together, then he conspired my friends for a night of surprise at one of our favorite restaurants...I was in shock...especially because he was so secretive...I gave him props!

[hollygolightly]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

This thread reminds me of the Sex in the City where Carrie gets "the bad ring".
I may be old fashioned, but I vote for the as-perfect-as-you-can-afford 1 carat solitare.

LOL That was a good one, what was it pear-shaped or marquise? With yellow gold ? Anyway, I think it's nice for a man to propose with a ring, and not all guys know that much about jewelry, even if they know their fiancee inside and out. If it's important to the woman, she can always discreetly point out what she likes/dislikes. I definitely agree that a 1 carat solitaire is a classic. You can't go wrong with that. I happen to prefer princess or emerald cut in white gold or platinum. Simple and elegant.

[beowulf7]

Originally Posted by eyhossenlopp

I was lucky because DH pulled off a WeeMadArthur! We picked out the ring together, then he conspired my friends for a night of surprise at one of our favorite restaurants...I was in shock...especially because he was so secretive...I gave him props!

Wow, he did well!

Originally Posted by hollygolightly

LOL That was a good one, what was it pear-shaped or marquise? With yellow gold ? Anyway, I think it's nice for a man to propose with a ring, and not all guys know that much about jewelry, even if they know their fiancee inside and out. If it's important to the woman, she can always discreetly point out what she likes/dislikes. I definitely agree that a 1 carat solitaire is a classic. You can't go wrong with that. I happen to prefer princess or emerald cut in white gold or platinum. Simple and elegant.

The last few sentences were Greek to me.

[sedie80]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

Yeah, well he had to do something! It was either that or beat her off with a stick!

I'd have preferred the stick...
(Seriously, I wasn't mad about it, I found it funny that he'd tried so hard to be secretive, and this drunk a-hole gave it away.)

If I'd have known she was hitting on him, I'd have gone up and introduced myself. However...we were in a bar in a town where he grew up, and every time we're in there, he runs into someone he knows. I thought it was an old classmate or something.

The good part was, I knew it was coming, just didn't know when. It ended up being a surprise anyway.

[foma]

I'm a gal and voted "big waste of money" but damn I love mine! heehee