GemView
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2005
- Messages
- 218
Warning: A bit of a long story to follow.
Hi, all.
I have a two-part question for you. One is a vocabulary question regarding when a piece of jewelry is "etched" vs. "engraved". The second is a situational question.
I recently joined a ladies group and yesterday was my second visit. Out of about 10 members I know two because they are friends of mutual friends.
So here we are sitting around this table and in walks one of the members who just got back from her honeymoon (which I pick up on because people begin to exclaim "So-and-so is back from her honeymoon!"). She takes her seat catty-corner to me and we introduce ourselves. Right off, she strikes me as a very strong, outgoing and self-assured 40-something woman. She comments that I look familiar, and I mention a couple of names that it turns out she knows (though I don't recall meeting her prior to this).
I'm sitting there for a bit as people continue to arrive when a younger married gal sitting to my left, whom I had sat next to the previous week, suddenly turns her head in my direction -- which she hadn't done up to that point -- and says, "I just wanted to let you know that I was checking out your ring last week and it is absolutely stunning!" (About two weeks back we purchased a new setting for my diamond, as pictured in my avatar.) Without missing a beat, a 60-something woman across from me chimes in and says "Is that a new ring?" (How that question would come up since they never met me while wearing my old setting seems strange. Maybe because in typical PS fashion I am obsessive about keeping my jewelry clean?)
Because I am honest with others to a fault and have probably lost some perspective on how people think outside the world of PS, I reply without thinking "Oh no. The stone isn't new, just the setting." (Forgetting that a lot of people would probably interpret such an admission as materialistic or lacking in sentimentality to upgrade or alter a wedding/e-ring in any way.)
Before I can reply, another lady pipes up and says "Was that a custom design?"
Then, to my right, my casual friend, who recalls my original e-ring setting says, "I was wondering if that was a different ring!"
Of course, I can't respond to everyone's comments simultaneously -- other than a nod, smile or hasty "thank you" -- so I turn to the one person at the table who remembers my original setting and tell her a quickie version of my upgrade setting story (which you can read here). I'm talking in hushed tones at this point, but given how many of us are packed around the table it would not be surprising if others overheard.
As you can imagine, I am feeling like the center of attention by now. The problem is, I don't generally enjoy so much attention, especially from people I don't know all that well (and particularly when I don't have time to respond or acknowledge so many comments). Of course, none of these ladies know that I love jewelry but not in the status symbol sense. In fact, if I were stranded on a desert island and found a treasure trunk of jewels, I'd still love them even if there weren't a single soul to show off to. My point being, no matter what "first impressions" may be, I am not into jewelry to "prove" anything to anyone else.
Getting back to the story, not only am I growing uncomfortable in the limelight, but I feel all the attention on me is inappropriate because we have a new bride in the room who has just come back from her honeymoon and SHE should be getting some attention. So I glance at her hand and notice a beautiful platinum setting holding three diamonds with a simple, classic engraved wedding band beside it. I say to her "I love the engraving on your rings!" She smiles appreciatively but immediately corrects me and says it is not engraving but "etching".
First Question: Is engraving and etching, in terms of jewelry, one and the same thing? Finally, which term is preferred by those "in the trade"?
Being a jewelry addict I should know the correct terminology, but I can only think of the term "etching" in relation to graphic art (in which I have a background). In that context, etching involves the application of acids to create patterns and designs (printmaking plates, glass, etc.). But, of course, I say only "Oh", not knowing how else to respond. Next, I turn my attention to the far end of the table. Moments later I turn my head back at which point I catch the tail end of a remark made by a late 50ish woman sitting between the new bride and the 20-something gal to my left who paid the original compliment. And I hear: "...[but] the ring doesn't make the marriage."
Second Question: What is your take on this situation? I can't help but feel that the green-eyed monster made an appearance!
Maybe I am overreacting, but that last comment, in particular, didn't leave a good impression on me. I have had an invitation to participate elsewhere so this is by far not the only reason, but I'm now taking this recent experience under consideration as I decide whether or not to stick it out or move on. My take the previous week on the gal who paid me the compliment was that she was sizing me up according to my jewelry and my handbag. And despite her kind words about my ring this week, I can't help but feel it was a competitive vs. curious "sizing up". Yes, I carry nice handbags and wear nice jewelry but everything else about me and my wardrobe is ordinary/underwhelming -- nowhere near "couture"! Anyhow, I have until next Tuesday to make up my mind whether or not to give this particular group of ladies another shot. I guess what I'm trying to figure out is whether I should let the water flow under the bridge, or let my gut reactions/impressions be the deciding factor.
I appreciate any thoughts on either or both questions.
Hi, all.
I have a two-part question for you. One is a vocabulary question regarding when a piece of jewelry is "etched" vs. "engraved". The second is a situational question.
I recently joined a ladies group and yesterday was my second visit. Out of about 10 members I know two because they are friends of mutual friends.
So here we are sitting around this table and in walks one of the members who just got back from her honeymoon (which I pick up on because people begin to exclaim "So-and-so is back from her honeymoon!"). She takes her seat catty-corner to me and we introduce ourselves. Right off, she strikes me as a very strong, outgoing and self-assured 40-something woman. She comments that I look familiar, and I mention a couple of names that it turns out she knows (though I don't recall meeting her prior to this).
I'm sitting there for a bit as people continue to arrive when a younger married gal sitting to my left, whom I had sat next to the previous week, suddenly turns her head in my direction -- which she hadn't done up to that point -- and says, "I just wanted to let you know that I was checking out your ring last week and it is absolutely stunning!" (About two weeks back we purchased a new setting for my diamond, as pictured in my avatar.) Without missing a beat, a 60-something woman across from me chimes in and says "Is that a new ring?" (How that question would come up since they never met me while wearing my old setting seems strange. Maybe because in typical PS fashion I am obsessive about keeping my jewelry clean?)
Because I am honest with others to a fault and have probably lost some perspective on how people think outside the world of PS, I reply without thinking "Oh no. The stone isn't new, just the setting." (Forgetting that a lot of people would probably interpret such an admission as materialistic or lacking in sentimentality to upgrade or alter a wedding/e-ring in any way.)
Before I can reply, another lady pipes up and says "Was that a custom design?"
Then, to my right, my casual friend, who recalls my original e-ring setting says, "I was wondering if that was a different ring!"
Of course, I can't respond to everyone's comments simultaneously -- other than a nod, smile or hasty "thank you" -- so I turn to the one person at the table who remembers my original setting and tell her a quickie version of my upgrade setting story (which you can read here). I'm talking in hushed tones at this point, but given how many of us are packed around the table it would not be surprising if others overheard.
As you can imagine, I am feeling like the center of attention by now. The problem is, I don't generally enjoy so much attention, especially from people I don't know all that well (and particularly when I don't have time to respond or acknowledge so many comments). Of course, none of these ladies know that I love jewelry but not in the status symbol sense. In fact, if I were stranded on a desert island and found a treasure trunk of jewels, I'd still love them even if there weren't a single soul to show off to. My point being, no matter what "first impressions" may be, I am not into jewelry to "prove" anything to anyone else.
Getting back to the story, not only am I growing uncomfortable in the limelight, but I feel all the attention on me is inappropriate because we have a new bride in the room who has just come back from her honeymoon and SHE should be getting some attention. So I glance at her hand and notice a beautiful platinum setting holding three diamonds with a simple, classic engraved wedding band beside it. I say to her "I love the engraving on your rings!" She smiles appreciatively but immediately corrects me and says it is not engraving but "etching".
First Question: Is engraving and etching, in terms of jewelry, one and the same thing? Finally, which term is preferred by those "in the trade"?
Being a jewelry addict I should know the correct terminology, but I can only think of the term "etching" in relation to graphic art (in which I have a background). In that context, etching involves the application of acids to create patterns and designs (printmaking plates, glass, etc.). But, of course, I say only "Oh", not knowing how else to respond. Next, I turn my attention to the far end of the table. Moments later I turn my head back at which point I catch the tail end of a remark made by a late 50ish woman sitting between the new bride and the 20-something gal to my left who paid the original compliment. And I hear: "...[but] the ring doesn't make the marriage."
Second Question: What is your take on this situation? I can't help but feel that the green-eyed monster made an appearance!
I appreciate any thoughts on either or both questions.
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