Well, I think I've told this story a few times before here on PS (and also IRL to anyone who cares to listen, ha ha). My mother was completely *obsessed* with jewellery in general and with diamonds in particular. My dad was a diplomat when we were growing up and every time he came back from a trip overseas, he would give her a piece of jewellery, be it a diamond ring, a pair of studs, jade bangle, pearl necklaces etc. She loved them all. When I was little, she would regale us with the story of my dad giving her a 3ct (or maybe it was a 4 or 5ct, I forget) diamond which was very white and very (loupe) clean. It was her pride and joy until she had to sell it so we could buy our house with cash! Poor thing, she never recovered from it!
During the last few years of our life in Vietnam, mom had to slowly sell off her collection (long story). And when we came to the UK, we were poor political refugees (had our gold and money, whatever was left, robbed by pirates whilst we were at sea - another long story). So as soon as we were back on our feet, mom started collecting again using whatever little money she earned working odd jobs. I also contributed to her collection (by giving her the money for some of the purchases or just buying for her a few things she liked) after I started working.
I never actually liked wearing diamonds or any jewellery (other than costume jewellery and a Rolex watch which I bought with my first full-time pay cheque). Mom even gave me a diamond ring (and possibly some other diamonds too but I can't remember). It was a "
toi and moi" ring and was of I2/ I3 clarity. I treasured the ring and wore it for a while but then gave it back to her. She also gave me a pair of OEC's (of course I didn't know they were OEC's then), but I again gave them back to her. Even the diamonds that she left me when she passed away, I've given to my sisters and nieces (with the exception of a 5-stone ring, which is now incorporated into a full eternity). I never wore any jewelly of any significance (either sentimentally or worth much money) until I met DH. I guess partly it was because I was afraid of being robbed.
DH gave me my "first" (first as in first in the collection) diamond, ie. my engagement ring. After that, he gave me a string of pearls. He was very surprised I never wore any jewellery so kept telling me that I should wear more bling. From time to time now, he tells me that he regrets having started me on this "bling journey", ha ha!

So after that, it was like the floodgate was opened. I started buying more and more, building up from smaller pieces to larger more valuable pieces. It's either DH buys them for me (with me choosing the specs) or I select them myself, but with his blessing. Effectively, we buy them together, since it's mostly the funds from our investment gains that we use for my bling purchases and we always discuss our finances with one another, so as avoid any money argument. I've from time to time "culled" my collection, either by giving them to relatives and friends or selling them off. For the last couple of years, I've tried to resist smaller inexpensive lower quality purchases since I know I won't keep them. Living in Singapore and in Asia in the past 15 years has meant two things to me: i) I can wear bling without fearing being robbed/ mugged and ii) I get influenced (yes, I admit it!

) by the huge and beautiful diamond pieces that I see here all the time. Being on PS has certainly influenced my bling collection (both in terms of quality and quantity), lol!
Boy, I've just written a novel, ha ha...