Okay ladies, be honest

[cmarie]

I actually have the opposite situation of you guys...before DH proposed, he took me ring shopping at several places because he wanted to make sure I ended up with something I liked (what a sweetheart!). However, since I am kind of into sparklies (aren''t we all?), I feel like I got a little carried away with the process, too picky/overbearing/etc. In the end I narrowed it down to three choices for settings (and a ballpark for the center stone) and then he picked from those three without me knowing which one. But in the end, I feel like my ring reminds me more of how I got a little "too involved" and it doesn''t represent anything he picked out for me (like it was only a technicality that he chose from the ones I selected).

We are nowhere near having any money for an upgrade, but when we do, I am considering doing the opposite of what you have been describing in this thread -- just giving him some very basic info (probably white gold, round stone) and asking him to pick it out. What do you all think of this?

 

[marcy]

Great topic and I loved reading everyone’s stories.Your rings and their histories are great.

Cmarie; I love the idea of having him pick out your upgrade.I always get my husband’s input on things because honestly if I find out later he doesn’t like it then I start to have doubts and want to exchange it.I am pretty susceptible to his opinions.He always believes in getting what you want and doesn’t want to settle for something that will “do”.

My engagement ring was a complete surprise.He couldn’t afford much but I loved it.It was .21 ctw with a center stone of .15 RB and two diamond accents.I thought it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.My ring had a ring guard with two .03 ct diamonds we bought for me after we were married and I had a very thin wedding ring with diamond accents.I eventually got a .33 ct anniversary band that I replaced the wedding band with.I wore the rings proudly for 16 years because it was pretty and sparkly to me.The center diamond was G-H and a very good cut.I have it now in a heart pendant.

Then about 3 years ago I bought myself a ½ ct heart solitaire to wear as a RHR at a mall jewelry store.I quickly found I liked the larger diamond and asked DH if I could get a wedding ring to go with it and wear it as my wedding rings.He didn’t care as I am the sentimental one in the family.I first got a 3mm gold band with it but found I missed the sparkle of my anniversary band.So I traded the band for a ½ ct anniversary band.I did like it but the fancy shape diamonds lack in the sparkle of a RB and it had visible flaws that bothered me.Also since it was only a half carat everyone thought it was a round stone anyway.I returned the anniversary band but kept the heart diamond.I eventually bought an enhancer to wear with it then last year had it mounted with a sapphire and diamond semi mount.It is now one of my favorite RHRs.After giving up that wedding set I got my other set back out and waited until we had time to go shopping at my favorite jewelry store.

My nephew had worked there briefly and told me to ask to see a 0, 1, 2 make diamond and pick which one we liked (they use that instead of ideal, very good and good).We both immediately went for the 0.Then we looked at the ½ ct range in the 0 make and ended up getting an E VS1 (it is an ASG0).Since I wanted the diamond to be the star of the ring I got a wedding set with semi bezel set PC so the rings wouldn’t detract from the diamond.I loved the ring and diamond but soon found myself missing the anniversary band.I bought an anniversary band to wear with the set but didn’t like wearing 3 rings so I returned all of them.I eventually got a new wedding ring and anniversary band and am quite content with the set now.I have looked at .75 ideal cut diamonds and like them but I don’t know if I will ever upgrade as I truly think my .53 diamond is awesome.

 

[junebug17]

When I became engaged back in 1981, my husband picked out my ring, a .33 diamond in a solitaire setting. I loved it, and showed it off and wore it proudly. Looking back, a few people made somewhat subtle remarks about the size of the stone (so rude), but I was too naive at the time to pick up on them! At some point, a prong broke and the diamond fell out. I put the setting and diamond in a box...at the time I had small children and jewelry wasn't really a priority for me. One day my small daughter was looking at the diamond and I remember saying something like "uh oh, that's not something to play with, I better put that away, don't want it to get lost"...I took the box and swear I carried it into the bathroom and placed it on the counter (we have a big counter in our bathroom). I can't remember what happened to it after that. I have a vague memory of placing it on a shelf. Well, some years go by and I realize I have a pretty diamond sitting in a box, and decide to have it re-set. Of course, I go to look for it and can't find it anywhere. I have looked high and low for years, and it's just gone. I can even visualize the box. Very mad at myself, I tend to be careless with things (I swear I have adult ADD). I still occasionally tear things apart, hoping the ring will miraculously appear. I'm heart-sick over it. So I purchased a vintage ring from ebay, (anniversary present) also .33 carats that I have been wearing since around 2000. I love it. My husband recently surpised me with a wedding set for our 25th anniversay and the center stone is 1.03 carats, and I love it and feel like I am wearing quite a rock!

 

[QueenB29]

Thank you UCLABelle, sarap333!

Marcyc: it sounds like you''ve hade quite a few rings!

Junebug 17: I''m so sorry you lost your e-ring diamond. I''ve lost a number of pieces of jewelry (fortunately not my e-ring) and I know how heartwrenching and aggrevating it can be!

 

[PrincessPeach]

DH initially proposed with a 1ctw three stone ring (poor quality, heavily included); the center stone was approximately .33ct. Being that I''m from the ''city that never sleeps'', many of my friends commented on how small the ring was. Of course, being human, this did make me upset. But, I wore the ring with pride nonetheless. The week of our wedding (8/30/0, I noticed that the center diamond was cracked! Of course, this would ONLY happen to ME of all people hahaha. We brought it back to the mall jewelry store which DH purchased it from and they told me it was a ''natural inclusion''. I had to stand up for myself and DH, being that I was somewhat knowledgeable of diamonds. They said they would replace it, but I had the impression that it would just be replaced with a stone of definitely lesser value.

In the end, the day before our wedding we traded in the original e-ring for a .75 round solitaire (G, SI1) in 18kt gold cathedral setting, which we honestly felt rushed into buying - it was ONE DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING!!!

The salesperson played up the ring by saying it was ''ideal cut'', yadda yadda, and I had to hurry and make the decision. Sometimes, I wish we just would''ve purchased something of better value for the money (4,000). We plan on upgrading to an OMC for a future anniversary, perhaps 5 or 10 yr. There are times that I miss my three stone ring and might incorporate the current .75 into a 3stone, but I don''t know if it would be financially sound at this point.

 

[DebShine]

Keep em coming! I''m just loving these stories!

 

[marcy]

Date: 7/25/2009 6:39:54 PM
Author: QueenB29
Thank you UCLABelle, sarap333!

Marcyc: it sounds like you''ve hade quite a few rings!

Junebug 17: I''m so sorry you lost your e-ring diamond. I''ve lost a number of pieces of jewelry (fortunately not my e-ring) and I know how heartwrenching and aggrevating it can be!

QueenB29, I did go through a few rings there for awhile but I finally ended up with something I really like. Of course the more things I see on PS makes my wish list get longer and longer.

 

[KaeKae]

Twenty two years ago, DH proposed with a .67ct round solitaire in yg. The stone was given to him by his grandmother years before. I had no input in the ring, but loved it just the same. I really don''t know what I may have gone for, had I been involved. Over time, I did wish that my setting was more elaborate, but didn''t have the heart to change it. I spent a lot of time looking at wraps and inserts, but nothing was right. Last month we celebrated our 20th anniv. By now, I''d changed my wring/anni ring a couple times, but was still squeezing my size 4.5 solitaire on my finger. Time to grow with my finger, right? So, I started looking at new settings, and broke down and told DH that I wanted to make the change for the anniv. He said, fine! My little heirloom stone is now in a wg split shank setting, with double prong head, and matching band, all custom made by my jeweler. Eventually I''ll add a coordinating diamond band to complete the look. I do sometimes wish I''d gone for the diamond covered shanks...maybe for another anniv I''ll make another change?

 

[junebug17]

Date: 7/26/2009 11:56:38 AM
Author: KaeKae
Twenty two years ago, DH proposed with a .67ct round solitaire in yg. The stone was given to him by his grandmother years before. I had no input in the ring, but loved it just the same. I really don''t know what I may have gone for, had I been involved. Over time, I did wish that my setting was more elaborate, but didn''t have the heart to change it. I spent a lot of time looking at wraps and inserts, but nothing was right. Last month we celebrated our 20th anniv. By now, I''d changed my wring/anni ring a couple times, but was still squeezing my size 4.5 solitaire on my finger. Time to grow with my finger, right? So, I started looking at new settings, and broke down and told DH that I wanted to make the change for the anniv. He said, fine! My little heirloom stone is now in a wg split shank setting, with double prong head, and matching band, all custom made by my jeweler. Eventually I''ll add a coordinating diamond band to complete the look. I do sometimes wish I''d gone for the diamond covered shanks...maybe for another anniv I''ll make another change?

Good for you for speaking up KaeKae! Our husbands just want us to be happy, and you only live once! I also mentioned to my husband that I''d like a new wedding set, it only took 25 years lol! Have you posted pics of your new rings on another thread? I would love to see!!

 

[KaeKae]

Aww, well thank you junebug! Maybe I should have done it sooner, but I did have a lot of fun on the web this spring, looking for ideas, and that's how I found PS. I posted in the following thread, but the pics aren't great because they were taken with my cellphone. I've managed to take some better pics since then, but can't find the stinkin' cord for the camera. I'll update when (if?) I find that cord...

whoops, that wasn't right. Let me try again...

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/under-1ct-diamonds.25028/page-36

if that worked, it's the last post on the page.

And, btw, junebug, I so felt your pain in the story of your ering and stone. I once "lost" my stud earrings and pendant. She stone in the pendant has particular sentimental meaning, as it came from my grandmother. Believe it or not, I found them six months later, after moving across the country! The bag they were in was supposed to have been sent to a charity, so, keep your fingers crossed, and maybe they will surface some day, but in the meantime you can enjoy your new set, right? Is far as I can tell, 1.03 IS quite a rock! I'm sure it's beautiful.

 

[junebug17]

KaeKae, your set is beautiful!! And I love it with the anniversary band as well, just lovely, can''t wait to see more pics!

And thanks for commiserating with me over my lost ring! I still have a slight hope I''ll find it one day...

 

[QueenB29]

That''s true! I have a silver Celtic cross I bought in Ireland and wear several times a week. After I moved out of my college dorm and back in to my parent''s house, I thought I lost it. I found it almost a year, and a move, later in the tub that held my nail polish. Weird.

One Christmas, my DH bought me WG huggies with diamond chips. They weren''t expensive but very comfortable to wear and I loved them. I wore them on a work trip, and came home without them. I went through everything I had with me, and had to conclude I left them at the hotel. I was heartbroken. Maybe three months later, I was cleaning out my closet and found the earrings in the back corner. The thing was that I hadn''t put anything I took on that trip in the closet. The bag was stored in our guest room, and all the clothes were in my dresser. Weirder.

So definitely don''t give up hope. They might turn up under your sink or somewhere you don''t expect them!