The Bubblegum Ring is SET!

[iLander]

So, I was really hoping to get the setting for the bubblegum ring for our anniversary, but in the days and weeks leading up to it, my DH claimed he hadn't ordered it, it hadn't come yet, etc. I had resigned myself to the possibility that maybe it would be a Christmas gift.

So, we're on our way out to dinner that evening, and as we were driving by the grocery store, my DH said "Well, let's at least get you a placeholder for the bubblegum ring, here's a quarter". We pulled in, and went into the store.

Oh, no! Only gumballs, erasers and toy dinosaurs! "Well, might as well get an eraser, we're here", he says. He knows I collect the stupid little erasers, too (how lame am I?). I put the quarter in, turned the knob and he pulls out the plastic bubble. He hands it to me and it appears to have a piece of paper. And the ring! I was so surprised!

He had pulled the old slight-of-hand, he had the ring the whole time, and had set the stone himself (a man and his pliers. . . it's a beautiful thing. ).

The piece of paper said "Keep out of reach of children. MAY CAUSE CHOKING up of emotion." plus some mushy stuff I won't go into. That guy just gets me.

So, here it is, in all it's cheap and cheerful glory: the bubblegum ring.

 

[y2kitty]

Wow, its beautiful! He did good. Tell me about the stone again??

 

[iLander]

For background, this is the garnet that I got from Barry, 8mm round. I had to beat out several PSer's during Barry's usual Wed night update to get it!

The garnet showed up on Barry's Chelsea filter with a Huge amount of chrome in it, which is not normal for garnets. It's a freak of nature! I've taken some pics of the stone next to my tiny ruby, and a "regular" almandine garnet earring, so you can see the difference in different lights. It really is a lot brighter than either of the other stones, and much more sparkly.

Sorry, some of the pics are SO blurry!

So, it took a while, but I found a pretty pure red stone, and put it in a ring, for around $300. And they said it couldn't be done . . .

I do feel a little guilty though, it's an amazing stone for such a cheesy setting. Maybe someday I'll halo it.

Or maybe not . . .

 

[Aoife]

What a great story! At any point did you suspect what was going on?

And the ring turned out beautifully!

You know we are going to need some profile shots, don't you?

 

[Upgradable]

Pure delicious gorgeousness!!! Congratulations, and what a great guy you've got too!

 

[Kismet]

It's lovely! That stone blows your other reds out of the water.

And Happy Anniversary!

 

[VapidLapid]

FANTASTIC!!!
Sooo worth the hunt and the wait.

 

[Fly Girl]

Awesome ring from an awesome guy. I love, love, love that ring. My red garnets don't look anything like that, as you clearly know. Garnets rarely look like yours.

Enjoy!!!

 

[mariedtiger]

A great ring an inspiring story and oh what a guy. So sweet! Thanks for sharing

 

[Indylady]

GORGEOUS!

It is seriously stunning.

 

[Treenbean]

Oh iLander I am sooooo happy for you. It is lovely and your Husband is so wonderful for doing that for you!!! I have a stupid smile on my face right now just because it's so cute and awesome. I wouldn't care if the setting is cheap, it looks like 2 million dollars! Thank you for sharing.

 

[chrono]

OMG! It’s huge, it’s red and it’s gorgeous! It’s sparkly too and if I didn’t know the background story, I would have guessed a very good quality rubellite! Plus, you’ve got a good man there too. You’ve definitely shown that nothing is impossible – with lots of patience, you managed something very red and large for a very small budget. In short, you did good!

 

[movie zombie]

wonderful story!

MoZo

 

[tenorgirl33]

That looks fantastic!

And such a cute story to go along with it!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

It looks great! Definetly a keeper (and the guy isn't half bad either ). I am so glad to be proved wrong , since I was one of the nay sayers who thought it couldn't be done.

 

[pixies]

That is so sweet of your husband! That stone! I'm totally coveting right now . I love that you set it in yellow gold. It looks yummy! Happy anniversary!

 

[baby nurse]

Your ring is gorgeous! I was just thinking the other day, "When are we going to see that bubblegum ring?" And the color is out of this world Your husband is very sweet to have planned such a surprise. Happy anniversary!

 

[minousbijoux]

I don't know what I like better, that story or that ring! Please don't for one minute call that setting "cheesey." Although that stone can hold its own with any embellishments, it looks gorgeous in all its simple elegance. (And this coming from one of the ones you beat out to get it... )

You deserve the ring - and the husband

 

[JewelFreak]

Great stone! Great ring! Greatest DH!!!

--- Laurie

 

[cellentani]

Wow, that turned out really well! I'm coveting that garnet, and even though I love halos, I think it looks fabulous in that yellow gold setting!

 

[Arkteia]

It does great!

 

[radiantquest]

Its great! I think the red color is perfect. I am so glad that it is done. What a nice DH. Suprises you with it...Send him kisses from me, that was so sweet. What an awesome night for you. You finally have your bubblegum ring and a brand new eraser!

 

[iLander]

I came back to the computer, and you guys made me smile!

What a great story! At any point did you suspect what was going on?
And the ring turned out beautifully!
You know we are going to need some profile shots, don't you?

Thanks, Aoife! I kind of wondered when we turned into the grocery store parking lot, but I couldn't figure out if/how he was going to do it! I guess I'll shoot a couple more, but it's just a standard solitaire, not too exciting.

Pure delicious gorgeousness!!! Congratulations, and what a great guy you've got too!

Thanks, Uppy! Yes, I am very lucky to have found him AND the stone!

It's lovely! That stone blows your other reds out of the water. And Happy Anniversary!

Thanks, Kismet! I was surprised that the ruby really didn't hold up in the different lights. I used to think it was pretty decent . . .

FANTASTIC!!! Sooo worth the hunt and the wait.

Thanks, VL! Sometimes, you just gotta believe . . .

Awesome ring from an awesome guy. I love, love, love that ring. My red garnets don't look anything like that, as you clearly know. Garnets rarely look like yours. Enjoy!!!

Thanks, FlyGirl! Yes, both the stone and the hubby are one in a million.

A great ring an inspiring story and oh what a guy. So sweet! Thanks for sharing

Thanks, MT! You're very kind. . .

GORGEOUS! It is seriously stunning.

Thanks, IL! It's really cheers me up!

 

[iLander]

Oh iLander I am sooooo happy for you. It is lovely and your Husband is so wonderful for doing that for you!!! I have a stupid smile on my face right now just because it's so cute and awesome. I wouldn't care if the setting is cheap, it looks like 2 million dollars! Thank you for sharing.

Awwww . . . thanks, Treenbean! I'm glad the story could make you smile To ME, it's worth the 2 million and the guy is priceless.

OMG! It’s huge, it’s red and it’s gorgeous! It’s sparkly too and if I didn’t know the background story, I would have guessed a very good quality rubellite! Plus, you’ve got a good man there too. You’ve definitely shown that nothing is impossible – with lots of patience, you managed something very red and large for a very small budget. In short, you did good!

Thanks, Chrono! I spent years hunting in jewelry stores, antiques malls, etc, but it's PS that made all the difference in finally making the silly little dream come true.

wonderful story! MoZo

Thanks, MoZo, nice to see a fellow pearl poster!

That looks fantastic! And such a cute story to go along with it!

Thanks for the kind words, tenorgirl,

 

[iLander]

It looks great! Definetly a keeper (and the guy isn't half bad either ). I am so glad to be proved wrong , since I was one of the nay sayers who thought it couldn't be done.

Thanks, LD and that's okay, I didn't actually believe you

That is so sweet of your husband! That stone! I'm totally coveting right now . I love that you set it in yellow gold. It looks yummy! Happy anniversary!

Thanks, Pixie! It's in yellow gold because when I grew up (in the '70's ) everything was in yellow gold, even the fake plastic jewelry. I'm not sure we actually had much white gold . . . hmmm. . .

Your ring is gorgeous! I was just thinking the other day, "When are we going to see that bubblegum ring?" And the color is out of this world Your husband is very sweet to have planned such a surprise. Happy anniversary!

Thank you, Baby Nurse! I kept procrastinating on the setting, it was such fun to just fiddle with it when it was loose. But now that it's set, I'm wondering why I didn't do it before.

 

[alene]

Beautiful ring and kudos to your sneaky husband! Happy anniversary!

 

[iLander]

I don't know what I like better, that story or that ring! Please don't for one minute call that setting "cheesey." Although that stone can hold its own with any embellishments, it looks gorgeous in all its simple elegance. (And this coming from one of the ones you beat out to get it... )

You deserve the ring - and the husband

AWWWWW . . . thank you, minousbijoux! I'm still looking for a red stone for you, don't worry, we'll find it! Did you see Litnon's new stones?

Great stone! Great ring! Greatest DH!!! --- Laurie

Thank you, Laurie, he likes to remind me of that every once in a while.

Wow, that turned out really well! I'm coveting that garnet, and even though I love halos, I think it looks fabulous in that yellow gold setting!

Thanks, Cellentani! It's pretty simple, and I kind of like just presenting the stone all by itself.

It does great!

Thank you, Crasru!

 

[iLander]

Its great! I think the red color is perfect. I am so glad that it is done. What a nice DH. Suprises you with it...Send him kisses from me, that was so sweet. What an awesome night for you. You finally have your bubblegum ring and a brand new eraser!

I did what you said, radiantquest, and told him one of the forum ladies said to give him a kiss. He perked right up and said "I like this forum thing!"

Actually, now that you mention it, where DID the eraser go?

Wow, its beautiful! He did good. Tell me about the stone again??

Hope my second post answered your questions, herekitty.

 

[iLander]

Beautiful ring and kudos to your sneaky husband! Happy anniversary!

Thanks, Alene! We've been married 27 years, and he still manages to surprise me . . . I'm darn lucky, and I know it.

 

[ooo~Shiney!]

Oh, ilander, I love that ring!
The color is truly delicious, and the setting is great!
Actually, I have a Barry Green Tourmaline set like that, I love the simplicity!
Your stone is the star!
A color like that needs no embellishment!

And the guy ~ how special is that DH of yours?