What are the ring trends in your location?

[jfo]

Ok, so I happened upon this thread (https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/what-kinds-of-diamonds-do-you-see-around-you.46786/) and I wanted to revive it because I find it really interesting! I changed the subject a bit as it''s not *just* about the diamonds, but I''m curious about rings in general in different locations.

For example, I was recently in Spain for my belated honeymoon. I didn''t bring either my wedding band or my e-ring, but instead a plain silver band for the trip. I noticed that women in Spain typically do not wear diamonds, and, if they do, they are very understated. For the most part, I saw gold bands, some engraved, and worn on their right ring finger. I did read ahead of time that Spanish women wear their wedding bands on their right hand versus the left.

I live in the city of Chicago and there is quite a diverse mix of rings worn here. I did notice that for younger women, they typically have 1ct or more diamonds (recently engaged women seem to have the largest diamonds unless you are hanging around the higher-end neighborhoods) in white gold or platinum. I only really see yellow gold on women who have been married for 10 years or more. Diamond shapes that I''ve seen in person are mainly round brilliants, princesses, and an occasional emerald and marquise. I saw a gorgeous three stone emerald ring recently while riding the "L" train on the way to work

I read on the previous thread that it seems like a lot of the younger women (20''s or early 30''s) have princess cut diamonds and I have noticed that as well. IMO, kind of boring if it''s just in a plain setting with no sidestones (this coming from a girl who has a square radiant diamond in a plain setting--ha!). I have a girlfriend who has a 1.5ct princess with trillions in platinum which is beautiful... Another with a 1.3ct princess with two princess cut sapphires on each side, and another with a 1.5t princess with two princess cut light yellow diamonds on each side (yummy). I also have a friend who has a beautiful, unique ring that has a prong set <1 ct pear center stone with two smaller bezel set pears on each side in a three sided pave band. I have got to get a picture of it because it is gorgeous!

Now that I''m writing this out, I realize that three stone rings are pretty popular. Of the round brilliants that I see, there are a couple women in my office that have gorgeous ones... between 1.5 and 2cts and set as solitaires in simple platinum settings. Both of them have two wedding bands that have 1/2 carat channel set diamond bands, although one of them has one with all diamonds and another with rubies and diamonds alternating. I have definitely seen a lot more women wearing two wedding bands... typically channel set or shared prong eternities worn on either side of their e-ring. That seems to be gaining a lot of popularity around here.

I am sad to say that I have yet to see another radiant, and have definitely never seen a cushion, pear or asscher in person and haven''t seen a halo yet either in person. Would love to see that!!

 

[Kaleigh]

The only asschers I've seen have been on PS. And I'm still waiting to spot someone in my area wearing a halo ring. Mostly I see solitaires, and 3 stone rings. Sometimes I will see a large carat weight eternity band, have to say I love that look. Many people stack multiple eternity bands ,many with diamonds and sapphires, diamonds and rubys etc... I always am on the look out for a halo, an asscher, a cushion etc... Guess PS has all the trends, and everyone else is behind, LOL!!!

 

[Cehrabehra]

I see a lot of bands or very small diamonds set in matchy sets with other small diamonds... sometimes see a carat... huh, you know, the people I know with the most money just wear plain bands - one has 5 diamonds that are graduated but the largest can''t be more than a 15 pointer. I have one friend who has a carat marquise and I think she might be the largest in our shared circle... now I''m starting to worry more! oh well people will likely think it''s fake LOL In people under 10 years mostly white metal , in people over 10 years mostly yellow gold... mostly round diamonds I certainly NEVER felt out of place wearing a plain gold band here - or anywhere for that matter. It''s pretty classic. Says you''re married and then shuts up! lol!!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/10/2006 1:26:45 PM
Author: Kaleigh
The only asschers I''ve seen have been on PS. And I''m still waiting to spot someone in my area wearing a halo ring. Mostly I see solitaires, and 3 stone rings. Sometimes I will see a large carat weight eternity band, have to say I love that look. Many people stack multiple eternity bands ,many with diamonds and sapphires, diamonds and rubys etc... I always am on the look out for a halo, an asscher, a cushion etc... Guess PS has all the trends, and everyone else is behind, LOL!!!

yeah I''ve not seen any of those either... haven''t seen eternity bands either though, just anniversary bands with 10 stones or fewer. Usually 5.

 

[mrssalvo]

I''ve still only seen in person 3-4 halo rings. they are much more common in the jewelry stores here now though. I still see a lot of solitaires, 3 stones (with rounds), or solitaire with channel set sidestones. When I was at Petsmart the other day the gal in front of me had the most beautiful set of pave rings no halo but they still aren''t common.

 

[jfo]

Oops, I meant to say I haven''t seen an oval in person, not pear!

Pave is definitely still a rarity although I''ve seen more of it in jewelry stores recently.

I would definitely agree that PS''ers are WAY ahead of the curve.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/10/2006 1:29:46 PM
Author: mrssalvo
I''ve still only seen in person 3-4 halo rings. they are much more common in the jewelry stores here now though. I still see a lot of solitaires, 3 stones (with rounds), or solitaire with channel set sidestones. When I was at Petsmart the other day the gal in front of me had the most beautiful set of pave rings no halo but they still aren''t common.

You know, I was just thinking - I''ve not seen any halo rings (I''ve seen illusion rings but no halos) and so I don''t know why I''m tired of seeing so many on here... even if EVERY ps''er had a halo ring and went off to their corner of the country it''s not like they''re *everywhere* lol! It just seems like it sometimes reading here!!

the coolest ring I ever saw IRL had a stone about 1-1.5 carat and the band and the ring both were very unique free form filligree and they wrapped around each other in this way that together they looked symmetrical from a distance and apart they each were stand alone rings... I could never describe it well, it was truly unique and one of the only cool rings I''ve seen here. I did have a moment of envy the other day... I was in the drive through and someone was at the counter and she had a very brilliant round diamond about 1- 1.5 carats and I think I was only jealous because I don''t have mine but I kept thinking look how white that is! Mine doesn''t do that! And normally I''m not only okay with that, it''s my preference, but I had a ping

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/10/2006 1:36:19 PM
Author: jfo
Oops, I meant to say I haven''t seen an oval in person, not pear!

Pave is definitely still a rarity although I''ve seen more of it in jewelry stores recently.

I would definitely agree that PS''ers are WAY ahead of the curve.

Okay confession time - one of the reasons I turned away from an oval is because last october we went to a wedding and my cousin was sporting a huge oval... no clue what size it was, she''s a tiny fingered girl... I''d say 1-2 carats? And I felt so much like "she had my ring!" that it played a part 8 months later in feeling "over" the oval.

I feel like I''m surrounded by jewels and yet when I take an honest look around, I''m really not. I grew up in california though and everyone had great jewels there... I imagine I''m still in that frame of mind?

 

[february2003bride]

I live in Northern Va and since this is a melting pot area, so is the jewelry! Of just my neighbors, what I''ve noticed is the women who have been married for 5+ years, all have e-ring diamonds that are around or less than .75 and in yellow gold settings, and I think are all rounds as well. For the women who have been married less than 5 years, we all have platinum settings, and larger diamonds. I have a 1.06 princess, my neighbor''s looks to be between a 1.25-1.50 princess. My friend just got engaged with a 1.26 round in a platinum setting. The same year we got engaged 3 other couples did as well. We ALL got princesses; a .75, a 1.06 (mine) and the other two girlfriends were close to 1.50s (and they both have tiny fingers too so their center stones looked huge!) . Mine and two of the women were platinum solitares, the .75 friend was an 18K white gold with side stones setting.

I also noticed that the women who have been married longer have plain wedding bands, but all of us that have been married for a shorter period of time have diamond wedding/anniversary bands.

A friend who got engaged before us, her DH proposed with a smallish round in a yellow gold setting. She broke it to him right away that the ring wasn''t going to fly, lol. They went back to the store and exchanged it for a 1 carat princess in a beuatiful white gold x-prong engraved setting. Her sister however, has a yellow gold set with a beautifu lpear in it, but her sister has been married...10 years or so I think.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

I go to lots of plays and concerts in Philadelphia and NY and I visit the King of Prussia Mall every other week. At the Philadelphia theaters and the orchestra, I mostly see round brilliant solitaires of up to 5 carats (either in platinum or yellow gold with platinum prongs) with several stacked eternity bands (usually one band with all sapphires and one or 2 with different size diamonds). Emerald cuts and pears (mostly by themselves or with baguettes) are next in popularity. I also see lots of 3-stone rings, some with an emerald or sapphire center stone. I'm the only one I've seen who has a ring with a micropave' halo. I see a lot of radiant cuts and emerald cuts at Saks 5th Avenue and the King of Prussia Mall. I've only seen Asschers in the stores, and only one store in Philadelphia carries Royal Asschers. I mostly see round brilliants and radiants in NY, and more canaries in NY than in Philadelphia. Sapphires are popular in Philadelphia, too. I don't see any Princess cuts at the theaters or the orchestra, but I do see them worn in restaurants and some stores. It seems like younger people prefer them.

 

[ursulawrite]

I think the style I have is most common in NYC (round brilliant worn with an eternity band). I see a few emeralds with matching square-diamond eternity bands and think it looks ever so elegant and modern. Halos? I''ve seen a few. Not too many, though.

Overall I would say that the trend in NY is to keep it simple. Solitaires in plain settings really rule the roost here.

 

[asscherisme]

Among women my age, 35-50ish, its round stones and usually big ones.

Among women in their 20s, more square stones, mostly princess and at least a carat.

The interesting think is that on women 50s and older, its mostly round and pear and much much smaller, than younger women. Interesting hmmmm

 

[phoenixgirl]

OK, well instead of summarizing trends I''m going to be specific. I''ll break it down by approximate age and length of marriage:

Family:
sister, 33, married 7 years: no e-ring (she''s a minister so she received an engagement cross pendant with a diamond in the center), has an eternity band but it hurts her finger, wears a plain platinum band
sister-in-law, 35, married 7 years: "not even 2 carats" oval in platinum with 5 stone (1.5ctw?) band
sister-in-law, 30, married 5 years: 0.75-1.00 plat round solitaire with prong set (1ctw?) band

Friends:
25, married 1 year, no e-ring but wears mother''s dinner ring sometimes, thin channel set white gold band
30, married 2 weeks, 0.50-0.75 round solitaire in yg, plain band
25, married 2 months, 0.50-0.75 princess solitaire in plat, thin channel set band
32, married 5 years, 1.25ish solitaire in platinum, eternity band
28, married 5 years, 0.25 round solitaire in white gold, plain band

Coworkers:
31, married 8 years, 0.33 to 0.50 pear in yg, wears a wrap with two round diamonds
32, married six months, 0.50 round solitaire in platinum with plain band
26, engaged, 3 stone with rounds in yg, center maybe 0.50, sides 0.25 each
28, married 3 years, 0.50-0.75 princess solitaire in plat, thin channel set band
26, married 1 year, cluster (?) ring in platinum (ya know, just a bunch of small diamonds stuck together in pave, probably supposed to look like one big diamond from far away) and plain band

So to sum up, I think more people are getting platinum, but you still see a lot of rounds and a considerable amount of yellow gold. Most stones are under 1 carat.

This is in Virginia. I am still my only friend from growing up in New Jersey who is married.

 

[Julian]

Most younger women in their twenties have princesses. 3 stone princesses or solitaire princesses. I'd say the next popular style after that is the RB with a great deal of engraving/filigree on the setting... sort of a pretty antique-y look. Most settings have a lot going on in them, which sometimes distracts from the star but othertimes is a really nice style statement.

The PS rings are in a league of their own -- pave, micropave, halos all executed perfectly. Not quite the norm.

Older women all seem to have 3 stones, RBs with eternities or emerald cut stones. I have only seen 1 asscher in person and it was a stunner. Gorgeous. Ovals seem to be gaining popularity, too.

I love ovals. They are so beautiful. But they seem to be a different look entirely -- cool, crisp and shimmering like water. I am starting to love that look over the fireball RB. It's refreshing and calming!

The RB is like a kid who drank a Mountain Dew, downed a pack of M&Ms, grabbed a bunch of sparklers and was let loose at a party. Wild animal!

Wheras the oval is like a refined young lady, sitting on a windowsill overlooking a beautiful clear lake. Kind of like a diamond briolette. A totally new look. LOL.

 

[Miranda]

I''ve seem lots of PS worthy bling since I moved here 3 mos. ago. There was a "Sea Fest" over the weekend and there was a lot of drool worthy bling. Quite a few big (2+ ct.) solitaires with eternity bands, and a couple of halos. My neighbor has a 2 ct. (at least) cushion with a big eternity band that I am dying to get a closer look at

, but, I''m afraid she''ll think I''m crazy! At Wal-Mart a few weeks ago there was a woman with a 3 ct. princess in a pave ering setting and a matching band. I did tell her that her ring was beautiful (which I only sometimes do) and we wound up in a long conversation about diamonds. Hehe. All in all, I see rounds in a matching set. Ladies that have been married for a while and haven''t upgraded seem to have 1 ct. marquise in a yellow gold setting. I''m in coastal south Orange County, CA so maybe that makes a difference. The folks out here seem to have more money than they know what to do with. For example, I got a "Dog Poop Pick-Up Service" flyer on my door the other day

. For $50 a week, I''ll do it myself...Or have my 10 and 12 year old do it, rather

!

 

[Miranda]

ETA: Double post

 

[MINE!!]

I usually do not pay attention if it is a diamond, unless it is astounding. Most I think are solitares, poor cuts (rounds). I see some of the younger girls with princesses. I have yet to see any asschers.. (which I would LOVE to see) I ahve aco worker who has a beautiful solitare in white gold, must be about 2 carats, beautiful cut and nice... "sparkle".

But I mainly look out for anyone who has a gemstone ring. But I have never (NEVER) seen anyone with one like the one I have. (I know.. I am so vain) But it is true. I have seen some "browny red garnets" and a sapphire or two.. but nothing that is really eye catching. We went to the Huge Mall in Raleigh the other weekend and every jewelry store we went into wanted to clean my ring and look at it under a loupe and hold it and share it with co workers. So I know that I owe this stuff to Pscope.

 

[basil]

The girls my age who are engaged or married...Most of them have platinum/white gold, and most are round stones. I''m guessing .75-1 carat is the norm. Most have some sort of variation on a solitaire, with channel set stones or small side stones. There seem to be a certain set of girls who have large (2+ carat) princess solitaires that are very high set and very spikey. Every time I see them I think they look dangerous.

I have one friend whose husband suprised her with a small 3-stone yellow gold engagement ring. I think the center is probably .25-.3 carats with the sidestones being slightly smaller. He was later bragging how he picked it out at the first store he went to, at an outlet mall, in about half an hour. I guess she was a little disappointed, because they later went out to look at rings after their engagement. She never ended up changing it though.

Another friend has an emerald cut with ruby sidestones. Her fiance custom designed it because red is her favorite color.

I still love mine best of all, though

 

[kcoursolle]

Out here in LA, I see a lot of biiiig stones! Really big sometimes, well over 2 carats. Of the women who don''t wear a large rock, a lot of them wear big eternity bands like jessica simpson. I''ve seen halos, but never asschers. Lots of rounds, princesses, and emeralds. Women also have pretty large stud earrings here. Eternity band and studs seem to be a staple for some women.

 

[ephemery1]

Date: 10/10/2006 3:20:50 PM
Author: Julian

Wheras the oval is like a refined young lady, sitting on a windowsill overlooking a beautiful clear lake. Kind of like a diamond briolette. A totally new look. LOL.

Haha... that's me, that's me!

Both my mom, FMIL and future cousin-in-law have oval e-rings, but they're the only ones I know of other than myself... they also have strong, happy marriages, so good connotations there!

But in the general Philly/PA area, amongst my 20-something friends and acquaintances, the majority of e-rings seem to be 1-2 carats... split pretty evenly between round and princess... ALL platinum/white gold. Mostly solitaires... but a fair amount of 3-stones too. And I can probably think of more 2+ carat stones off the top of my head than those under 1 carat. In my loose social circle, there is also a 2+ radiant, 2+ cushion w/halo, .65 marquise, and 1.5 emerald. The very first e-ring that EVER seriously caught my eye was on a coworker about 5 years ago, and it was a huge, gorgeous Asscher. I remember SHE didn't even know what it was... "my fiance says it's called a Dasher I think?"

Interestingly, most of the bigger stones are on younger people... but in my parents' social circle back in my central PA hometown, it seems like the majority of e-rings are simple round solitaires under 1 carat, despite the fact that it's a wealthy area filled with doctor's wives. Still, when I first got my ring and jokingly described it to my mom as a "big-ass ring", she relayed that to her sweet little librarian friend who promptly replied "you know, if I had to do it all over again, I think I'd go for a big-ass ring myself!" Made me smile...

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/10/2006 7:31:20 PM
Author: ephemery1

Date: 10/10/2006 3:20:50 PM
Author: Julian

Wheras the oval is like a refined young lady, sitting on a windowsill overlooking a beautiful clear lake. Kind of like a diamond briolette. A totally new look. LOL.

Haha... that''s me, that''s me!

Both my mom, FMIL and future cousin-in-law have oval e-rings, but they''re the only ones I know of other than myself... they also have strong, happy marriages, so good connotations there!

But in the general Philly/PA area, amongst my 20-something friends and acquaintances, the majority of e-rings seem to be 1-2 carats... split pretty evenly between round and princess... ALL platinum/white gold. Mostly solitaires... but a fair amount of 3-stones too. And I can probably think of more 2+ carat stones off the top of my head than those under 1 carat. In my loose social circle, there is also a 2+ radiant, 2+ cushion w/halo, .65 marquise, and 1.5 emerald. The very first e-ring that EVER seriously caught my eye was on a coworker about 5 years ago, and it was a huge, gorgeous Asscher. I remember SHE didn''t even know what it was... ''my fiance says it''s called a Dasher I think?''

Interestingly, most of the bigger stones are on younger people... but in my parents'' social circle back in my central PA hometown, it seems like the majority of e-rings are simple round solitaires under 1 carat, despite the fact that it''s a wealthy area filled with doctor''s wives. Still, when I first got my ring and jokingly described it to my mom as a ''big-ass ring'', she relayed that to her sweet little librarian friend who promptly replied ''you know, if I had to do it all over again, I think I''d go for a big-ass ring myself!'' Made me smile...

wow what''s up with philly and the huge bling there? LOL I never would have pegged it for being so blingy!! New york and LA yes, but from what I read on this board Philly has it hands DOWN over either of those LOL!!

 

[Ann]

In: Big Rings or no rings, and for the truly avant-garde—no engagement ring.
Just the other day, our Top Secret New York Correspondent mentioned that, due to the fact that just about everyone who’s exchanged wedding vows these days has a minimum 2-carat platinum solitaire engagement ring (and most brides show much less restraint and go way bigger), the elite are switching to thin, plain platinum bands on their fourth left fingers. Considering the fact that diamonds are no longer all that special, not to mention the fact that there are so many synthetic options available, many of the top brides are opting for the simple band for every day. The real branding takes place with the “cocktail ring”, which, true to a Women’s Prerogative, can change with the winds of fashion and/or one’s husband’s fortunes. Which is a brilliant concept, when you think about it. After all, selecting an engagement ring is like picking out wedding china—chances are, in ten or fifteen years (and we’re assuming, here, that you’re in this for the long haul, and not just the ring), it’s going to look a little dated.

Hhmm? just found this tonight while cruising for jewelry web sites.

 

[ephemery1]

Date: 10/10/2006 7:54:04 PM
Author: Cehrabehra

wow what''s up with philly and the huge bling there? LOL I never would have pegged it for being so blingy!! New york and LA yes, but from what I read on this board Philly has it hands DOWN over either of those LOL!!

Haha... maybe the NYC influence? We''re not that far!

I also live in a pretty upscale part of Philly... or maybe I''m just hanging out with the right (or wrong!) people?

 

[diamondfan]

I live in the Main Line...two best friends, one has an (upgraded) 4 carat pear with trillion sides, in plat. The other has a large asscher, also an upgrade, in a pave halo setting. I have an emerald cut with tapered bags. Most of the girls in my circle have emerald cuts or rounds or cushions, with side stones or a three stone, in plat or white gold.

 

[ladykemma]

yellow gold is coming back in houston. starting to see it on 20somethings

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Here in Charlotte I have seen it all. I have seen halos, large rings, small rings, band rings, gemstone sidestones, gemstone center stones.... A girl we know just got an asscher with blue sapphire bags. It is beautiful. I don''t have that many married/engaged friends yet. Most get around 1 ct and are princess or RB. Most are in WG/PLT. I can only think of two girls I know with YG.

 

[diamondfan]

Date: 10/10/2006 3:23:55 PM
Author: Miranda
I''ve seem lots of PS worthy bling since I moved here 3 mos. ago. There was a ''Sea Fest'' over the weekend and there was a lot of drool worthy bling. Quite a few big (2+ ct.) solitaires with eternity bands, and a couple of halos. My neighbor has a 2 ct. (at least) cushion with a big eternity band that I am dying to get a closer look at

, but, I''m afraid she''ll think I''m crazy! At Wal-Mart a few weeks ago there was a woman with a 3 ct. princess in a pave ering setting and a matching band. I did tell her that her ring was beautiful (which I only sometimes do) and we wound up in a long conversation about diamonds. Hehe. All in all, I see rounds in a matching set. Ladies that have been married for a while and haven''t upgraded seem to have 1 ct. marquise in a yellow gold setting. I''m in coastal south Orange County, CA so maybe that makes a difference. The folks out here seem to have more money than they know what to do with. For example, I got a ''Dog Poop Pick-Up Service'' flyer on my door the other day

. For $50 a week, I''ll do it myself...Or have my 10 and 12 year old do it, rather

!

Miranda, don''t hate me tee hee...I have the poop service, I have a BIG dog and my kids are awful at it and I did it when I was a kid so I thought, the heck with it, I am employing someone...my husband looked at me like I had a second head but now he is fine with it since he can be in the yard and not step in the big piles my kids "missed" when they were supposed to be cleaning up!

 

[mia15]

In LA, I see all different kinds of jewels so what really catches my eye is the amazing sparkle of a well-cut diamond of any size. I agree with Kcourselle about the large studs and was chuckling to myself counting up all the people I know wearing the studs w/eternity band uniform. The high carat eternity ring seems like a staple for the power career crowd.

I''ve seen quite a few asschers, mostly in the westside, and cushions seem to rule in that region too. LA is a neverending spectacle for jewelry. Sitting in traffic for as long as we do, it''s become a habit of mine to glance at everybody''s rings which is like diamond therapy.
I have seen the most amazing diamonds in museums--not in the cases, but worn by the people who visit and work there. Sitting at either of the Gettys is like being at diamond parade.

My favorites are the women who mix their real and fake bling with assurance and attitude!

 

[Miranda]

Date: 10/10/2006 9:47:39 PM
Author: diamondfan

Date: 10/10/2006 3:23:55 PM
Author: Miranda
I''ve seem lots of PS worthy bling since I moved here 3 mos. ago. There was a ''Sea Fest'' over the weekend and there was a lot of drool worthy bling. Quite a few big (2+ ct.) solitaires with eternity bands, and a couple of halos. My neighbor has a 2 ct. (at least) cushion with a big eternity band that I am dying to get a closer look at

, but, I''m afraid she''ll think I''m crazy! At Wal-Mart a few weeks ago there was a woman with a 3 ct. princess in a pave ering setting and a matching band. I did tell her that her ring was beautiful (which I only sometimes do) and we wound up in a long conversation about diamonds. Hehe. All in all, I see rounds in a matching set. Ladies that have been married for a while and haven''t upgraded seem to have 1 ct. marquise in a yellow gold setting. I''m in coastal south Orange County, CA so maybe that makes a difference. The folks out here seem to have more money than they know what to do with. For example, I got a ''Dog Poop Pick-Up Service'' flyer on my door the other day

. For $50 a week, I''ll do it myself...Or have my 10 and 12 year old do it, rather

!

Miranda, don''t hate me tee hee...I have the poop service, I have a BIG dog and my kids are awful at it and I did it when I was a kid so I thought, the heck with it, I am employing someone...my husband looked at me like I had a second head but now he is fine with it since he can be in the yard and not step in the big piles my kids ''missed'' when they were supposed to be cleaning up!

Oh honey, if I had a 9+ carat ring from Tiffany''s, I wouldn''t deal with dog poop either!!!

LOL My kids can''t miss the piles, yet...The yard is all dirt as we just moved into a new development.

 

[diamondfan]

Date: 10/10/2006 10:09:13 PM
Author: Miranda

Date: 10/10/2006 9:47:39 PM

Author: diamondfan

Date: 10/10/2006 3:23:55 PM

Author: Miranda

I''ve seem lots of PS worthy bling since I moved here 3 mos. ago. There was a ''Sea Fest'' over the weekend and there was a lot of drool worthy bling. Quite a few big (2+ ct.) solitaires with eternity bands, and a couple of halos. My neighbor has a 2 ct. (at least) cushion with a big eternity band that I am dying to get a closer look at

, but, I''m afraid she''ll think I''m crazy! At Wal-Mart a few weeks ago there was a woman with a 3 ct. princess in a pave ering setting and a matching band. I did tell her that her ring was beautiful (which I only sometimes do) and we wound up in a long conversation about diamonds. Hehe. All in all, I see rounds in a matching set. Ladies that have been married for a while and haven''t upgraded seem to have 1 ct. marquise in a yellow gold setting. I''m in coastal south Orange County, CA so maybe that makes a difference. The folks out here seem to have more money than they know what to do with. For example, I got a ''Dog Poop Pick-Up Service'' flyer on my door the other day

. For $50 a week, I''ll do it myself...Or have my 10 and 12 year old do it, rather

!

Miranda, don''t hate me tee hee...I have the poop service, I have a BIG dog and my kids are awful at it and I did it when I was a kid so I thought, the heck with it, I am employing someone...my husband looked at me like I had a second head but now he is fine with it since he can be in the yard and not step in the big piles my kids ''missed'' when they were supposed to be cleaning up!

Oh honey, if I had a 9+ carat ring from Tiffany''s, I wouldn''t deal with dog poop either!!!

LOL My kids can''t miss the piles, yet...The yard is all dirt as we just moved into a new development.

I just envisioned stepping in a mound and thought, I am too old for this, yuck, and while I love my dog, I have been there done that with the doo, and what mattered most to me was a clean yard, even though I think it would be character building to make them do it!!!! And when I walk her I carry those little baggies, so different from my childhood where your dog just went whereever and no one picked their doggie stuff up!!! But even with my bling, I can get down and dirty when need be...