Engagement Ring

[sajetto]

I'm not trying to be mean but I've noticed several threads about engagement rings that you started. Why are you so concerned about what others are wearing? Are you trying to fit in? Please, please think about what makes you happy and it shouldn't be that your ring is as big or bigger than others around you. Think about what you can afford and if people are commenting on how small the ring is, then you need new friends or tell them to mind their own business.

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This is EXACTLY what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure how to word it.

 

[tinaluis]

I don't even know what carat size my ring is but it's small. DH and I picked it out together. The sky was the limit, but jewelry isn't important to me. More important was the sentiment that came with the ring, whatever size it was. I have friends who have "upgraded" their rings, but I've never had the desire to. I'd rather spend the $$ on a WDW vacation!

Sad story related to rings -- someone very close to me made fun of my ring because DH and I bought it at Sam's Club. Didn't bother me any. That same person stole a ring from a dead person and had it reset into another setting. Caused a huge family blowup because someone else was accused of stealing the ring. I was just glad that DH and I were nowhere near the scene of the crime. Everytime I see that ring, I wonder how this person lives with herself, but that's a whole 'nother thread.

 

[Pugsley]

Mine looks exactly like this but my center stone is a marquis and .75 carrats, D color, SI1

~Amanda

Amanda,

That is exactly what I'm leaning toward (with the marquise) but in white gold. Do you like it? Did you get the matching wedding band?

 

[mom2boys77]

When we first got married we couldn't afford much so we each got a sterling silver 10 dollar band from one of those spinning jewelery racks in Walmart and I also had a 1/4 carat engagement ring. Our last anniversary, my dh decided to upgrade my rings..I got a 1.58 carat round engagement ring and a 1 carat anniversary band to go with it. My dh was still wearing his 10 dollar ring..he never once took it off and it finally broke. Now we need to find a new band for him.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

When we first got married we couldn't afford much so we each got a sterling silver 10 dollar band from one of those spinning jewelery racks in Walmart and I also had a 1/4 carat engagement ring. Our last anniversary, my dh decided to upgrade my rings..I got a 1.58 carat round engagement ring and a 1 carat anniversary band to go with it. My dh was still wearing his 10 dollar ring..he never once took it off and it finally broke. Now we need to find a new band for him.

I think that's really sweet!

We got our wedding rings at Montgomery Ward.

 

[mom2boys77]

I think that's really sweet!

We got our wedding rings at Montgomery Ward.

It was sweet. He never wanted a new one but now we don't have a choice. I still wear my 10 dollar one on my right hand. Barbara

 

[Darcy03231]

My center diamond is about .75 carats and the wrap is about another .75 carats for a total of 1.5 carats.

 

[m&m's mom]

I have a kind of unique engagment ring. It is 2, 1 carat round diamonds in a setting of channel set baquettes round diamonds. It is a total of 3.5 carats.
The 2 diamonds are my DH's Greatgrandfathers so I designed a ring around it.
My DH knows I am a jewelry freak and he knew I wanted to design so he said "have at it". I love it!!

 

[SC Minnie]

Dh picked out my engagement ring himself (we hadn't even really talked about marriage). He chose a 1/3 carat round. When we were looking for wedding bands I picked out a 'jacket' to go with the engagement ring- it has 2 smaller diamonds on each side. All together it is right at 1 carat. It is smaller than a lot of the 'new' rings but I really don't care.

When we moved 9 years ago my rings were stolen or lost. I had put them in my purse because we were painting the night before we moved in. The next day my wedding rings were missing but my college ring was still there. I was heartbroken. When we went to replace them DH told me to get whatever I wanted. I told him I wanted exactly what he had chosen for me 6 years earlier and that is what I got.

 

[Frye7127]

My original engagement ring was a one carat pear shape with a wrap of baguettes and round diamonds that were about .25 carats along with a $20 band.

On our ten year anniversary, my husband told me my ring was starting to look tired and I could have it reset or buy a diamond for a pendant. When he went out of town, I went to the jewelry store and looked at mountings, new rings, etc., and decided to have my engagement ring reset into a pendant and got a new three-stone oval ring with a plain band. I think it is 1.5 to 1.75 carats. I love ovals and I think it is beautiful. When my husband came back, I took him and showed him what I wanted and he just laughed and said I knew you would find a way to do both! I am an excellent shopper!

 

[Laura]

A 3/4 carat diamond is small?

Actually, the average engagement ring is about 1/3 carat. http://engagementrings.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Diamond_Carats

The diamond in my engagement ring isn't big, but it was free (thanks MIL!). I figure no matter what rock I have, someone else will have a bigger one. So what do I care? I love my ring; the setting and both wedding bands were custom-made with platinum (and sapphires for the e-ring) because we saved money by not plunking down $$ for a diamond.

If we had to do it over again, I might get moissanite.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

I didn't want an engagement ring. DH and I have matching wide gold bands. I think he felt like I was trying to save money at first but I had a big engagement ring from my first marriage (which is currently in storage for dd when she gets older) and I didn't want the same thing.

My mom has always worn a wide, plain gold band and her marriage to my dad lasted 40 years until my dad passed away. I decided it might be better luck for me to go with tradition this time around. So far, it's working for me!

Plus, I'm just not a jewelry girl. I'm always afraid I'll lose it or the stones will fall out.

I felt the same way about my Gmom--all she ever had was the band--no e.ring

I am not a fan of diamonds--so my e ring is sapphire

My first was about 1/2 ct and I received it for Valentines day after we had been married for about a year and a half

I still have it but always wanted emerald cut--well a couple of years ago DH found a gorgeous stone in a horrendous setting and bought it---now it's up to me to come up with something I like--but it will be simple like my plain band(Which I had to fight for )

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I don't even know what carat size my ring is but it's small. DH and I picked it out together. The sky was the limit, but jewelry isn't important to me. More important was the sentiment that came with the ring, whatever size it was. I have friends who have "upgraded" their rings, but I've never had the desire to. I'd rather spend the $$ on a WDW vacation!

Sad story related to rings -- someone very close to me made fun of my ring because DH and I bought it at Sam's Club. Didn't bother me any. That same person stole a ring from a dead person and had it reset into another setting. Caused a huge family blowup because someone else was accused of stealing the ring. I was just glad that DH and I were nowhere near the scene of the crime. Everytime I see that ring, I wonder how this person lives with herself, but that's a whole 'nother thread.

Someone has already made a comment about what my "future" engagement ring - probably why I am concerned/sensitive about wedding related topics. I don't want to even get into it, but basically in my area, if you don't have a 2 carat ring and a 40 k wedding, you'd better have thick skin, because you will be made fun of. It's a real shame. I could have all that if I went into business, but I'm a teacher because I want to do something good with my life.

Thanks sajetto and lovemygoofy for your opinions/observations. Unfortunately, you're right in that I am concerned what others will think. I want to get engaged right now, it's been 5 years, but my boyfriend wants to wait until he can get me a bigger/better ring since he knows how badly my friends and family ridicule rings, and just gifts in general. He doesn't want me to have any experiences like the one I've already had. You're right in that it doesn't matter what they think, but it does matter how they treat me. I did this thread as a poll, so I don't want to hijack, but this is probably for a different place/time.

 

[Disneemomee]

When we got engaged we had no money and i wanted the big "new york" wedding which meant about 110.00 per person plus everything else that goes with a wedding so i picked out a platinum setting with 2 baguetts on each side for 700.00 and a cz 1 carat in the middle. We told no one except dh grandma .
She used to say you really love my Johnny dont you.Five years later when his grandma was very sick she told me she had a family ring she wanted me to have although my mil may get angry she really wanted me to have it. I never saw the ring i never knew it existed, it had been in a saftey deposit box for about 20 years or more she wouldnt wear after her husband past. Any way i was given a 3 carat diamond ring in a emerald setting with 2 sapphires on each side of it. Unlike grandma i wear it all the time!

 

[katerkat]

I have a 3/4 carat diamond solitaire engagement ring. I think it's a decent size. And a I have a plain gold band for my wedding band that I can't wear. I am, however, getting a new wedding band this anniversary that will have a decent amount of diamonds or gemstones. I want something like this: http://www.thediamondexchange.net/be_inspired.htm - in the third picture on the top row, it's the middle ring.

 

[jx3smom]

real but less than .75

 

[ead79]

My engagement ring's center stone is a 1 carat diamond. It has two smaller diamonds on each side. DH wasn't supposed to spend as much as he did, but he got carried away when I wasn't with him at the jewelry store, LOL. I deeply appreciate it and LOVE it, but I wish he had gotten something more affordable.

OP, don't worry about what other people think. No matter what you do wedding-wise, someone will have a negative opinoin about it. It's one of those catch-22 situations. Just do what is right for you and makes you both happy! The size of the diamond has nothing to do with the size of your love!

 

[Buckalew11]

mine is a .75 marquise cut and I NEVER wear it. I wear an small 5 stone anniversary band DH gave me on our 5th anniversary.

I suppose I'll pass my diamond engagement on to DD. I'm just not a big jewelry person (of course, neither is she--yet, anyway.)

 

[Buckalew11]

After reading further, I am sad to hear there is so much peer pressure (or possibly mother/future MIL pressure to have such expensive, fancy weddings. Focus of the MARRIAGE you all will have--NOT the WEDDING.

I'd elope if I had it to do all over again. I wanted to then but DH thought his mom would be hurt by that and thought I would regret not having a wedding. Truth is, 20 years later, I wish I would not have felt pressured into the very small wedding I had.

 

[java]

Well mine is a little over 2 carats- but I have connections. DH is in the business.
Oh and I never wear it because I am afraid of scratching one of the kids- so someday my dd will get it.