To Replace an Engagement Ring or Not, That is the Question

Recently I wrote about how I broke my engagement ring. I dreaded telling Wayne what had happened, and if he hadn’t been home when I came home after making the discovery I might have held off on telling him. However, tears were streaming down my face as I brought the bags in from Target and Publix. I couldn’t contain them. It was pretty obvious something was wrong. I had no choice but to spill the beans then and there. Predictable Reaction As I knew he would be, he was pissed. “Can’t you ever take care of anything? Is it really … Continue reading

The Marriage Blog Week in Review for February 11-17

Due to the observance of a major love holiday last week, the main focus of many articles in Marriage revolved around that. Here’s how Lyn and I covered all things Valentine’s Day and beyond. Monday, February 11 I wondered what mattered more to you with rings, quality or quantity. Lyn observed the kind of realms talk show and relationships spark around Valentine’s Day. Tuesday, February 12 I listed places for the romantically challenged to find online help. Lyn reflected on how some people just need somebody because they can’t stand being single. Wednesday, February 13 I weighed in with Rule … Continue reading

Rings: What Matters More to You? Quality or Quantity?

I think it was Friday morning when I was watching either Today or the Early Show and the one or the other did a segment about rings. They started out by covering the 4 Cs (cut, carat, clarity, and cost) and then gave the results of an informal poll. Quantity For women, they said, it’s all about the cut. Not necessarily the shape, but the bigger the ring the better. Didn’t matter if it was flawed. If their guy could afford a honkin’ two-carat, that’s what they wanted. Even though for the same price they could still get a very … Continue reading

Shopping the Catalogs: Romantic Rings

I’m not a big jewelry wearer, but I’d like to be. (My problem is I’m not the most graceful person. I usually break or lose it. It’s amazing that, other than one bent prong, in the 12 plus years I’ve had my diamond ring I haven’t managed to destroy it yet.) However, while I’ve been shopping the catalogs for gifts to give, I’ve also been admiring some things my alter ego (the one who knows how to wear jewelry without abusing it) would like. In particular, rings. Below is a list of the ones that caught my eye and stole … Continue reading

Broken Ring, Broken Heart

Could there be anything worse than losing a wedding ring? I’m not sure, but there’s something that’s equally as disturbing: Losing the diamond from your engagement ring. (The real answer is actually: “Plenty!” I found that out the hard way, though. The day after I lost my diamond was D-day.) The Discovery The night before the D-day oncologist appointment, while Wayne hung out with my mom, I took the opportunity to make a run to Target. After that I needed to stop at Publix. It was en route from Target to Publix that I went to scratch an itch on … Continue reading

You and Your Ring: ‘Til Death Do You Part?

I’ve been writing a lot about rings lately and it got me to thinking about something some women do: trade up for bigger diamonds. Some do it only a couple of years into marriage, some do it for bigger anniversaries such as 10th or 20th. When Wayne and I went to pick out my ring he knew how much he was willing to spend. He wasn’t buying into the spend-three-months-salary concept for choosing a diamond, much to the saleslady’s chagrin. She kept pushing him to reveal how much he earned, but he wouldn’t tell her. I guess she figured he … Continue reading

What’s Your Ring Style – Traditional, Contemporary, or Unconventional?

Photo by Jenny Rollo In my philosophies on life and marriage I’m traditional yet unconventional and I think my engagement and wedding rings reflect that. Though when Wayne and I were picking them out I didn’t realize any of that at the time. Traditional I consider diamond solitaires perched atop plain gold or silver bands traditional engagement rings. But vintage or antique rings, either fashioned to look that way or because they were handed down and really are, also can be considered traditional. Mine qualifies as traditional, because it is a round cut diamond solitaire and the band is gold. … Continue reading