The Search for the Perfect Engagement Ringby Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger 13 Nov 2007 09:46 AM
I'll never forget going to pick out my engagement ring with Wayne. Neither of us really knew what we were doing, but I have to give Wayne credit. He actually researched what the "Four C's" was all about so he could talk the diamond lingo. I, on the other hand, was clueless. Carats? Clarity? Color? What the heck was that all about? Just pick a pretty ring and be done with it. The saleslady brought out all kinds of settings for us to choose from. I picked all the modest diamonds. Basically they weren't much more than chips. Wayne kept picking what were to me extremely large stones. They really weren't. Especially not by the standards many of today's brides have. They were all about a half a carat, but to me they seemed enormous. (I don't wear much jewelry anyway so that was part of the problem. I wasn't used to seeing anything glistening on my finger.) The saleslady, seeing Wayne was a willing spender, coerced me into trying some of the larger carats on. Reluctantly I did. But they were either too big (for my taste) or not good enough clarity and color for Wayne. I spent what felt like an eternity trying on other cuts and styles (like clusters and even non-traditional gems like sapphires and rubies). I tried on plain bands, bands with designs, thick bands, and thin. But nothing was quite right. Until we found a band that had four chips on either side of the diamond-less mount. "I love that! Don't you like that one, Court?" Wayne said enthusiastically. I thought maybe he was tired at that point and just wanted me to agree on something, anything. But when I really studied his face I could tell he was genuinely excited about that ring. I took a closer look. I had to admit it was very pretty. Except, while it was tasteful and far from ostentatious, wasn't it also a bit fancy? At least for me. At the same time, it sure was pretty... "It is nice, but--" "Look at this diamond," the saleslady said. "It's like it was made for that ring." She popped in a stone weighing in at just under half a carat. Wow. It was beautiful. After verifying the diamond's rating, Wayne announced, "We'll take it!" I would have been happy just having Wayne asking me to be his wife and plopping a plain old gold band on my hand, but I have to admit I love there was a diamond ring accompanying the proposal. (Especially since the darn proposal was such a long time coming!) Question to Readers Did you help pick your ring? What does it look like? Related Articles Is Your Engagement Ring Insured? Why Do We Call It a Ring Finger? Engagement Rings and Cracker Jack Boxes Photo credit: Learn more about Courtney Mroch  Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k. Relevantmarriage tags User Comments  Jade Walker (964) 29 Oct 2008 07:58 AMMy beau and I went ring shopping a few weeks ago. After visiting two stores, we found a pair of wedding rings and a lovely engagement ring (all for 60% off -- perfect for a couple on a budget). I decided against a diamond solitaire for a variety of reasons. Diamonds mean nothing to me; they're just shiny rocks. The whole blood diamond issue turns me off as well. More importantly, I hate the idea of my beau being TOLD to buy me a diamond ring that'll cost him three months' salary. Is that really all I'm worth? Who says his love is measured by the size of the rock on my finger? Not I. And I didn't want a yellow gold or platinum ring either, as they were way too flashy and expensive. In the end, I chose a lovely, sapphire ring (his birthstone) and a plain wedding band. His ring is hammered white gold, simple and elegant. I can't even begin to tell you anything about the engagement ring's clarity or carat size. We didn't even ask. It's the meaning behind the offering that matters to me. I know because when M slipped the ring on my finger to test the size, he took my breath away. So now I'm in wait mode. He's got something special planned for the big proposal. What, oh what can it be???  Courtney Mroch (9169) 29 Oct 2008 12:10 PMOh how exciting Jade! That's what I remember...the anticipation. (But Wayne's proposal wasn't romantic. He planned nothing.) I was surprised you went with to go pick out the ring. I would have pegged you for a "surprise me" kind of girl. I was wrong! Learned something new about you. Interesting. And interesting to hear you didn't want a diamond either. I'm surprised by the number of people I've heard comment in various places on this site that aren't all that taken by diamonds. Maybe this is more common than I realize and why diamond companies try so hard to advertise. Never see a ruby or sapphire or emerald advertisement! Thanks for the comment and congrats. Looking forward to hearing what your beau does for the proposal and when! ProposeAlready (5) 10 Nov 2008 08:22 AMI am not quite yet to the wedding process yet, but I was searching engagement rings for my future fiance, whenever he gets ready to pop the question! I came across this website called www.diamondlightperformance.com and learned some interesting facts about buying a diamond. They say "more bling for your buck" on the website. Seems interesting. Has anyone had a diamond rated by GemEx? Samual (11722) 10 Nov 2008 12:39 PMMines an eternity ring, I think they're still called that for men, it has diamonds running around it, I don't know how many or anything though. Dannyi (10) 27 Dec 2008 01:31 PMGreat story, it is nice to hear how much you loved what your husband chose, especially for someone about to propose. As someone who has been in search of the perfect engagement ring for months, and a recent buyer, I agree, there are many things to consider when choosing a diamond. However, don't underestimate the importance of choosing the right metal for your setting, as this is what will secure the valuable diamond you purchase. My initial thought was white gold, but after doing my research, platinum's lasting qualities simply outweigh other metals. It is more durable, won't tarnish, is stronger, and holds stones more securely than other metals. Not to mention, 81% of women prefer platinum. The following website was a life saver, as I really was discouraged by the "salesperson" experience, http://www.engagementguide.com . This source has great detail on all aspects of the engagement/ring process, including a comparison for metals, settings, diamonds, etc... and a fantastic list of retailers both in-store and online. I purchased online, and for those of you who also dislike dealing with salespeople and those also looking for a competitive price, online is a great option. Just make sure and do your homework, just as you would with any purchase. There are some really amazing deals to be had this season! I found a gorgeous (hopefully she will agree), princess cut diamond ring set in platinum. It looks antique and looks very delicate, as my girlfriend is extremely feminine. I am so happy I decided to go with platinum being the band is so thin, I feel confident, as it felt heavier and sturdier compared to any other metal I looked at. Good Luck, I know this can seem like a daunting task! Community Tags engagement rings, marriage, proposals, shopping, weddings Discuss this article
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