With This Ring

[jamesq]

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I'm not in a position to be buying my lover an engagement ring (I lack a key component), but it's been on my mind recently due to the number of recent engagements and also due to a Fark thread.

Do I need to point out to anyone here that the modern diamond industry is a scam? I hope not. If I do, consider yourself told. That's not to say you shouldn't buy one - but make your decision based on personal reasons rather then a slick advertising campaign that's nearly 100 years long.

So what would I buy? First, I'd probably buy what the fiance would like. Which is to say I'd propose without the ring and then we'd make the purchase together so that it's something she actually wants and would be comfortable wearing for the rest of her life. That could include a brand-new diamond from Spence Diamonds (home of one of the most irritating commercials in Canada). Sometimes you have to make compromises.

My own personal preference would be a precious metal that is not gold (I'm not fussy about the colour yellow at the best of times, which is 100% of my dislike for gold as an adornment) and a stone that's bluish to purplish. Sapphire or tanzanite maybe. That's for her. My own ring would be a simple ring of titanium, in case I'm ever trapped in a submersible.

I'd kind of like to hunt around through pawn shops for a vintage ring with some history - especially if I knew what that history was. This might have more to do with my love of pawn shops though. Hopefully the future Mrs. Cyr is of a similar bent. The danger there is that our home would end up looking like a pawn shop itself.

I'm not even sure I need a ring - it's more for my mate then anything else since I'm not a big believer in symbolism. I'd rather show my eternal love by, you know, showing my love in little ways every day. OTOH if she wants a ring, a ring she shall have.

One of my uncles proposed to my aunt and gave her a hose clamp as a "place holder" until they could get a proper ring (he was an auto mechanic, so he had plenty to choose from). I've always thought that was a cool story. On the bright side, they're easy to fit.

Ring - but not marriage - related: I've thought idly about buying a ring as an experiment. The goal is to see if women really do pay more attention to a man who has a wedding ring. Note, I wouldn't lie to these women. If they brought the ring up, I'd truthfully tell them that I was single and this was part of the experiment. I'd take pains to emphasize that I'm not just saying that either. Hopefully they'd believe it. What's stopping me is the fact that I hate wearing rings. I don't like anything on my hands at all (it took me a year to get used to wearing a wrist watch and the only reason I did it was because I kept needing one for running and archery) so whatever ring I end up getting (with my fiance, not the fake one) would probably be worn on a chain around my neck.

I'll be very disappointed if I found that I do get attention for wearing a faux wedding ring. Not so disappointed that I wouldn't take advantage of the situation mind you, but still a little sad at the implications for shy, considerate men in general.

Can anyone tell me why it's easier to put a (allegedly properly fitted) ring on the get it off? Half the time they slide on super easy and then I spend so long trying to get them off I'm worried I'm going to have to buy the damn things.