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.

Comments

[danceintheabyss.livejournal.com]

Once the ring goes on it traps warmth beneath it. The warmth causes your finger to swell slightly, thus making it more difficult to get off. Best way to overcome this is hold your hand above your heart, relax your hand completely, then before you have time to think about it (or tense) reach up and remove the ring from your finger. Trust me, works like a charm every time.
Side note, I agree with the whole diamond thing, I wouldn't own one but for my mother-in-laws unending insistence to my hubby that "All women want/need diamonds" despite said womans vehement protestations to the otherwise. :P
Give me a nice chunk of silver with maybe a bit of ammolite in it any day. LOL

[snooness2]

In my experience many women like coloured gems better then diamonds. Gold vs silver is typically a choice for what a women thinks looks better with her complexion.

[rato-do-perigo.livejournal.com]

What if the future Mrs. Cyr also wanted titanium too? In my opinion I'd use it for something usefull.

I agree that gold really isn't all that. I wear silver though seldom rings. When i was engaged we argued about the rings. I wanted a custom made ring as all of my married friends had them made. He wanted something from a store. I replied I didn't want something someone can pick out. Was I being annoying? I don't think so.

I even found online an artist who could make both rings for the cost of one store ring.

Then he proposed a tattooed ring. Good thing i vetoed that one. I'd have a bitch of a time getting rid of that now.

If someone gave me a piece of string fashioned into a ring as wanting me, I'd have it encased in something. That would be my wedding ring.

[ya-inga.livejournal.com]

I don't much like gold - except white gold - and I think diamonds are cold and hard looking.

When I was married before, my engagement ring was a twist tie : ) It was sweet.

For what it is worth, when I was single I never even checked if the guy had a ring or not. Cause not all men who are married wear them - for good reasons like they are in the trades - or for bad reasons such as they are trying to hide they are married. And there are lots of people in fully committed relationshisp who aren't married - like me and Vik. So in the end the ring is not the thing.

[jamesq]

That sounds like excellent advice.

[jamesq]

If she wants titanium, then that is what she shall have.

[oblivions.livejournal.com]

here! here! There is something to be said for commitment without marriage. Why break a good thing? For those who do want to get married, that's awesome, it also means a great party but I don't think it makes you MORE committed.

Personally I like silver, just not the task of cleaning it.

[milady-j.livejournal.com]

S bought me a steel ring once at a one of those big flea market ring stands. Cheap but hasn't rusted yet. I like it.

When I think about it. I DO look at ring fingers, but mostly out of curiosity.

Being around many folks in open(or swinger) relationships, in that setting, I see a ring and am more comfortable being around those guys. Sometimes, very occasionally though they are complete letches that have no couth...or respect for others.

[danceintheabyss.livejournal.com]

Actually I proposed to my Hubby as well, I even went and bought him a ring and got down on one knee and all that. :P (at about 1am after we'd finally gotten our colicky baby to settle... I'm such a romantic.. LOL) Tradition is what ya make it.

[wendy-licious.livejournal.com]

Well, I think you've seen my engagement ring so you know my opinion on things. For those who haven't, it's silver with a blue stone. The stone is even a cheapy fake thing. Some day it will be replaced with a saphire.
My wedding ring is also silver.

[ladyerwyn.livejournal.com]

My husbands ring is platinum and mine is silver with a diamond in the middle and two sapphires on the sides of the diamond and then past the sapphires are 3 diamond specks.

I'll post a picture to FB.