a personal question about your e-rings.

My ring is a little under 1 ct. I told my FH that I didn't want a big diamond. I don't wear jewelry too often, nor have I ever worn a ring before my engagement ring. This one is the perfect size for me.

I'm not all into the setting, how big the diamond is, etc.. I don't even know anything about all of that. I was in a serious relationship before I met FH and my ex bought me a ring that was over $3,800 and I still haven't seen it, (apparently he took it back)but I've asked friends and they said it was "BEAUTIFUL",to be honest..I'm so glad it never made it to the point of him proposing, because I wouldn't be where I am today..(I broke things off but he worked out of town and I still handled his bills until he could come home..I got the bank statement and a Kay's notice in the mail that he could get 20% his next purchase and on the bank statement was $3,800 charge to Kay's Jewelry)I am way more impressed with my $300 promise ring I got last year for Christmas then my new e-ring that I helped pick out and should be here anyday now.. I wish I could keep my promise ring because I love it.I know FH is the man that God put here for me and this tiny little $300 ring is a symbol of his love.

Exactly Beth, the size of the diamond isin't what keeps you together.

Sounds like YOU like it! Everyone has an idea of what an e-ring should look like. More often than not, its what they would like THEIR e-ring to look like. Its like any kind of fashion or hairstyle, what's popular changes and is different for everyone's financial situation or region. Eg. Rings are smaller in the south than up north. I read the average is a carat up north and the avg in the south is .5!

I second Beth. I like huge. My ring isn't. Oh well. I actually had a post about this a month or so back. I have ring envy bad sometimes. I personally don't associate love and the ring at all. So, I don't understand when people say, "its not the size of the ring, its the size of your love!" One, thats some hella cheezy nonsense. Two, I just like bling. My FH knows it too! But, this is what we can afford, and he's against diamonds anyway. He, rightfully so, thinks its silly. What can I say, he ring had very little to do with our engagement. He wanted to marry me.

I wanted to marry him and it just so happened it was an excuse for me to get something shiny.

Wow that's rude of those people to say those things to you. A ring does not represent how much love he's put into it. Just wow!

My FS paid a lot for the quality of my ring, over how big it looks. I have a .65 round ideal cut diamond, internally flawless, and I love how much it sparkles. And I much prefer that than if he had gotten me a 1 carat or more of less quality. Don't be insecure, if you love your ring that is what matters! And you should love your ring, no matter the size. People who say those rude things to you are insecure themselves.

My ring is a single stone solitaire at .45 carats...when my FSIL got engaged she made it a point to say to me "J bought me a 3 carat, 3 stone ring" - Regardless of the size of the ring, I think it's the thought behind it that means the most to me -- it's the fact that my fiance chose it on his own and took into consideration that I don't like a lot of bling and glitz...I'm simple and elegant in my style.

My ring is 3 carats, and I tell FS all the time he did NOT have to get something that big. It is NOT the size, shape, color, or even the sparkle that matters. I love it, but I wanted something smaller, but I will never complain, and never say anything bad about someone who has a smaller one, her FS loves her just as much as mine does

Mine is small but I have small hands so it is perfect. And I like all my jewelery delicate and danity The necklace hubby bought me is a little gold butterfly on a thin chain, and I looooooove it, it is just me.

My ring is also on the smaller side, but the way its set it looks bigger. I love my ring the way its set and don't want to change it, But fs says I deserve bigger so he made sure that we can upgrade it. But I will only do it if I can get the exact same settings. So my upgraded ring will be my wedding ring. and We will keep upgrading until he decides he has got me the best. I will be doing the same with his ring. He's used to being able to drop 3k on diamond earrings for himself. but since being with me and this wedding that hasn't happened, and my ring is far from that price. (i saw the receipt heheh) but in the end I'm not about the ring I'm about the fact I'm spending forever with my man

Jaime, your dad and FSIL never should have said that! So rude! If you love it (and more importantly your FH), which you DO, that's all that counts. I'm sure you were too shocked at that moment to put them in their place by calling them out on that. If the chance ever arises, please tell them they are way out of line, it hurts your feelings when they belittle your ring as it's the love behind it that counts, and then sit back and watch them backtrack!

For another perspective, I had a 2.75 carat stone in my engagement ring for my first marriage. At the time, that was considered huge, and the only reason I had it was that I inherited the diamond from my grandmother, and we just had it reset. I wore that ring for close to 20 years. However, when I put it into my safe deposit box at the end of that time, it was a huge relief, and I vowed I would never again have an engagement ring. And I've kept to that. In my second marriage, I did not have an engagement ring, and my wedding ring was a plain gold band.

(cont.)

The most immediate reason for wanting to avoid a big diamond was safety. I see a lot of women who have fake rings for travel, or if they are walking in an unsafe area. I did not want to have to think about that sort of thing. While I was not worried specifically about having the ring stolen (it was always insured), I did not want to have a ring valuable enough so that some thief might figure it worthwhile attacking me to get it.

I strongly dislike the idea that every woman must have a diamond engagement ring (and these days, often a diamond wedding ring and a diamond eternity ring for an anniversary). If every woman has the exact same kind of stone, it just encourages the idea that the bigger the stone, the more the love--which is ludicrous.

(cont.)

I'm right there with Silhoette. Mine was fake, but nobody knew but me, him, and now you all. It's probably for the better though. One day I washed my hands at the mall and walked to meet FH. I noticed my ring was not on. When I went back to bathroom it was gone. Pretty sure it fell off and someone stole it. We still joke about the look on their face if they try to pawn it and find out its fake. I'm re-ordering one just like it. Anyways, I loved my ring and noone could tell it was fake.

I also don't like the sexism in it. The idea is that a man can get engaged only when he is financially secure enough to afford an expensive ring, but that a woman can get engaged regardless of her finances. It also means that only the man can propose, if proposing has to be done with a ring (which a great many people think it does). And it means that a woman is expected to wear a symbol of her commitment beginning with engagement (and sometimes even preengagement), while a man is expected to wear one only on marriage.

(cont.)

Finally, the whole conflict diamonds issue gives me concern. Even if you buy a diamond that is not a conflict diamond, the inflation in diamond prices caused by every man needing to buy one (or more) for his fiancee/wife is what fuels the trade in conflict diamonds. And while many contributions to corporate bad practices are hard to avoid (are you really going to try to figure out the wages paid to the people who made your t-shirt), avoiding diamonds is easy.

Ahem! Ok, off my soapbox for the moment. ;-)

I can't even wear my rings because of my job. would rather keep my finger where its at. However, we did not spend a fortune on our rings and when I suggested getting new ones for our ceremony (which is still on) my husband flat out refused. He said he was going to wear the one we originaly picked out. I guess this time we are going with anniversary bands. Mine will sit in the jewelry box most of the time...I kinda wanna keep that finger too.

I'm not a fan of big diamonds..I like my little princess cut ring.(:

I had an image in my head ever since I was younger of what I wanted my wedding ring to look like..I wanted a square-ish gemstone, with diamonds around it, then a plain diamond band..personally i like big gemstones rather than diamonds..

1.e-ring

2&3. wedding set

IMO those who brag about how "big" their diamond is, arent very secure of the relationship. Its like proving how much the other loves them by how big it is. Example, when my coworker got engaged, she bragged and bragged how big her diamond ring was (which was about .5 carat), but Ive listened to her countless times complain about what a jerk he is and how she should just walk away from it all. But a friend of mine who absolutely loves and adores her husband, never said a word about the 2 carat ring he gave her when she got engaged. I on the other hand, dont like diamonds. I am very satisfied with my fire opal. And just to be funny, after I got engaged I came to work and went on and on with one of my other coworkers about how much it sparkled. We both giggled cuz she knew why I was saying it.