I want it to be a total surprise, ring and all.

However, once it gets to the point where a proposal could be looming, my should probably have figured out that I only wear white metal. That's something a guy should be able to figure out on his own. I don't care if it's white gold or platinum, and as long as the diamond isn't shitty clarity, I'd appreciate any size.

But if I wanted to pick, I'd probably pick a 1 or 2 carat marquis or princess cut set in a medium thickness platinum band.

But I really want the romance of surprise.

Can women tell if it's cubic zirconium?;)

Is it just me or doesn't the fiancee lose all moral authority when she takes it to the jeweler to have it appraised?:D

Actually, many people get rings appraised for "good" reasons, for example, to make sure that the diamond really is what the seller said it is. This isn't so much of a problem if the diamond is GIA certified, but it's never a bad idea. Also, she may at some point take the ring in to get it cleaned or resized, and I'm sure any jeweler would say something if it was a CZ.

Ya'll should know I'd never consider doing that.

I still don't really understand why the $$ part of a ring is so important -- or do many think that if the guy isn't willing to part with his $ he doesn't love you enough?

I'm sure this isn't the case for every women, but I think that for a lot of women, it's that the engagement ring is the most obvious symbol for the engagement itself, and if their fiancee isn't willing to put some time, effort, money and care into it, they start to wonder how much time, effort, money and care he will put into the marriage. A fake diamond would kind of reflect a "fake relationship," in a sense . . . especially if he lied to her and told her the CZ was a diamond.

(You can tell I've been writing too many English papers when I start getting this deep into the symbolism of engagement rings, lol :p !)

As you've seen from these posts, though, it's pretty obvious that money is not the only factor, or even the most important one. I think most of us would be happier with a $2,000 ring that reflected our tastes and showed that he had taken what we liked and what was important to us into account, than we would be with a $10,000 ring that was uncomfortable, unpractical, tacky or just not in line with our taste.

My fiance designed our engagement ring. When I first saw it, I was a bit disappointed, because there's a center stone and 5 small ones, and it wasn't exactly "me".

Then I found out that he had used diamonds that had been set in his grandmother's ring, and that the <> diamond shaped carvings were to symbolize my sorority - which he realizes is important to me!

So, okay, it's maybe a carat total, but with that much history and that much planning, I think both the ring & my fiance are keepers! :)

honeychile

You know, I wouldn't mind receiving a .75 or 1 carat Princess cut diamond from my boyfriend. But I can honestly say that I would be just as happy receiving his fraternity pin as a symbol of our love. That's how we met...through his fraternity and my sorority having a social together. So it would only be natural to base our future off our involvement in the Greek community.

One day, it will happen. Until then, I am patiently waiting....and hinting :D (My sisters think it will happen within the year though).


Jadey

I think we have some fibbers on this thread who don't want to look materialistic and shallow so they say "Oh, I could never have 1 carat, my hands are so delicate...." :rolleyes: ;) :p I'm teasing you all, but in a nice way, so no offense to anyone!

But come on, who doesn't want a nice rock on her hand?!? I have always told my boyfriend all I need is a nice 2 carat diamond solitare in a platinum setting! :D I doubt I would actually get that much, but I expect at least a carat. I know how much money my boyfriend makes, I know his financial obligations, and I know he can afford that. So, I am shallow because I want it? I don't think so. However, if I was dating a starving artist or a college student, of course I would not expect something that big! But if he can afford a decent size, that's what I want.

Hey, Hootie - jewlery question. Would a specific diamond cost the same in Nebraska as it would in NYC, for the most part. I mean, if all things are equal (the C's)? Because I was thinking that I see plenty of carat plus rings here and I have a theory about it, but need your info. to see if I'm right.

Edited to add: I tell my boyfriend I want the 2 carat, but it's not a demand! He knows it's not a demand!

Re: SURVEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

I would be fine with it. I too would walk away while the actual transaction took place and the financing, etc. was discussed. I wouldn't see it as a ruined moment... I would want him to take it home and put it on my hand when we were alone and officially "ask" me... but to me, the important part of it happened when he told me many months ago that he wants to marry me.

Well I can't speak for everyone else, but I for one am dead serious when I say I wouldn't want anything bigger than a 1/2 carat. Like I said in one of my previous post, if I had anything bigger I could never wear it to work. Besides that I am honestly not into flashy jewelry. I don't even wear any jewelry at all other than my engagement ring. Oh, and my tiny little diamond stud earrings, which are REALLY tiny!

Ditto here. Bad enough I have to glove/gown and go into operating rooms sometimes. I would either have to (a) take the ring off -- forget it -- or (b) risk ripping the glove. (The surgeon would kill me.)

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)
:)

I know my cousin received a smaller ring because her husband was only out of college for 2 years at the time that he proposed. They had to consider other expenses like the wedding and setting up a household. A few years later he upgraded. He added diamonds to the ring. It's hard to explain. I guess that an option for those of you who get engaged when you're young.

xo_kathy, I would be more than happy with one carat or more. I just want it to come from the right man. :)

My friend, who is a nurse, never wears her engagement ring to work. It safely at home. She just wears her wedding band.

Absolutely, Cream!!! :)

And I didn't say everyone was fibbing! But I think maybe some...Again, though, I mean no disrespect!!! :) And maybe it's because I live in this crazy town, but I don't consider a carat flashy at all?