Comments on A Practical Wedding: Indie Engagment Rings

I love these stories. My ring belonged to my fia...

2010-01-29T00:10:04.460-08:00

I love these stories.

My ring belonged to my fiance's french grandmother's cousin. I just had it appraised for insurance, and the jeweller said the diamonds are about 120 years old! It sounds like it is Victorian era, with a crescent moon of rose cut diamonds and a little star with an old European cut diamond.

It's amazing to think that something this tiny has not gotten lost the last hundred years!

I'm so thankful for this blog! After reading thr...

2009-12-31T10:39:11.616-08:00

I'm so thankful for this blog!

After reading through it, I began my search with my boyfriend for the right ring for us. We went to Twist, an incredible jewelry store in Portland, Oregon, where we live, and found some awesome artists like Pippa Small, L. Frank and Me&Ro. I shared my search with one close friend who understood my personality and aesthetic, and, without ever seeing this blog, she recommended some rings from Conroy & Wilcox to me, too. My fiance ended up going with this version of the sapphire ring pictured on this blog, and I am so absolutely thrilled with it. It is so clear, so lovely, so simple, so refined.

We got engaged just a couple of weeks ago, and upon going home to South Georgia for Christmas, I was reminded that folks down there aren't quite used to non-conventional rings. While most women simply called the ring sweet or dainty, a few were blown away by it and thought it was perfect for me. I now understand the slight strangeness women encounter when people respond hesitatingly to their ring choice, but when they see how much I love it, they warm up to it and are encouraged by my enthusiasm. It's a great symbol of our engagement, and I want nothing else!

Thanks again for posting!

My engagement ring is not indie, antique, passed d...

2009-12-15T13:24:18.297-08:00

My engagement ring is not indie, antique, passed down, or anything like that. It is brand new and purchased from a regular jewelry store in the mall. It wasn't custom made, and it fact, I can go in the store at any time and see the exact same ring that I wear in their glass case. It's not particularly big or small. But, I LOVE it. I love it because it's beautiful to me and because my fiance picked it out for me. He looked at all the rings and picked one out that he thought would fit me best and he did a great job. Every time I look at my ring I think of how much he loves me and our love for each other. I love wearing my ring because for me it says, my fiance and I love each other and this is our physical symbol of that love. I agree that the symbol of two people's love doesn't have to be a diamond and it doesn't have to be anything at all; but it is in fact extremely personal.

I loved reading all these stories about everyone's rings and how special they are. I can understand the hesitation some women have about diamonds and what they can often stand for. I just wanted to share my story because I have a super-regular-traditional ring and couldn't be happier. I think that a woman's ring choice is personal and I wish it didn't have to be about who has more carats or what kind of stone, but more about appreciating what lead two people to have a ring in the first place: LOVE!

I love this post. Wish I would have found it soon...

2009-09-01T22:52:48.207-07:00

I love this post. Wish I would have found it sooner! I have a non-traditional engagement ring that my fiance and I picked out together. It was important to me that it was hand made in the city that we live in and got engaged in, San Francisco. Sarah Graham, http://www.sarahgraham.com/ I ended up with two of the Pebbles rings, with three different sized diamonds.

I love my rings and think they are so much more "me" than a big diamond sitting on my finger. But I would be lying if I wasn't a little bit self-conscious about how others react to me when they see it. Most people don't comment at all or say something awkward like "neat" or "interesting." Really??? When I've seen a friends engagement ring, no matter what it looks like, I view it as a symbol of their love and commitment to one another. And THAT is beautiful... so I say so. I'm trying to remain true to myself and conscious of my beliefs but it can be damn hard when I've got a bunch of big diamonds staring back at me. I'm guilty of feeling the pull. I'm so grateful for the comments here and hearing other peoples' stories. Yay unique rings!

Rebecca, I understand what you mean about the pric...

2009-02-10T06:40:31.541-08:00

Rebecca, I understand what you mean about the price being so important. We found sapphire estate ring that I completely fell in love with. And? 60% off! I always had a much smaller budget in mind than he did, and when two friends reported that their rings clocked in at five figures, I was shocked! I couldn't imagine wearing that much on my hand every day when there's just a huge list of things we could do with that money. So while I'm glad they love their rings, I'm much happier with my three figure dream ring. But he's caught some flack from people because it isn't a platinum diamond ring. And when he tells people I offered to pay for half (which he won't let me do), they have insisted that he did the right thing. Sigh.

Upon our engagement, my fiance's mom (who lives fa...

2009-01-04T21:27:49.367-08:00

Upon our engagement, my fiance's mom (who lives far away) scanned some pictures of his great-grandmother's ring, which she'd been keeping, and emailed them to us. I wasn't in love with it from the images, so we looked in the local mall and jewelers. But I also didn't like the style, prices or dubious ethics of the big showy diamonds.
So I decided to give the fiance's great-grandma's ring another chance. His mom sent it through the mail (unaware of the contents, our landlady threw the package down our stairs upon delivery! Luckily the ring was unharmed).
I tried it on and the ring fit just right. It's a slim yellow gold band with a white gold setting for the small diamond. According to the fiance's mom, the diamond is cut in an "old mine" style, which just isn't used anymore.
The ring is small and sparkly and not too showy, which fits my style just right. Plus it has so much history and is a part of his, and now our, family. I also like how, just as in a good relationship, patience was required to recognize its true value.

My fiance and I spent ages looking at rings - the ...

2008-12-20T01:36:26.426-08:00

My fiance and I spent ages looking at rings - the only conclusion we came to was that we didn't like traditional rings. We went to a local designer who created my champagne diamond and silver ring. We were on a strict budget because we are emigrating to the UK early next year. I adore my ring and we are now looking at options for his engagement ring.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36362500@N00/2998902026/

I've got a lab-created saphire ring (designed by t...

2008-12-17T14:25:43.118-08:00

I've got a lab-created saphire ring (designed by the fiance)in white gold and I love it! I'm an environmental engineer (he loves blue) and it just fit us perfectly. I'm also a Target girl (designer looking clothes at a fraction of the price), so the white gold is COMPLETELY me!

My "traditional" engagement ring is from my grandm...

2008-12-16T10:11:21.891-08:00

My "traditional" engagement ring is from my grandma, and the diamond was her mother's. When my grandma first suggested that I have it as an engagement ring, I was blown away by the sentiment, but very unenthusiastic about the ring itself. I've never been much of a jewelry person, and certainly not an expensive jewelry person, and this diamond was over a carat and set in this giant thumb ring that stuck out an inch. Very not me.

But my grandma and fiance and I went to a jeweler and my fiance found this perfect simple setting where the stone doesn't stick out and catch on anything. So now I have that, but I really only wear it on special occasions.

My everyday ring is a $1 hematite ring. My fiance has a matching one. I like how light it is, and how easy it is to replace if I lose or break it. I also like the color and style enough that now I'm looking at titanium and palladium wedding rings, which are similar but much less breakable. ;)

The wedding rings are still in question, though. My fiance really really doesn't like wearing rings, and as a nurse he feels like he'd have to take it off frequently to keep his hands sanitized. But other nurses keep their wedding rings on, and it's super important to me that he have some visible symbol of being married, so... yeah. It's still up in the air what we'll actually do.

I have a traditional wedding ring because my fianc...

2008-12-16T00:46:11.010-08:00

I have a traditional wedding ring because my fiance is a traditional sort of person. I had wanted a moissanite, three stone oval white gold ring because I wanted him to save money and they're more sparkly than diamonds and they're lab grown.

When it actually came to buying it, he WANTED to buy me a diamond, so I gave him my top two criteria: oval and white gold. It's an oval solitaire on a plain band because he doesn't like ornate rings (I do.). But I love it because it represents us. The more traditional solitaire with a very rare oval diamond.

When he went to buy it, the guy looked at him like he was nuts.
"NO ONE wears oval shaped diamonds anymore. It's not fashionable!" "Well, my fiance isn't a normal girl and this is what she wants."

I have grown to like simple, and I plan to buy a simple band with a bit of etching and miligrain to match his. :) To me, my ring reminds me of the main thing to remember in marriage: compromise is key and a marriage is a partnership.

OH!so funny... i am so excited about this but i re...

2008-12-15T21:05:50.621-08:00

OH!

so funny... i am so excited about this but i read this post when it came out and was thinking of all kinds of joyful rings...

and a month later, i got engaged. to the most beautiful man. and he gave me a ring that is so perfectly mermaid-ish me :)

it's a large blue opal set with two blue topaz stones - one baby blue, one ocean blue (both opal and topaz are stones for our birthmonth). it is set in sweeping waves of silver, and was created by the most gorgeous ring designer who lives here on the coast in australia. i'd give you her website, but she doesn't have one - she only sells through markets. her rings are scrumptious and organic, with the silver swirling and twisting like the ocean to hold in the precious jewels. she also works a lot with freshwater pearls (which aren't perfect circles - they are more like a river).

Oh! i can show you a picture of my ring though..
www.goddessleonie.com/6/post/2008/10/where-love-meets-the-sea.html

wishing you all gorgeously-yourself-ring-and-everything-else journeys :)

big love!
Leonie

I just started reading your blog tonight, and I lo...

2008-12-01T23:48:12.734-08:00

I just started reading your blog tonight, and I love it! I am getting married in 2010 and my fiance is from England (I'm from Missouri), so we are trying to have a budget wedding with the hope that we can spend money helping his friends/family fly over here.

I love the engagement ring with the hidden diamond, I've been trying to figure out what I would like as a wedding band and I love that...do you know where that was purchased??

I'm so glad to read of other women with non-tradit...

2008-08-09T19:00:03.704-07:00

I'm so glad to read of other women with non-traditional rings :) Mine is actually a product of the "right hand ring" phenomenon. It's a pretty swirly intricate design. I love it so much, but I am sick of the comment "How are you going to put a wedding band with that?" It annoys me so much. The worst part is, however, that my fiancee's mom and sister don't believe we are actually engaged because I don't have a solitaire rock. Stupid traditions.

It is so rare to see other girls with non-traditio...

2008-08-06T18:53:42.565-07:00

It is so rare to see other girls with non-traditional engagement rings. This post is so full of awesome!!!! I had wanted the ring I have on my finger for a long time. I was 17 (I'm 26 now) when I first saw it. I was passing time in my Grandpa's house, looking at pictures in architectural magazines. There was an ad for a company called Teno, and I looked it up as soon as I got home. I saw this ring and I knew I had to have it one day.

Fast forward to a year ago... my (then) boyfriend and I were wandering around in Soho while on vacation. Lo and behold we glance down a side street and there was the Teno store. I got to show him my ring in person, and try it on. Well in may he surprised me with it, and we're getting married in September!

It's 4.5m wide, steel band, with a round sapphire in the middle and two small diamonds on each side. I love it so so much. I get mixed reactions, but most of them are positive (not that it matters). :)

http://teno.com/yuriwanddi.html
It's much bluer than that in person.

YAY! Thank you for posting this follow up and for ...

2008-08-06T18:39:56.950-07:00

YAY! Thank you for posting this follow up and for mentioning my engagement ring! Want to know the coolest thing - not that it matters in the long run - but suddenly people are loving my ring! To me it's a perfect symbol of what we have - simple and easy love. Awwwwww. = )

we bought mine together in Thailand at a little je...

2008-08-06T09:47:18.220-07:00

we bought mine together in Thailand at a little jewelry store called Nova. It is simply silver and gold with a small, beautiful opal. It's simple, practical and best off all sturdy, I'm not very graceful so wanted something that could keep up with me.

Oh I just love that imperfect diamond! And the hid...

2008-08-06T09:33:11.567-07:00

Oh I just love that imperfect diamond! And the hidden diamond is so cool... very anti-Olympic (in a good way)

I love the rough cut ones. Very nice.

2008-08-05T14:11:31.672-07:00

I love the rough cut ones. Very nice.

Love this post! Especially the hidden diamond and...

2008-08-05T08:57:55.346-07:00

Love this post! Especially the hidden diamond and three stone above it, but I have to say I love the idea of a simple gold knot engagement ring. It's so beautifully simple and appropriate!

one more thing....I see some comments citing ethic...

2008-08-04T22:51:57.165-07:00

one more thing....
I see some comments citing ethical reasons for not wanting a diamond.
But there are blood rubies, and saphires too.
no matter what you choose, make sure it has a kimberely certificate.

there is also the question of "dirty gold"

a term that is totally new to me, I never knew that mining for gold had a huge negative effect on the environment.

now there is more to be conscious ofthan just picking a pretty ring.

p.s. I have that same knot ring, I love it.

I have a traditional engagement ring, art deco sty...

2008-08-04T22:35:16.252-07:00

I have a traditional engagement ring, art deco style, cushion cut.
super thin pave band with matching thin thin pave band.

But I'm going to the court house months before the "wedding"
I'm thinking of using this ring

http://style-for-style.blogspot.com/2008/07/no-price-but-priceless.html

I love these stories! For the record, my vintage r...

2008-08-04T21:11:50.039-07:00

I love these stories! For the record, my vintage ring is very traditional looking, and I love it. I decided I wanted a less indie looking ring for my engagement ring (though I love these....) and that I could get one like these later. Your engagement ring doesn't have to be your first and last lovely ring right? Hopefully you have a lot of happy years afterwards for various celebratory jewelry purchases... or so say I!

I have to say all these stories about "indie" ring...

2008-08-04T20:33:13.931-07:00

I have to say all these stories about "indie" rings are wonderful!
And my ring isn't indie at all. That's right, it's from Tiffany. I originaly didn't care about the style of the ring, but I fell in love with the Tiffany Ribbon ring. My fiance and I are young and will be purchasing our first house soon and I really didn't think I would ever have my dream ring. But, he insisted because my favorite movie is "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and he knew how much I loved the ring.! It might be about the smallest ribbon ring Tiffany has ever made, but we didn't want to have to take out a loan for it. While it's not unique, it is different. And people always remark how it fits my personality (style and size wise). And, he's been wearing an "engagement" ring on his left hand for about a year now. We have yet to pick out his wedding band, but I'm so excited to pick out something with him that he will wear for the rest of his life!

I have a traditional round shape diamond- but it's...

2008-08-04T19:51:59.422-07:00

I have a traditional round shape diamond- but it's perfect for me because it looks larger than it is, but I know that it just looks larger because of the clarity of the cut and the height of the prong. It's also delicate without being too plain.

A friend of mine received a non-traditional ruby ring, and her fiance received a very simple band as his engagement ring. Now my fiance wants one, so we're going to start shopping for one! Why not? He wants something that says he's engaged, too!

I read something in here about men wearing engagem...

2008-08-04T19:23:47.927-07:00

I read something in here about men wearing engagement rings and had to share.

After I got my ring, my fiance expressed that he felt left out. He wanted a ring too. One day, I was walking around the mall and spotted a black, anodized steel ring at a jewelery cart and knew he would love it so I bought it, brought it home, and gave it to him. Without a word, he put it on and hasn't taken it off since.

There was no particular reason for giving it to him other than he simply wanted a ring. I mean, why deny the man something he wants? I get a ring, why can't he have one too?

Did anyone else do this?