A couple of threads here made me think last night, so I asked FI what he ended up deciding after all the research we did on rings and stones.I mean, honestly, what is important differs for every couple, but I hope this insight might shed some light on the whole ring topic for NEY ladies (and I hope other engaged girls will post what their experience has been like). FI decided that cut and size were more important to him than clarity, because a well-cut stone will sparkle so much that imperfections are well camouflaged. Besides, nobody else will really look close enough at the stone to see imperfections, but they will notice sparkle and size. He also decided to go with princess cut instead of cushion, because the first thing I ever told him was that I wanted princess cut, and I'm the sort of person that knows what she wants immediately. It was only after a lot of talking and considering that I said cushion, so he figured princess was probably what I wanted deep down. When he opened that ring box, this was NOT the ring I had pictured in my head. Nothing about it (except being yellow gold) is what I expected. It sits high, which I hadn't wanted. It's a diamond, which I hadn't wanted. I was really worried he hadn't noticed the three little imperfections in the diamond and would be upset.He had noticed, and didn't care. You can't see them unless you're looking for them, and even then you have to turn the ring to an angle.In fact, when I first put this ring on it felt incredibly uncomfortable. It felt huge and bulky. That wasn't what I had in mind. But now I couldn't imagine any other ring on my finger. I've gotten used to the weight and band width, and it's perfectly comfortable. I kind of like the freckles in my ring because it's unique. After all that talking and comparing and thinking and deciding, he went with a ring that looked like what I would pick if you blindfolded me, spun me around three times, took the blindfold off and said "Jeana, pick a ring, any ring." That's the way I like to make my decisions, and despite months of research, he knew to go with my gut. And that's why I love him. Although it would have been much easier if he'd skipped the research and proposed 4 months ago... but then he wouldn't be the agonizingly logical guy I fell in love with five years ago. :)Moral of the story: all your research and deep thought into stones and C's and settings doesn't mean a thing. When your guy proposes you're going to be so thrilled and excited and nervous that everything might seem like a much bigger deal than it is... whether it's freckles in your diamond, or how the band feels the first week, or deciding on a wedding date.None of it is crucial. The only thing that matters is that you don't get caught up in all of it and forget what's really important-- your relationship with your future husband.
