... did you find a particular ring that you loved or just a basic style? Did you want your SO to do the choosing or did you tell him what you wanted?
We went ring shopping earlier this month. I thought I'd just have two qualifications (no princess cut and no yellow gold) and that's pretty much how it ended up, although I did LOVE the emerald cut and he said he saw my face light up with that one.
I like that he wanted to see me try some on, but I'm happy that he'll be doing the choosing. Now, I just have to wait and see what he chose.
He has already figured out how he'll propose and has done some preliminary prep work for it. He's convinced I'll be surprised, but he has told me it will happen at the beginning of next year sometime.
I'm excited, but fine with waiting. I love him so much and am enjoying our time as boyfriend/girlfriend before it gets too hectic and crazy with wedding planning.
Anyway, I'm still on a sort of "high" from ring shopping and wanted to hear your experiences =D
Re: If you went ring shopping with SO
However, we did find one ring that I just can't stop thinking about, and another that I really loved. In the end, we sort of left it that he could buy either of those rings (or something similar) and I would be one very happy girl. He may buy one of those two, or he may pick something else, but if I had to guess, I'd say he'll buy the one setting I can't stop thinking about!
Also, he was super cute when he made a comment about how he couldn't afford much right now, but that someday we'd trade up. I stopped walking suddenly, and he turned to look at me, and I told him that the styles we had looked at are my absolute dream ring, completely aside from any budget, and that if he had all the money in the world I'd still want that style. And that I will never trade up - that he's welcome to buy me other jewelry, but I only want one engagement ring for life! He got all mushy... made me smile!
So because of this he wanted to be there with me - and I had no problem with this and it turned out he knew my style right away , so I had no worries there. Where we went - Shane Co. - you choose your setting and diamond and it was a wonderful experience. This way we didn't have to settle and got an amazing ring too.
He ended up picking out the ring and diamond with me there and put the deposit down , but still surprised me with a proposal a month later. I am all for going together if nothing more than seeing in person how things look / show your SO what you like and looks good on you as well. It is an exciting time..enjoy it
However, we did find one that I fell in love with, which my mom later pointed out looks almost exactly like her old one. I don't know if BF will ultimately get that exact one or something similar. That much is up to him.
I didn't know when or where he planned on buying a ring, but he ended up having it custom made by his aunt. I have an idea as to what it looks like but he won't show me the real deal, even though he has it in his house. He wants me to be surprised, but I'm kind of scared!
We did some basic research online first... cuts, sizes, setting types, and then went to a few places to see what would look best on my hand. In the end, we decided on a custom design so that we could combine a few concepts. Thankfully, he was content to let me handle all communication with the jeweler. So while the ring itself won't be at all surprising, when and where I get it will be!
He is still going to pick out a less expensive version, possibly to actually propose with and for those times I don't want to wear the real ring. I'm curious to see what he picks. It will either be comically huge or something cool.
I haz a planning bio
In my family, couples have always shopped for rings together, using a "family jeweler". Unfortunatley, they're all in NYC and we're down in Virginia, so that wasn't going to happen.
We went to the jeweler where he buys gift sfor me (I have a thing for David Yurman). The jeweler was a total doll and realized that what he had been looking for in past visits and what I was attracted to were not close. She took notes in a little notebook.
I know the post-shopping high very well! Enjoy it!!!
Somebody once said, it's the soul that matters. Baby who can really tell, when two hearts belong so well?
Tale as Old as Time (Updated 11/26)
He ended up going by himself and spending 8 hours in a store. He picked out a .75 carat princess cut, with tiny baby diamonds set in the yellow gold band.
It wasn't at all what we talked about. But really, if you took me into a jewelry store blindfolded, spun me around, and then took off the blindfold and said "PICK ONE IN 30 SECONDS OR LESS!" this is the one I would have chosen.
It's what I said I wanted before we ever started looking. It sits a little higher that I would like, but that's not as bad as I expected. I thought I'd be catching it on everything and putting someone's eye out, but that's not the case.