I asked my fiancée for a small, inexpensive ring (I even said gemstone instead of diamond to cut back on price). I rarely wear any jewellery, and when I do it's small, delicate pieces.
He thought he was being generous when he bought me a 3 1/2 carat sapphire with two 1/2 carat diamond baguette. He spend more than five times what I had told him would suffice. I know it's his money and the thought that counts and the ring is symbolism for our commitment. It just kills me that we could have had a week in Europe for a piece of jewellery. It's too big bringht and gaudy for my taste, and it's HEAVY. I find myself taking it off whenever I can just because of the discomfort. I would never tell him any of this. He spent months custom designing it and I couldn't hurt him like that.
My solution is to tolerate wearing it for a year (six more months now) and then just wear a small plain wedding band once we get married. We're about to start shopping for bands, and I'm so nervous. I really am not looking forward to having the conversation of what band would go with my ring, and that leading me to telling him I'm not going to be wearing the ring.
I would love some gentle phrasing/white lies to help avoid hurting his feelings.