Can most people really tell the difference between costume and the real thing?
T-Bone Burnett maybe?
My engagement ring’s white gold and diamonds. It’s from the 1930’s. We got it at an antique shop. I got my wedding ring at a junk/antique show, for $60.
I don’t like yellow gold, and I’m not too crazy about diamonds- amethyst, sapphire, and opal are prettier- but I love my ring, and I do love sparkly things. I wear my ring and my grandma’s white-gold engagement ring, both for sentimental reasons. I would never, never dream of getting new gemstones when vintage settings are cheaper and more interesting, and the diamond commercials make me gag.
I admit it.
I like shiny sparkly things. And when I get engaged, I wanna diamond. When the bf asked if an engagement ring could be any stone I looked at him as if he had suddenly grown 2 heads.
Hangs head in shame I guess that’s what 24 (25 in a couple of hours) years of conditioning does to a girl.
I’m not gonna lie to make myself look better here though, I don’t think i’d be happy with a different stone as an engagement ring. Personal preference I guess. I don’t give a shit how big it is, it could be a chip for all I care, but it’s gotta be a diamond. My mother gave me her diamond band ring a few months back and in certain light, when it really starts sparklin’, sometimes I just sit there and watch it sparkle with a happy smile on my face.
In fact, I’m looking at it right now preeeetttttyyyy…
heh. 
I hate diamonds. I think that they are ugly. Especially set in yellow gold. Any guy who is remotely serious about me will know this. All of my friends know this about me.
I would much rather have an engagement kitten or goat or something. I do not want jewelry of any type. And especially not expensive jewelry. (I will admit to wearing earrings–lots of them since I have 9 holes in my ears. However, I buy my earrings in bulk at Claires, I lose earrings very frequently, and I don’t bother to match them.)
Awww man, don’t go for the kitten. I just got one a couple of months ago and I’m tearing my hair out over here! I am now terrified to have children…
In my (admittedly limited) experience, no, not unless they do a side by side, and even then, often not. I collect rocks, and you’d be amazed what I’ve found people will fall for (mainly my friends, who’re silly). The green glass faceted cut gem looks more real to them than the real rough emeralds I own (none polished, admittedly).
I, however, could probably tell (hey, just cause I can’t afford a diamond doesn’t mean I haven’t checked 'em out for kicks). However, I don’t want a diamond ring. Right now, I have a celtic knotwork/puzzle ring from my SO serving as a sort-of-engagement-handfasting-ring, and I cherish it. If I were to design my own ring (for personal fun wearing)…Amethyst or Garnet set in copper. Which will never happen, because I don’t think copper’s hard enough to set a stone in for everyday wear. Pity.
10 karat gold is almost as much copper as gold. An alloy of copper and zinc should be hard enough.
I like white gold best. The colour of silver, but it doesn’t tarnish.
Dubai is like the City of Gold - the whole region and subcontinent come here to buy their marriage gold. It has historic and famous gold souks - but the main stuff on display is very “yellow” gold which is acknowledged as not being so much to “western” taste (it does suit darker/golden skins rather than fairer ones). Still it’s a spectactular sites.
Diamonds and all gemstones are galore here. The most amazing thing is that theft and crime are so low that you don’t get that thing they do (in the UK at least) when the jewellers take everything out of the window displays at night, and have endless bars and locks all over the shop. Here you can see the window displays 24/7.
And these are HUGE GEMS. These give a new meaning to the word “rock.” Boulder more like. The gems here are of grotesque proportion - AND they’re real, not costume. Daily going through hotels and shopping centres I see rubies, diamonds and emeralds that look like boiled sweets they are so big, huge and chunky, what I frankly see as overdone and vulgar.
There is some very pretty stuff here, and they can also make/design you anything to your taste. But honestly living here really pricks the whole precious stones balloon - they’re just so huge, so widespread, (and so tacky-looking…)
Diamonds? Bring 'em on. My only rule is that they’re not bigger than my head.
Mmmmmmmmmmm… spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarklyyyy.
Okay, the diamond-for-baby commercial is over the top, I agree.
BUT. I will just mention here that I gave birth–naturally, with no painkillers–to and ELEVEN pound baby. One who had to wear a size MEDIUM sleeper when we took him home from the hospital. Next time you see a normal four-month old, that’s how big my baby was when he came out through that–let’s be frank here–incredibly small opening.
Lemme tell you, there is no diamond in the world that could conceivably be offered as some kind of bizzaro “trade” for that experience. There are not enough diamond mines on the planet.
Diamonds for baby. Indeed.
Addendum:
And by the way. I love my husband more than anything in the world. Loving diamonds and wanting them as gifts doesn’t mean I don’t love him as much as people who accept bazooka joe wrappers as engagement rings.
I love diamonds because they remind me of ice and snow and winter and my favorite time of year…I love how they sparkle. A flawless, top graded diamond is one of the most brilliant things I’ve ever seen.
It seemed like the perfect gift for a carbon-based life form.
Course, if you’d rather have pearls…
I’m with ya jarbabyj, I’ve actually had thoughts of naming my future child, if it happens to be a girl (way future, considerding i’m not knocked up, nor married) December. Everyone thinks I’m batty. I just love the winter soooo much, i’m pretty much giddy for 3 months straight.
So uh, it’s my b-day today, wanna toss one of those bad-boys my way?? 
HAAAAPPPY Birthday!
Here’s some diamonds…actually it’s just ice chips, but the thought is there.
Tee hee…thanks jarbabyj!
I have this really cheap looking gaudy ring with this big ass stone that’s sort of rainbow. It’s really dark blue-ish purple in the center and then sort of gets purple then magenta at the edges. I just like it cause it looks neat.
Okay, this thread is turning way too gentle for my tastes. When I come to the Pit, I expect to see some fur flying! Man, what a sorrowful sight.
Kn(just kidding. I think it’s kind of cute. Still hate diamond commercials, though)ckers
My engagement ring is a sapphire. Diamonds…eh. They’re nice enough looking, but I like blue!