I Love My Ring. I Really Do. But…
Hey, wonderful gem enthusiasts! ✨
Let’s dive into the lovely world of engagement rings—a beautiful token of love and commitment. Today, I’m excited to share my own sparkler with you: my engagement ring! But before I get swept away in admiration, I want to open up a topic that might resonate with many of you: the complexities and considerations that often come with these cherished pieces of jewelry.
The Love Affair 🌹
First off, let me introduce you to my ring. It’s a stunning round-cut diamond held in a delicate halo setting, with a vintage band that glistens with small accent stones. Every time I glance at it, I feel a surge of joy and a reminder of the beautiful promise it represents. It’s more than just a ring; it’s a part of my story.
But…
As much as I adore my ring, there are some lingering thoughts that I can’t shake off. Here are a few points that I reckon many of you might relate to:
1. The Weight of Expectation
There’s sometimes this pressure to showcase a perfect ring, one that garners admiration from friends and family. Is it just me, or does anyone else feel that societal expectation creeping in?
2. Budget Constraints
While shopping for my engagement ring, I faced the age-old debate of quality versus budget. It’s tough knowing that you might not be able to get everything you want due to financial constraints. Did anyone else experience this?
3. Evolving Tastes
I’ve noticed that my tastes have slightly changed since I got engaged. I used to be drawn to flashy stones but now appreciate more understated elegance. Is it normal to think about upgrading or remounting? Can you love your ring while contemplating a change?
4. The Gemstone Debate
Diamonds are classic, but I can’t help but admire other stones like sapphires and emeralds. Personally, I adore the different meanings behind various gemstones. What do you think—should a ring reflect the traditional diamond, or is it time to embrace individuality?
Let’s Start a Conversation!
Now, I’d love to hear from all of you! Do you share similar feelings about your ring? Maybe you’ve had moments of second-guessing or contemplation. Have you ever thought about redesigning your ring or perhaps switching the stone altogether?
What about your journeys—what draws you to certain cuts and settings? Let’s learn from each other about what we love, what challenges we face, and how we can celebrate the beauty of engagement rings in all their glory!
Post your thoughts, show off your rings, and let’s create an open space for discussion. I can’t wait to see your bling and read your stories! 💍💖
Feel free to share your experiences, questions, or advice in the comments! Let’s make this a vibrant community for all things engagement rings.
I genuinely think it’s a lovely ring. It’s beautiful! If I’m reading correctly, he got what you asked for. The issue is that you felt like you couldn’t ask for exactly what you wanted. If it were me, I’d give him credit for getting exactly what I asked for. That means so, so much. In the future, learn from this and try to find a way to express your preferences. If someone asks what you want, they really want to know what you want. Just say it! 🙂
(Seriously, it’s a lovely ring!)
I may be a minority voice here but whatever. I actually really like your ring on first blush before even reading your blurb. I feel like oval is being overdone. it’s having its “moment” much like the halo did back in the day, everyone has one, and soon everyone will be sick of it. Your first picture of your actual ring is why I even clicked on this post. I really like it. You can upgrade and change styles down the line, but honestly as a start I think he did great. Also, forget other people’s reactions. Generally speaking, we don’t walk down the street oohing and awing at people’s rings. I think that’s where social media has messed with everyone’s heads. it’s important to you and thats what matters.
I love it!! It’s perfect! Try not to get influenced by all the recent large sized rings. Your ring looks like it will be great for every day wear and it’s timeless and classic. What size is the center stone he purchased? Compared to the one you wanted??
It sounds like you’re comparing your ring to everyone else’s…..
Your ring looks like it’s about 1-1.5 ct, that’s respectable. It’s in a classic and timeless setting.
After you get married, no one will pay attention to your engagement ring anyway.
I have a similar size diamond but I have sapphires on the side – everyone complimented it right away because it’s unique — no one has even looked at it since my wedding other than me & my husband.
Focus on the fact that you’re about to start a new exciting chapter with your favorite person.
I think this is one of my favourite rings I’ve ever seen 🙏 please don’t change it. I think if the center stone was any bigger it would feel completely different.
I prefer yours! Because your centre stone is round they blend together to look like one, incredible, totally unique stone, but the other one is just a giant rock with some sparkles on the sides. It’s pretty, but mostly just big. Yours is awesome.
I think your ring is unique and beautiful. Ovals are so overdone and rounds are classic and timeless. Live with it and hopefully you will grow to love it if not anniversaries are great opportunities to upgrade 🙂
If I understand correctly you have the ring in photo 1, which in my honest option looks way better than photo 2… Rounds are wider and some (like me) prefer that look over a similar weight oval, which can look too narrow in my eyes. Your ring looks absolutely lovely and classic. I recommend trying to look at it through the eyes of those like me who are commenting how much they love it, then later if you want to consider a new ring for an anniversary do that.
Honestly, your ring is so much prettier than the second picture. The oval looks a bit too trendy and honestly it cheapens it. Yours is truly much better 🤷🏼♀️
I LOVE your ring! I find it much prettier and more timeless than the oval.
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Your ring is beautiful! I don’t know what’s going on with people nowadays and I think this has to do with the lab grown diamond being much less expensive, everybody’s trying to go for this big look and everyone‘s on social media with these big rings, people need to appreciate that someone went through the time to get something for you out of love and it doesn’t matter what size it is. Honestly, if I were a guy, I would be so offended and upset if you brought this up to me.
I personally love it and I’m getting major Oval fatigue. If you really want to switch it up, then yes, it’s not worth much because resale value of labs is very low and just reselling diamonds in general. To give you an idea, I just sold my old engagement ring, it was a natural 1.5 ct pear stone with a pavé band and it took months before I could get $5k.
You could make a pretty pendant out of it and have it match your ring and in a way, you get to keep a piece of the ring he originally proposed with!
Omg I literally posted today in the morning about me loving my ring but wishing for slightly larger on occasion (mine is 1c mined). I have been showered with so much love so I’m returning some here.
I think your ring looks plenty big, especially with all the side stones and a pave. I genuinely would never call it small at all! It looks lush and expensive.
I totally really get your disappointment with how people comment or don’t comment on the ring. I think it’s just common for a bunch of reasons. And the more time has passed from engagement, less feedback you’ll get, just because it’s not as relevant anymore. That’s why this subreddit exist hehe to hype each other up!
Also on the “worthless”, if it makes you feel any better, mines diamonds are also pretty worthless after purchase, unless it’s a unique/super clear stone. Market is so saturated, the value drops as soon as it goes on the finger.
1) I like your setting better, sides-to-centre ratio. The second ring looks more « 2020 instagram » to me. And cheaper. More basic, is what I’m saying. The way the sides meet the edge of your stone gives it a more timeless, vintage look imo
2) all lab diamonds retain no value. That is the trade you make for a lab vs a natural.
(I’m an engagement ring designer/gemmologist, fwiw)
I prefer your ring to the second pic.
It’s really nice and special. And extends the sparkle across your finger.
You should work on articulating your wants and needs but I love the ring you have.
it is beautiful. buyer’s remorse natural. move on. you have dress and other things coming up.
With all due respect, how old are you?
I feel like your situation is as big of an issue because you are uncomfortable voicing your opinion and trusting yourself. Your fiancé did the right thing and talked to you before buying a ring and you gave him some guidance, but were so afraid to make him think you were materialistic, he should know the real you atp and you don’t seem to be, that you shot you nose to spite your face.
He is going to be your husband, talk to him. You likely won’t get another ring but you need to figure out why you don’t trust yourself or maybe it’s you not trusting ppl around you to love you for you. Talk to a therapist. Your ring is beautiful, but my opinion doesn’t matter.
Talk to your fiancé.
I think it’s a good opportunity to learn some lessons and grow from this. Very few people get everything they want in life. Learning to handle disappointments gracefully and finding way to feel positive in less than ideal situations are life skills that help provide a foundation for a truly satisfying life.
I didn’t love my engagement ring when I first got it. It was a family heirloom, so the stone shape wasn’t my preference. We talked about upgrading me at some point, but I never wanted to spend the money on it. Then after we were married 10 years, I lost the ring. Something I didn’t love at first had become a cherished symbol of my marriage and I was crushed that it was gone. Something about losing that ring changed me forever. I realized how short life is, how little things actually matter and how important it is to value what is truly irreplaceable.
Now, I have the ring of my dreams and while I love it, I realize it is just a ring. It’s not a sign of my worth or status or value. It’s a reminder of my commitment to my husband.
It’s not small, it fits your finger perfectly. I think sometimes comparison can be the thief of joy. I don’t think your ring looks sad at all and it’s a timeless design. If you truly dislike it a few years down the line, you can figure it out then. I wouldn’t worry too much about this currently when there is so much more to be excited about. Congratulations on your engagement!!! 💓
Your ring is absolutely lovely. It stands out in a sea of oversized ovals. The second photo is very trendy. Your ring is timeless and classic.
I have a timeless engagement ring. At the time I also remember feeling somewhat disappointed that I hadn’t voiced my preferences more clearly for something more trendy. A decade later I thank my lucky stars for the ring I have, and I’d be embarrassed at the ring I used to want lol.
All that to say your ring is gorgeous. The only one likely to care about the size of the stone, is you. Don’t sweat it. ❤️
Girl… why do you know you’ve had less than 10 people say it’a pretty … that’s wack. Neither your ring nor the one you screenshotted are my style and that doesn’t matter literally at all.
You say you’re trying not to be stuck up or whatever but if the shoe fits :/ I truly mean no harm and encourage you to self reflect and focus on what makes you and your partner happy and not how many compliments you receive. It could be nice to have a conversation with your partner about this and just share your feelings for support, not necessarily for an upgrade unless you both agree to that. Wishing you peace and happiness!!
Your ring is gorgeous and really well proportioned and suits your finger. But, you’re the one that has to live with it. But, objectively, the ring is beautiful.
I think maybe you’re projecting on other people’s reactions? Like you feel insecure about the ring and so you’re interpreting other people’s reactions more negatively?
Envy is the thief of joy. I think it’s okay for you to feel some sort of way, but please don’t overthink it. This ring is absolutely gorgeous! I think looking forward to an upgrade in 5-10 years is a real possibility. Congratulations on your engagement!!
Your ring is sooooo pretty!! How big is the center stone anyway? I’m terrible at telling from photos haha.
Some of the less than enthusiastic responses you’ve had might be from people for whom this style just isn’t their personal favourite ring style, so their enthusiasm is a bit tempered, and you might be noticing because you’re already self conscious about the ring – e.g. solitaires with pave bands are popular right now, I’ve tried on a few while ring shopping lately, but i just don’t love them. I still love seeing other peoples rings, no matter what they are, but if a friend showed me that she got a solitaire with a pave band, she might not get *quite* as enthusiastic a response as if she showed me your ring (which I personally think is gorgeous). Doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with the solitaires+pave bands!!! Just not my personal favourite style.
It’s SO beautiful and elegant!!! I love it! I’ve been married 13 years and wanted a slightly bigger stone when I was engaged. But I’ve grown to adore my 1.1 carat round solitaire — even now that I have an upgrade ring and anniversary ring that are larger. There is so much love in my original ring & this size stone is easier to wear daily, classic and romantic. I would tend to keep it & get an anniversary ring down the road – and also, it’s gorgeous! 😍😍😍
I think it’s absolutely gorgeous!
It’s crazy to me how much we project our thoughts onto others. I guarantee nobody saw your ring and thought “oh… it’s meh, I’ll say it’s nice just to be polite”, that’s all coming from you.
And genuinely yours is probably top 5 my faves I’ve seen here. I love how all the stones work together to make a unique shape, not just another big center stone with some small accessorising one.
It’s pretty and you’re far too worried about the size of the center stone, to the point of it being a bit shallow. You can always upgrade for an anniversary or something.
I honestly think your ring will age much better than the oval style. It will look classic forever, and you can have some fun with the wedding band, maybe stack two bands/one on either side to give it a different look. The oval is beautiful, but I feel like it will look dated very quickly. Also, I have seen some of these big centre stone rings and they sit notoriously high from the band which leads to catching on things and sometimes even getting bent out of shape/loosening the setting with regular daily wear
I love the first picture!!!!
You’re expecting way too much attention from others over an engagement ring.
Reddit is in a little bubble when it comes to engagement ring sizes. Your ring is above the average size in the real world.
My ring is small by Reddit standard it’s an absolutely huge in the real world where I actually live. You can’t let a group of women on the Internet with 4 carat engagement rings make you feel bad. It’s just not real life, it’s a group of enthusiasts on a forum for enthusiasts. These are all forums specifically for diamonds, jewelry, and engagement rings so of course they attract a crowd of people who are really into that stuff and own some really big diamonds.
It’s not even about money because they aren’t necessarily more expensive, it’s just not a fashion that is broadly popular. It looks very off to people who are used to natural diamond prices and they can be a little bit large and impractical for daily wear.
The reality is that if you want a giant lab diamond you can just buy one. You can buy one at any point in your life because they’re only going to get more affordable. This is your engagement ring and it isn’t about the size of the diamond. It’s about a mutual commitment to get married.
It’s literally so beautiful I really wish people would stop getting their acceptance externally and focus on whether they love it or not. Who cares if 10 people said they liked your ring? I chose a smaller stone as well and yeah people aren’t stopping me often to tell me they like my ring but a couple people have went out of their way to tell me. Those people telling me they likemy ring is nice but I loved my ring before anyone else told me they liked it & I don’t care if people tell me they don’t like it or it’s not their taste.
I like it better than the second ring. Much, much better.
I actually think your ring looks so much prettier and more unique, very timeless, the other one reads as pretty generic mall purchase that’ll be immediately dated… the oval trend is pretty aggressive at the moment, and very few of them look nice imo.
If I saw these two rings I’d assume the oval is much cheaper, like a fraction of the cost.
He gave this to you with all his heart and he did that because it’s what you said you wanted. Try to let go and cherish it. Because these aren’t the things that matter.
And look at it as a learning experience. Practice asserting yourself. Maybe in 10 years you can ask for an upgrade. 💛hugs
So if you asked for what you wanted, Why do you care what others think and the amount of compliments you are getting? Your opinion is the only one that matters.
I got a new ring in April and received my first unsolicited comment about it last weekend! It was a good comment but people don’t necessarily gush about other people’s rings. I think your ring is beautiful but you have to think so. Have you tried seeing what it will look like with a wedding band?
I think it’s gorgeous. My ring isn’t exactly what I wanted, but my husband picked it for me so I love it. If I were you, I wouldn’t say a word. In 10 years maybe you change it.
Of course I’m also the person who doesn’t wear her engagement ring often. It stopped fitting when I was pregnant with my first kiddo. I got it sized once, but… It fits me now, but I’m so used to not wearing it.
Due to lab grown diamonds the average size of the stones has increased dramatically… no data here but a 1.0 ct stone used to be pretty normal and a 1.5-2.0 was like woah you’re marrying a doctor.
I LOVE your ring and actually took a screenshot before reading because I felt it was the perfect balance of beauty and size without being “look at me.” So then was like oh no, she’s disappointed, when reading your response. So just know it is gorgeous, absolutely.
As others probably mentioned if it really bothers you, maybe turn the center stone into a necklace, and replace it with the stone you want. What a gorgeous combo for your wedding day!
I actually love your ring. It’s classic and classy. It has a vintage feel. I think you should give it time, let your feelings settle down and maybe you’ll end up loving it! I wouldn’t bring it up to him.
I love it and clicked on this from the pic onto see the “but.” I assumed you were going to say something technical like the setting is uneven or a prong is bent or from the side there is something off and the jeweler is being difficult about fixing it.
The overall size and shape of this ring between the center and side stones is beautifully balanced. It has a nice taper down to the band and has the feel of a three stone ring without looking like an anniversary band.
I have a 2.5 carat emerald cut in a solitaire setting on a thin band. The ring is all stone and is eye clean and is stunning to me but I got zero compliments other than from my mom. My friends don’t like emerald cuts and gush over each other’s halo rounds and ovals but my ring is like oh that’s nice. I dgaf because I’m the one wearing it.
I do understand your complaints, but I honestly don’t think it would be right for you to go to him and ask for a bigger stone, when you already had a chance to express that desire BEFORE he bought the ring. I think it would be hurtful and frustrating to your partner, not to mention more expensive. Maybe it will be a lesson to speak up for your desires.
I don’t mean to be harsh or come off judgemental, I totally understand that it’s an important piece of jewelry and that you should love it. Hopefully you can focus on the meaning of the ring, and come to love it. in my opinion it is still a beautiful ring and doesn’t look small or awkward
I genuinely much prefer yours to the inspiration pic! Enjoy it!
Girl don’t bring this up.
Your ring is gorgeous! Just want you to know that
There’s something special about yours. I keep staring at it. The other one is like yeah been there done that. It doesn’t do anything for me.
That being said, if you want something else that’s fine too! I’d maybe wait a while though. Sit with it for a bit. Get a travel ring of your goal one and sit with it too.
I like your ring so much better. I had a ring similar to the second one, and fell out of love with it because the side stones. It looked more art deco than I guess I like.
The thing I like about your setting is that it looks saturated. The stones just melt into each other.
Also, dont forgot, you can get a wedding band to really fill out the look. And no matter what, it will feel really special once vows are exchanged.
As for everyone else’s responses or it being lab created… forget them/that! You and your mister are what matters here.
BTW, congrats!!!
I personally think it looks prettier the way you have it than the way you intended for it to be