Bring on the Bling: The Ring Hunt Begins

Bring on the Bling: The Ring Hunt Begins

April 15th, 2009 @ 1:51 pm by Mrs. Mary Jane
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Since Mr. Mary Jane and I had already decided on marriage, it seemed odd to now have to discuss rings. The ring budget wasn’t a problem; it was the shopping itself. Would I go with him? Would I just give him ideas? Or, would he surprise me entirely?

I tend to wear a lot of different types of jewelry, so we decided I would give him some ideas of my “style”. I started by sending him links to photos of rings I liked. I knew I wanted white gold, and side stones, and I was leaning toward a square (cushion or princess) or oblong (emerald or oval) diamond. A few of my online inspirations were…

The cushion-cut Tiffany Legacy:

[source]

The Ritani Endless Love collection rings:

Bring on the Bling: The Ring Hunt Begins : wedding rings Ering E

[source]

and the Tacori HT251012X:

Bring on the Bling: The Ring Hunt Begins : wedding rings Ering T01

[source]

We were both glad to have shared the photos, because apparently my preferred styles were much different than what he would have picked out.

After a lot of instant-messenger URL exchanges, we decided take it to the next level and actually visit some stores together. Though we both love to shop online, this was one item we wanted to see in person before making any decisions. We wanted to know how these types of styles would look on my hand, and how they would look on our bank statement, too.

How much did you participate in picking out your ring? Did you use the internet as a resource, or did you hit the stores straight up? And, how solid were your desires: did you have a specific ring picked out, or a bunch of inspirational style ideas like mine?

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22 Responses to “Bring on the Bling: The Ring Hunt Begins”

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Member

ms tn walking horse (message) 35 posts, Newbee

I love all of those rings! Very much my style too I want to be involved. I’ve shown him several rings & we even went looking in a few stores more than once! We aren’t engaged yet, but I have full confidence that he knows what I like now because he did an amazing job with my promise ring!

4/15/09 @ 1:57 pm (reply)

Member

FutureMrsMorgan (message) 638 posts, Busy bee

i love tacori!! FI did not consult me at all…and the ring is really not so much my taste, but i love it none the less. great planning with the pics.

4/15/09 @ 2:00 pm (reply)

Member

CHK (message) 597 posts, Busy bee

I looked around a bit online and in stores before going into a couple of jewlery stores with him. It was nice to not have to test his patience by trying on every ring in the store; by the time he was with me I had it narrowed down. We’ve picked out a ring as a base, and he’s supposed to be working with the designer to modify it a bit… Note that I said supposed to be. He’s a procrastinator and it drives me nuts that this is one thing I know I shouldn’t harass him about getting done!

4/15/09 @ 2:02 pm (reply)

Member

Whitty B (message) 7 posts, Newbee

My fiance and I looked together and got to know how are tastes mixed before picking. We knew we wanted a cushion cut stone, with a pave band, and I wanted an antigued look. After much searching we found an inspiration that he took to get made. I love my custom ring!!!! (PS-diamonds direct Charlotte is amazing!!)

4/15/09 @ 2:10 pm (reply)

Member

tea (message) 7,263 posts, Bee Keeper

i looked online a bit and told him my preferred style [round or oval center stone with sidestones - which happens to be the style of my promise ring] then later asked if i could come with on his first trip to try rings on. good thing i did because i ended up changing my mind! we both weren’t impressed with my first choice and then fell in love with the antique settings. who knew?

4/15/09 @ 2:17 pm (reply)

Guest

Rob

I recieved the ritani as my e- ring. I’m still in love with it 20 months later!

4/15/09 @ 2:21 pm (reply)

Member

mary-alice-me (message) 1,864 posts, Buzzing bee

So, what did you choose?

We did go ring shopping together and eventually purchased one from the web, from a site he found but the ring caught my eye and I told him so. We actually didn’t discuss the budget… I just pointed out things I’d like in several price points.

4/15/09 @ 2:33 pm (reply)

Member

peachypear (message) 343 posts, Helper bee

I don’t wear much jewelery, so poor DH didn’t know where to start. Plus, I asked for a refound piece (for social and eco reasons), which further threw him for a loop.

So I went to a local estate jewelery store and picked out three rings that I liked. DH went alone later and selected one. I wanted a colored sapphire, so I left the color choice up to him. Because I didn’t know which ring and which stone he picked, the ring was a complete mystery until he proposed!

It was the perfect compromise - he was confident that he had picked a ring I liked, and I got to still be surprised!

4/15/09 @ 2:34 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Mary Jane (message) 1,970 posts, Buzzing bee

@mary-alice-me… you’ll have to wait and see!

4/15/09 @ 2:42 pm (reply)

10.

Member

googleLiz (message) 21 posts, Newbee

We browsed online for a bit. Then, I went in with him and tried on every ring in the store. Not discriminating, so I wouldn’t know what type he was focusing on.

We learned so much! I liked white gold better and we both agreed it DID look better on me. Styles I loved on line did not look as flattering in real life.

We also tried rings on him. He wants his wedding band to be a surprise. We found that rings over 6/7mm were way too big on him. White gold worked best, and he mentioned which were his favorites.

He surprised me with a square cut diamond, anniversary style, with 2 larger side ones and 3 mini ones on each side. he got the center diamond separate, so he could make sure it was 100% symmetrical- to tease me about my OC tendencies.

4/15/09 @ 2:52 pm (reply)

11.

Member

babyboo (message) 2,051 posts, Buzzing bee

If I’ve figured out correctly who you were on the boards before you became a bee…

… I think I know what the ring you picked looks like

4/15/09 @ 2:52 pm (reply)

12.

Member

MissCamera (message) 770 posts, Busy bee

I had no say in my engagement ring, and although its not what I thought I’d want, I’m in love with it. He picked out the diamond and had a simple white gold tiffany-style prong set ring made.

We went to the jewelry store together and picked out our wedding bands. It was quick and easy, and we both love what we picked!

4/15/09 @ 2:54 pm (reply)

13.

Guest

Laurie Sarah

You story of the “ring hunt” is one I hear every day from brides! I create one of a kind custom Engagement and Wedding rings to my clients’ specifications and I love it! Each couple is different and I love hearing their stories and being a special part of their life. With everyone being more budget conscious these days, I can offer you more bang for your buck as I do not have a storefront so I don’t have the overhead costs that the mall jewelers will. Feel free to check out my site and contact me if you have questions.

I look forward to following your blog and good luck!

4/15/09 @ 3:01 pm (reply)

14.

Member

Miss Staticgirl_77 (message) 60 posts, Worker bee

I sent him design after design after design (all similar) and I think it just overwhelmed him. He basically said ” Here is how much money I have for a ring, get whatever you want…” and I went from there…I am a great bargin finder and got so much more bang for our buck then I think he would have…No offense to him, but he probably just would have gone to 1 store and been like “there..I ‘ll take that one…” Yes, I miss the surpise element of it, but I know I am happpier with the way we went!

4/15/09 @ 3:07 pm (reply)

15.

Member

Miss Snowflake (message) 597 posts, Busy bee

I had absolutely NO say in my ring… my proposal was a total and complete surprise! But he did a fantastic job… my ring is a 1/3 ct. round cut, nearly flawless stone in a pressure mounting with 3 tiny channel-set rounds on each side. I NEVER wore any rings, and when he asked me why, I told him it was because I hated when the prongs would get caught on things and scratch the kids (I worked at a daycare at the time). So a ring with no prongs is perfect for me!

4/15/09 @ 4:19 pm (reply)

16.

Member

leenmachine (message) 262 posts, Helper bee

I’ve seen the tacori ring in person and it’s gorgeous! But the other two are as well!

I didn’t have ANY say on my ring. I knew he had it but I didn’t really care too much of what it looked like. I didn’t even give him ANY criteria but he did a great job in picking something that represents me. Beautiful, detail-oriented, and modest…PERFECT!

4/15/09 @ 5:02 pm (reply)

17.

Member

JennyBryde (message) 1,168 posts, Bumble bee

My FI asked a friend to slyly ask me, only his plan was foiled as I am overly suspicious and was highly alert during the months leading up to our engagement…I could smell the proposal cooking! But anyhoo, I played a long and gave his friend some ideas but left the ultimate decision up to him…

4/15/09 @ 5:02 pm (reply)

18.

Bee

Miss D'orsay (message) 2,272 posts, Buzzing bee

I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for, but Mr.D and I went ring shopping together. When I tried on the Tiffany Legacy it was perfect! Now it sits on my finger and I love it

4/15/09 @ 5:12 pm (reply)

19.

Bee

frenchbulldog (message) 7,730 posts, Bee Keeper

I was pretty sure I wanted a pave band with a round solitaire, but after FH and I went to see rings and I tried some one I realized that pave didn’t look right on me. I’m glad FH wanted to see what I liked before he bought something

4/15/09 @ 7:50 pm (reply)

20.