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Mrs. Spaniel, Los Angeles Age and Occupation: 28, Law Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Psychologist Wedding Date: March 2010 Venue: Calamigos Ranch About Me: I'm a third-year law student trying to balance graduating with starting my career, keeping up a relationship, and, oh yeah, planning an Old World, multi-cultural, "mountain lodge" wedding for 180 guests! A South Asian Jewish girl getting ready to marry my handsome Catholic Dane, I'm hoping to blend our cultures in our wedding just a bit more gently than by providing samosas as appetizers and offering æbleskiver for dessert. (Although that would also be awesome.)
About Mrs. Spaniel

Ring Doubts

November 25th, 2009 @ 2:54 pm by Mrs. Spaniel

I absolutely love my engagement ring, and I did enough shopping around to know that I got the only style of ring that could possibly have given me butterflies in my stomach (although maybe if he’d picked something before my endless nagging and surprised me with it, it would have achieved the same effect!).

But the truth is, after over seven months of wearing it, I am realizing that it’s just a little bit impractical. Reasons being:

1. I work in a really sketchy neighborhood. The blessing and the curse of my ring is that it’s quite eye-catching! I’ll only be here until December, and, since I’m an intern, no one expects me to be here past 5:00 PM, ever (at least, this is true in my field and at my site; I know that’s not true for interns across the board!). But by the time daylight savings ends, it gets dark pretty early and the “locals” around here are hardly the most upstanding of citizens. Of course, it’s less likely that any of them would try to steal my ring, and more likely that I would be accosted by an agitated schizophrenic who thinks I’m trying to rob him (this has happened before, when I worked here regularly and not just as an intern, and it was very weird). And there’s a good chance I’ll be in this neighborhood after I graduate, too, which will not have a definite end date (hopefully) and won’t necessarily have a 5:00 quitting time.

2. I have a very active lifestyle, which is incompatible with such a delicate ring. I play sports, I lift weights, I hike, and I do housework—all of these things are terrible for diamond engagement rings. And my engagement ring is a bit on the delicate side, what with the diamonds throughout the band and the high profile setting. Although I didn’t like them as much, sometimes I think that the cathedral or bezel settings would have been the wise way to go.

Ring Doubts :  wedding rings Dm15400

Ring Doubts :  wedding rings Dm15502

(source)

Of course, I’m not going to be changing my engagement ring (unless Mr. Spaniel wants to buy me Tiffany for an anniversary gift? No?), so I’ll just try to remember to remove my e-ring before doing most of those tasks and try really hard not to lose it while it’s off my finger.

But I can use what I’ve learned in the search for my wedding band. We’d originally planned to buy the matching diamond band for me, but I’m thinking now about at least looking at a plain white gold, 2mm band that I can keep on my finger even at the times when the e-ring needs to come off.

What did/would you choose? And is it weird to go with a plain band when there is a diamond band that is made to match with my e-ring?

Tags: rings |
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17 Responses to “Ring Doubts”

1.
iswimibikeirun
Member
iswimibikeirun (message)  1,355 posts, Bumble bee

In alot of ways, I’m in the same boat as you. I want the matching band to my ring. But, FI wants us to have matching rings. Our compromise: he’ll get me a ring that matches his for me to wear when I’m active. I can wear the other one the rest of the time w/ my ering.

Other than for sentimental reasons, I’m not that worried about my ering being stolen as it’s fully insured with no deducitable.

 
2.
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Member
KMSull (message)  6,442 posts, Bee Keeper

I totally feel you on worrying about your ring! I’m so worried what will happen when I get mine. I bang my hands around, and volunteer with less than savory characters!

 
3.
hotchildinthecity
Member
hotchildinthecity (message)  3,710 posts, Sugar bee

I bought a really sparkly diamond band to match my e-ring, but I’m going to buy a very basic band to wear when I’m volunteering at the animal shelter. Yucky environment + sketchy neighborhood = not a place for my cute ring!

 
4.
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Member
denverbirdlet (message)  750 posts, Busy bee

I completely understand your concerns! I work as a geologist, in the lab and doing field work (i.e. wearing latex lab gloves or banging on rocks with a rock hammer almost everyday) and my ring, though I love it, is not exactly compatible with my line of work. I was worried about having to remove it all the time as well, so I usually carry a silver chain with me and wear it as a necklace when my hands are going to be employed in a task unsuitable for a delicate ring. My fiance and I decided that we are going to go with the matching diamond wedding band however, since it is much lower profile (height-wise) and not nearly as delicate, though it still sparkles! There will still probably be times that I’ll wear it as a necklace, but it will be much more compatible with my job than the engagement band. Good luck making your decision!

 
5.
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Bee
Miss Pudding (message)  1,180 posts, Bumble bee

This is exactly why I wanted a bezel! I wear a lot of dresses and skirts, so pantyhose and tights are an everyday thing. I didn’t want my ring snagging!

 
6.
jmc
Member
jmc (message)  882 posts, Busy bee

I take my ring off all the time, and never wear it to the gym or when doing dishes or whatever.

Can you just spin the rock around so it’s against your palm when you go in and out of work?

 
7.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Spaniel (message)  6,792 posts, Bee Keeper

@jmc: I’m actually already doing that! When I drive to work that’s usually enough because it’s just a short walk to my car (although it’s a short walk directly in front of a prison… a little weird) but when I take public transit I feel more uncomfortable, for longer.

It seems like a lot of you are in the same boat as me! I guess we’ll all figure it out together! :)

 
8.
voomie24
Member
voomie24 (message)  101 posts, Blushing bee

I do a lot of gardening, sailing, hiking, etc and I really wanted a ring I never had to take off. So I got just a band with engraving but no stones for my wedding band. The husband agreed to by me a sparkly band for an anniversary.

 
9.
Miss Pretzel
Bee
Miss Pretzel (message)  1,893 posts, Buzzing bee

Its funny, but growing up my mom wore a simple band and no engagement ring. this is what I associate with being married- I’ll definitely wear my e-ring after we’re wed, but i think there will be a time when I just wear my band (i.e when I am in the diaper changing stage of life)- and I think a simple band is what I want. I think it’s important to select a band that will look good with and without your e-ring because like you’ve already noted there maybe situations where you prefer to not wear your blingy bling.

 
10.
sf_carrie
Member
sf_carrie (message)  463 posts, Helper bee

Can you do both? Meaning get the diamond band to wear as a set with your e-ring when you aren’t at work or doing something active and a simple white gold when you are?

 
11.
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Bee
Ms Potato Chips (message)  1,193 posts, Bumble bee

I’m not sure what will go with my engagement ring, so I may just put it on my other hand and go with a very simple wedding band.

 
12.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Spaniel (message)  6,792 posts, Bee Keeper

@sf_carrie: It is under consideration. :) We may do both.

 
13.
Future Mrs. Martin
Member
Future Mrs. Martin (message)  5,940 posts, Bee Keeper

I don’t think it is weird to choose a plain band if you want one!

I have a tension setting that is set really low and I chose it for a lot of the reasons you posted. And I love it - I really don’t even notice it’s on my finger and I never take it off while doing all my activities!

 
14.
canegirl08
Member
canegirl08 (message)  158 posts, Blushing bee

I feel the same way! I frequently volunteer in a not so nice area so I’m always taking my e-ring off (which feels so weird). One of my requirements for a wedding band was something with no diamonds but that still looked pretty and like it “went” with my ring. BOY is that hard! I had to go to a jeweler to have it made.

 
15.
Melissabegins
Member
Melissabegins (message)  3,340 posts, Sugar bee

i totally do the diamond in the left palm trick when i’m going through some sketchiness. My right palm always has a sharp key! someone’s going to get totally shanked if they mess with this bee haha.

 
16.
Bee Icon
Bee
Mrs. Cloud (message)  802 posts, Busy bee

I went with a plain band for similar reasons, I have even had people at work (strangers, not coworkers) grab my hand or ask if they can try it on. Not that I think they are going to rob me, but its uncomfortable. I wanted diamonds on my band originally but went plain so I could still wear something when I was working, or cooking, or cleaning, etc. I figure a pretty diamond band could be a future anniversary or push present :)

 
17.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Hamster (message)  4,045 posts, Honey bee

I also turn the diamond to the inside when I’m on the subway or walking around in an area where not everyone needs to see my ring. I agree it might not be the most practical, but I still love it :)

 

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Mrs. Spaniel
Mrs. Spaniel

Mrs. Spaniel, Los Angeles Age and Occupation: 28, Law Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Psychologist Wedding Date: March 2010 Venue: Calamigos Ranch About Me: I'm a third-year law student trying to balance graduating with starting my career, keeping up a relationship, and, oh yeah, planning an Old World, multi-cultural, "mountain lodge" wedding for 180 guests! A South Asian Jewish girl getting ready to marry my handsome Catholic Dane, I'm hoping to blend our cultures in our wedding just a bit more gently than by providing samosas as appetizers and offering æbleskiver for dessert. (Although that would also be awesome.)

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