Weddingbee Blog

In early June 2010, we wound our way around Zürich in and out of jewelry shops and I began to face the bleak reality of the one-ring tradition in Switzerland. (Warning, massive ring porn ahead…)

As Mr. Funnel Cake told me, it is Swiss German tradition for the engaged pair to buy rings and wear them on their right hand while engaged. After they are married, they switch the rings to the left hand. What he didn’t tell mention is that they are usually always matchy-matchy “his and hers” rings.

Like the “Classics” collection by Meister:

I am not a fan.

Maybe it’s dreadfully “American” of me, but I don’t like these style of rings for an engagement one bit. I knew I wanted a delicate, complicated, sparkly engagement ring. The typical Meister collection in Switzerland cannot be described as “delicate”. They are solid, stable, one-man-show wedding bands and would be perfect if you wanted one sturdy ring, possibly with a modest inset diamond. But let’s travel through more of Meister’s collections, shall we?

“Phantastics” collection:

“Individuals” collection:

“Symbolics” collection:

And finally, don’t forget the “Futures” collection:

(All images from Meister)

Whew. Did you make it through all that? Lots of pretty rings, but I really didn’t like any of them for myself.

It’s obvious these rings are crafted with expert sophistication, but I felt like the Swiss German rings have been developing on a completely different timeline from American ones. The main problem for me with the Meister rings is that you can’t stack two together. Even if they had some styles with larger, traditional solitaire stones like I was used to, it was completely overwhelming if I stacked another solid wedding band next to it. None of them were thin enough for my bony fingers. And yes, it was very important for me to have two rings. As a “ring person”, I honestly hold different deeply personal meanings for the separate bands and that whole “switching hand thing” doesn’t work with my disproportionately-sized hands.

When we would walk into a jewelry store and ask to see engagement rings, we were presented time after time with a box of full of Meister rings. No, no, no. Not those ones.

“What else do you have?” I would plead in German. “Something with diamonds, something fine.” They would bring out between 3-6 “alternative rings” and if I didn’t like them, that was it. They’d tell me they didn’t have anything else and they were sorry. We’d move on to the next store.

Is it really possible that you can visit 10+ jewelry stores and each one will only show you 5 rings?! Why yes, it is possible. Apparently watch sales are far more important to these sales people and they couldn’t be bothered with small fry like an engagement ring.

Were you frustrated by ring shopping?