Weddingbee Blog

Since I was a wee newbee and just started checking out the community boards, I’ve noticed and taken part in several threads about how (in)frequently people wear their engagement rings (most recently, this one). As for me? I generally keep mine on as much as possible, except when cooking with raw meat, eating messy food (like crabs!), and when I shampoo my hair (since it’s slightly loose and I’m afraid of watching it disappear from my life forever down the drain). I’ll wear it 99% of the other times, though. Oh, except for work (I guess that’s a big chunk of time, huh?) since I don’t think my massage clients would appreciate a pointy ol’ rock in their back. Or maybe they would. Who knows.

Well I have to tell you, I’ve been a bit thrown off these past few weeks. Foxy and I decided to get started on the wedding band process(!), which for me means giving the jeweler my ring so they can 1. clean it, 2. redip it (darn you, white gold), and 3. take an imprint and make a wax copy of it to create my band. SO exciting (more on that soon!) but SO sad at the same time. I’ve been sans e-ring since early October-ish, and I feel naked. I always find myself trying to feel for the ring with my left thumb and…it’s just not there.

What to do besides get a replacement band?

Initially, I bought a cheapo CZ ring from Kohl’s when I decided not to bring my real bling to Mexico back in April. While I love to wear my e-ring as much as possible, I didn’t want to expose it to sunscreen and salt water every day, nor did I want to take it off and leave it in the room. The only bummer to the replacement ring was that after two days in the sun and surf, I was left with a nasty looking green finger which rendered that ring pretty much done for after that. I know that a quick coat of clear nail polish will probably hold it up for another beach day or two (or, you know, I could just not wear my ring all the time). It worked for the time being, but I wouldn’t use that ring as a general replacement, as I am in need for currently.

This story has a happy ending, though! Lucky for me, I recently inherited a gorgeous vintage ring from my mom, sort of as an early Christmas gift and post-Grammy-passing-away inheritance. The ring has been in the family for at least a hundred years and I just love the meaning and beauty of it.’

It’s hard to tell with my shoddy iPhone pictures, but there are two bigger diamonds of different sizes on the top, flanked by two much smaller diamonds on the sides. It’s making a decent replacement for day-to-day wear so far, but since it’s a bit too big for my ring finger and worth way more than I care to admit (or realized, until Foxy Mama pointed it out), I find that I only really wear this ring when I go out-out. Not to work (since I can’t wear it anyway), not around the house (since I’m afraid of losing it)…maybe three times a week or so. And it sucks. I miss my ring!! I was given an estimate from the jeweler of having mine back by early November, so here’s hoping it’s soon!

How often do you wear (or not wear) your engagement ring? Do you have a replacement for times when you can’t wear it?