My engagement ring, all original Victorian diamond bypass ring
My newly acquired alternative, “everyday” engagement ring from MaeJean Vintage
My husband’s one-finger stack of all his wedding bands, he likes to change out depending on what he is wearing/doing each day
Engagement rings…wedding bands…what is it with these symbolic pieces of jewelry that have so many people embracing the idea of wearing the same ring everyday for the rest of their life? It is monumental to think about really. In a world where every person seems to have differing opinions on just about everything, we all can agree to wear a ring on our left hand, ring finger when we decide to marry. But really, it is so much more than just “deciding to marry,” and I think that in of itself is the whole meaning behind the ring–what it represents, vows and all. HOWEVER…
The rules of engagement rings and wedding bands have been on my mind a lot lately and I think it is because I am one who eagerly is open to breaking rules, especially conventional ones (I’m still catching snide comments for not changing my last name). My husband and I love our wedding jewelry. My engagement ring is easily my favorite ring I own (which says a lot)…it is incredibly special to me, heavily symbolic and overtime has become its own celebrity. People know me for my ring…it has been Googled thousands of times, which is slightly alarming. My husband’s wedding band is very special to him–I bought it shortly after we got engaged and it is the most expensive piece of jewelry I’ve ever purchased to date (which, again, says a lot). With all that being said, we don’t wear our rings every day. And even more so, it’s not a big deal. Some days we feel like wearing them, other times we wear no jewelry at all, even crazier, we wear different rings on that left hand, ring finger. In fact, my husband has SEVERAL (noted in the photo above) rings he wears as his wedding band, not just the one we exchanged on our wedding day. As a couple who enjoys fashion and getting dressed in the morning, anyone else who can understand that and is also passionate about fashion knows that rules are the worst. I say, if you don’t feel like wearing something one day, why should you force yourself to wear it?! Why do we as a society automatically assume someone is in marital troubles when they are spotted without their wedding ring? Why can’t they just be having a fashion revelation or just plain didn’t want to wear the ring? For someone like me, wearing the same ring every single day is the definition of insanity. I know Albert Einstein said something like that… (lol)
I know I don’t have answers to these rhetorical questions I’ve just posed, but I felt I wanted to get these ideas and words out–maybe start a conversation and get other’s opinions. Would love to know what you think about this subject–do you wear your engagement ring and wedding band everyday? If your significant other didn’t wear their ring one day, do you get mad? Why?
I’ve also been actively searching for a more “user-friendly” engagement ring for everyday wear, as mine is so delicate (being Victorian, characteristically thin for the style of it) and I’ve had a few “close calls” banging it around and getting it caught on things. I still want to wear it as much as possible, but I’ve found an alternative and I’m really excited about it. I wanted a sapphire cluster for an alternative engagement ring and when I saw the one pictured above posted by MaeJean Vintage, I knew it was the one. I love the tear-drop shape of it, as I had been set on a large oval cluster (like Princess Diana’s, now Princess Kate’s ring). For some reason, the look was not “me.” This one sang its own tune when I slipped it on my hand. Next plan of action is to get a genuine sapphire cut to replace the current synthetic. I’ll keep you along for the transformation journey! And thanks MaeJean Vintage, you girls have some serious treasure hunting skills!!
