what a day (AKA Dani vs. Jewelry)

[daniwithtea]

What a day. Work was somehow productive, even though I spent a good part of my day in a back-and forth email conversation with mer about jewelry. specifically diamonds. for those of you who've heard the joke about me being the straight guy in the relationship, that was very evident today. i just wasn't born with the diamond gene, i suppose. and eventually, i've got to find one, because we don't get to have a big party and get lots o'presents unless mer's got a "diamond on her dainty digit". enter my mother-out-law. (yes, that'd be mer's mom.) M-O-L is full of knowledge about jewelry and diamonds and other such girly things, and I figured eventually I'd call her and put in a cry for help. well, little did i know that while mer and i were conversing over email, she was conversing real-time with her mom...and when i found out, i got all flustered...

i'm rambling. there is a point here somewhere.

there are two, actually.

number one, don't any of y'all get your panties, boxers, or other unmentionables in a wad, because this ain't happening anytime soon. What started off this whole conversation was the fact that mer's mentor is convinced she'll never attend said party because if we wait "until we have the time and money" (which is our current time frame on this), it'll never happen. she obviously doesn't know our motivation when there's presents involved. ;)

number two, i need ideas on how exactly to shop for this shit. the info i have is: "heavier band is good, unusual is good, artistic is good, and colored diamonds are good. and bigger is always better. and antique is good." i'm not looking to purchase now - money is truly an issue - but i'd like to get an idea of what the fuck i'm supposed to be doing and where on this planet/teh internets to look so i'm not this flustered and frustrated when money isn't so much of an issue 'round these parts. i'm guessing independant jewelers are good. mer said something to the effect of "rings likely to be sold to young gay men".

so if anyone has any ideas, suggestions, websites, smacks upside the head, etc., i would truly, truly appreciate it.

btw, this isn't filtered. she knows, she'll see, it's all good.

oh, and as far as i can gather, the reason i got so flustered when i found out about the conversation between mer and M-O-L was because we had never discussed this with anyone other than each other...so, hey, it's outside these walls, and real. which is cool, and scary, at the same time.

Comments

[darkest-mind.livejournal.com]

I'm not partial to diamonds either for the most part.. unless they are either unique or fabulously cut (or both). Hubby surprised me about 2 years ago with an antique (white gold) wedding/engagement ring set from an estate sale and I love it. Its a small diamond compared to todays standards, but its tasteful- not gaudy like some modern engagement rings I see around town. I like knowing that the piece I'm wearing has some history to it.

The most beautiful engagement/wedding set I've ever seen was a ring from the depression era - it was a small diamond chip set into a mirrored setting so that it magnified the stone. I think that you should either go antique/estate or with someone who could design something personal for you - none of that "pick it out of a showroom" stuff. Just my two cents..

PS. Does this mean that I'll have to drive to PA in order to dance to a certain 10,000 Maniacs song at this "big party"?

[okayokayigive.livejournal.com]

i did think of the designing thing - i just need an idea of what to have designed....

as for you coming to PA to dance to a certain song? yes, your trip up here (and crash space while you're here, so you don't have to stay with your folks) will be part of our party budget. :) i don't care if i have to rent you a car, put you on a bus, or buy you a plane ticket, you'll be here.

[uisge.livejournal.com]

Ooh, pretty shiny things. I'm not overly girly but I love a beautiful ring.

Depending on budget and likes/dislikes, of course, I say platinum for the metal. It's beautiful and timeless. But white gold is a very beautiful metal, too. I don't like yellow gold much, so for me, it's not an option.

Black Hills Gold is beautiful. It's tri-color and they have some truly unique pieces and the last time I checked them out (five or so years ago) their prices were considerably lower than traditional jewelry stores.

Stones -- completely preference. Not everybody even has diamonds. That said, I don't like the colored ones. I want a diamond to look like a diamond, sapphire to be blue, etc. I know, call me closed minded. :) I don't like blue topaz either. People tell me it's my birthstone and I say it isn't. But colored diamonds are pretty. I don't know how well they hold their value or appreciate.

I'll find some websites. The best thing is just start looking and see what y'all like. And don't go to Shane Company. LOL I have friends who are jewelers and they've all said the same thing. Crapcrapcrap.

[uisge.livejournal.com]

http://www.goldoutlet.com/
http://www.celtic-jewellery.com/
http://www.raru.com/

[okayokayigive.livejournal.com]

thanks - i'll check these out when i get home.

Does it have to be diamonds?

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

Couldn't it be some other traditional engagement stone, like pearls? Or does Mer like diamonds?

(And hunny, I don't care what you say... lack of interest in diamonds and dressing up doesn't make you a straight guy. Otherwise I'd be one.)

You want my friend Carowyn's email addy? She is the ultimate finder of all great jewelry pieces.

Re: Does it have to be diamonds?

[okayokayigive.livejournal.com]

oh, yes, she wants diamonds.

as for the straight guy thing...it's more than lack of jewelry, etc. More like this:
Dani=power tools+flannel shirts+not remembering things like birthdays/anniversaries+not noticing things like haircuts=straight guy.
Mer=fitted dress shirts+love of decorating+love of things shiny=fag.

Re: Does it have to be diamonds?

[fuzzybutchkins.livejournal.com]

not to mention a good grasp of color, a smashing sense of style, an instinctual gay leather aesthetic, and a certain affinity for anonymous casual sex.

Re: Does it have to be diamonds?

[okayokayigive.livejournal.com]

of course - how could i forget?

i suppose i could have also added to the list my preference for spike TV and my stack of Maxim in the bathroom...(along with the most recent Cabela's and Tiger Direct catalogs)

Re: Does it have to be diamonds?

[fuzzybutchkins.livejournal.com]

A diamond is a girl's best friend. A diamond is forever. A diamond is a good investment. a diamond in the ultimate "ooh, shiney!". Most importantly, a diamond will make her girlfriend very, very happy. yes, it has to be diamonds. ;-)

Re: Does it have to be diamonds?

[okayokayigive.livejournal.com]

more importantly, i think, is that the sadist in her can pin my arms down at 1 am and sing "diamonds are a girl's best friend"