Update: Would you and have you upgraded your engagement ring?

[mommysammi]

Update: Many thanks to all your opinions! We decided to go ahead with the upgrade because the engagement ring and wedding band are the only jewelry I wear. DH and I don't fit our original set so this works out perfectly. DH will get to upgrade his band too. Thank you!!!

Original post:

DH and I have been married for more than ten years. Our financial situation definitely has changed since we got married. Now that we can afford a nicer ring, DH has offered to let me upgrade it for my upcoming birthday. Should I do it? Would you do it?

If you upgraded, did you trade it in or get a completely new one? If we do upgrade, I would like to trade it in because I wouldn't know what do do with it. I don't wear jewelry regularly, just wedding band and engagement ring. I don't have a lot of real jewelry pieces stored away either. Taking my old ring and using the stone for a necklace is a little silly considering the size of it.

If you traded it in, what kind of things should I watch out for? I have yet to call any jewelers but I wonder if larger more reputable jewelers do trade-ins. I would feel uncomfortable taking it to a pawn shop or a shady looking place.

What do you think? TIA!

[BabyMine]

I'm very nastalgic. I told DH that whatever ring he gave me, I would never change becasue the love I have for him will never change. ( yes I'm weird) I even told him he could give me a plastic ring from a gumball machine. It wasn't the ring that mattered to me. He gave me his Grandma's rings. They are very small but I never want to change it. This is something I felt strongly about since I knew about wedding rings. It's hard to improve on something that was perfect for that very special moment of our lives.

[JBaxter]

I would never sell/upgrade my engagement ring. THIS is the ring he asked me to marry him with..........any other ring would be just that any other ring

[crl]

Could you incorporate your current stone in a new ring? Maybe a setting with three diamonds (you have a diamond?)? Or your current stone plus two of some other kind of stone? Personally I'd be more inclined to do that or to add an anniversary band than I would be to start all over. But it's yours, you should do what would make you happy!

For me, I didn't trade mine in or upgrade. But I did ask for and get a new ring for an anniversary. My original set is lovely, but the band is a wrap (6 small diamonds arranged so the engagement sapphire fits in between them) so I can't wear it by itself and the setting is a pointy and a bit fragile and not really wearable on a daily basis with kids. So I now have a very plain silver and gold band that I wear 90% of the time and I wear my actual wedding set just for fancy occasions.

Catherine

[mamicka]

I never understood this practice of upgrading the engagement/wedding ring. It would never have the same meaning to me. But I'm not a jewelry girl so maybe it's just a good opportunity to get some new bling.

[malphy]

I wouldnt trade in my ring but I would definitely get a diamond right-hand ring. I am not a jewelry person and only wear my wedding/engagement rings but i would get the ring for my other hand.

[wendmatt]

Dh and I didn't have much when we got married and he proposed to me in Egypt with a silver band and got me a "real ring" when we moved to America. Then his mum gave him a carat diamond for me, so that's what I wear. I have both of the others in a jewellery box and I expect DD will want them one day just to wear. If you would like to have another ring I say go for it.

[deenass]

I got a new stone (larger) but kept the same setting.

[Ceepa]

I plan to keep the stone but change the band itself someday. It is very narrow and has always looked a little awkward on my hand.

[arivecchi]

I would use the money for something else - like a vacation with DH.

[kristenk]

I would never sell/upgrade my engagement ring. THIS is the ring he asked me to marry him with..........any other ring would be just that any other ring

:yeahthat:

[sste]

Obviously, no right or wrong here - - I know couples where it was tremendously meaningful to upgrade the ring based on the shared struggle in reaching a place of better financial well-being.

Personally, I would never trade it. DH has asked me numerous times, even pleaded (I think he is embarrassed about the ring he brought pre-med school versus the average ring purchased by a specialist doctor finished with trading).

My very modest ring reminds me happily of when we were just starting out. Also, given all the atrocities that have come to light with respect to the diamond industry my current focus is on not buying any real gemstones or limiting myself to Canadian or other humane/environmentally certified gemstones.

[sunshine873]

I struggled with this decision for years! My original ring is tiny but always reminds me of where we started. That's a pretty strong statement for me. Then I'd see the rings of all of our friends and start thinking I should upgrade. DH didn't care either way. But every time we actually started looking, I just couldn't do it. I felt attached to the original ring and what it represents.

Then a few years ago I lost a lot of weight. My ring size went from a 8 1/2 down to a 5. While I was losing my weight I put the ring aside, planning to re-size it when I was done. After I hit my goal and found out I was pregnant, I found my mom's wedding ring which she had willed to me (she died in a car crash 5 years ago.) She had long ago lost the diamond from it and it had a light-pink gemstone in it instead. What are the chances that her ring fit my new smaller hand perfectly? It was quite a moment. Anyway, after that I decided to keep my original wedding ring as is, safely tucked away. I was concerned about sizing it down so much anyway. Now I am diamond shopping for a small stone to fit my mom's ring.

I really think it's an individual decision. If my mom's ring hadn't popped up, I would have attempted to re-size the original (small diamond and all.) But this seems like the perfect compromise. ;)

[shawnandangel]

I agree with some of the other posters. I would never trade in my ring. I have replaced one of the diamonds however. I traded on of the diamonds out on the wedding band for DD's birthstone. but DH and I planned on doing that from day one.

[lil_acorn]

DH and I will be married for 10 years this spring. He has asked me if I want to get a new setting but I won't do it. After all, he proposed to me with this ring and I LOVE the setting. It's unique and I've never met anyone else with a tension setting like mine. Funny, I probably wouldn't have picked it out for myself, but I love it!

[mommylamb]

I would use the money for something else - like a vacation with DH.

:yeahthat: My engagement ring is a small diamond. it was my grandmother's ring actually. When DH and I got engaged, we were both in grad school and had not money at all. I wouldn't trade it or change it for anything in the world.

[smiles33]

I wouldn't, but DH gave me his grandmother's ring and it's very unique and has a beautiful setting. I know FIL upgraded MIL's ring before they had their 30th anniversary as she fortuitously/coincidentally broke her original setting (she was working out with weights!). The original diamond is now a gorgeous pendant and she has a 3 diamond ring (maybe 2 carats each?). It's MAJOR bling and almost too much for a younger woman, IMHO, unless you're Paris Hilton.

[cvanbrunt]

I would. We were actually planning on it and had found a designer to make me a new ring for our 10th. Then I got pregnant. Seemed like a bad idea to get fitted for a ring at that point. I put it off, thinking for our 15th. Well, that's this year so maybe our 20th? I think it's a lovely idea.

[g-mama]

I would and I did.

Dh got me a marquise shaped diamond that was never my taste. In addition, it made it really hard for my wedding band to sit flush up against it and I was always adjusting it to close the gap that was always there.

For our tenth anniversary, I chose a different 3-stone ring that I adore.

I thought forever that I wouldn't do that because of the sentimentality, but it just became a situation where I didn't like the style of the ring and I went for it. Dh was not upset, in fact, he no longer liked the ring either and wanted me to change to something I liked.

[srhs]

I like building on the original if you love the original.
I've had my main stone replaced; it was insured and the jeweler found a tiny chip.
We also had a band custom designed to fit with the ring.

I've always told DH that rather than buying me additional jewelry, my style would be for the center stone to grow over the years.

ETA: We have a great relationship with the original jeweler, so that is something to consider. I know we'd get the full value of current stone in any upgrade.

[infomama]

Not in a million years. period.

[SnuggleBuggles]

No. But, I also don't wear it b/c it's NMS anymore. I stopped wearing it when we got married b/c we didn't buy a set and they didn't go well together. I love my wedding band though and intend to upgrade it a bit (I just want some higher quality diamonds :)).

Beth

[Babymakes3]

I would switch your current ring to a right hand ring and upgrade! My aunt just did this and she struggled with the decision for a while. Either that or incorporate your diamond into a new ring!

[pinkmomagain]

I would 100% upgrade my ring and actually would like to. I'm not a big jewlery person in terms of quantity but I am in the quality of the few pieces I wear everyday. I have a decent stone right now, but someday would like a big honker. I wouldn't want to trade in my current stone, just get a new one with a new setting then possibly turn the current one into a pendant or simply send it into the safety deposit box. I have three girls, so I would want each to get something significant of mine eventually.

I have already upgraded my wedding band to a three stone anniversary band.

[kijip]

We had silver bands, no engagement ring, and I developed an allergy to silver- turns my finger a blue-ish green cover.

My husband and I separated for a short time so he could get some counseling and we could do some counseling/planning together. When we ended the separation my husband sprung a surprise on me of a very sparkly diamond band and a diamond solitaire engagement ring. They are meaningful to me. It was an upgrade but I don't think that means they are not as good as the excitement of the original. The originals, engraved, are in small holder on our bedside table.

[fivi2]

I wouldn't, but we just did wedding bands not a regular engagement ring (mine does have little diamonds embedded in it). Also I picked my ring out and I love it - I can't imagine finding something that I would like more. It is the only jewelry of any kind that I wear.

I could see getting a nice piece of jewelry for a big anniversary - a ring for the right hand, nice earrings or necklace. But I am not really a jewelry person so would probably use the money for something else!

[sidmand]

I've actually done it a few times.

The first ring...DH knew he *should* get something but he had no idea about what I liked or what he should get (this was 15+ years ago!). The ring wasn't my style at all and he had no sentimentality about the actual ring, just that I have a ring, and he really couldn't afford much and didn't put a heck of a lot of thought into it. For us it wasn't so much the ring as the entire act of getting married—if that makes sense?

I changed the first ring (simple tiny round stone in yellow gold circle) for what we called my Star Trek ring (pear shaped, looked like the Star Trek insignia, still yellow gold though), but I'm a white gold kind of girl. It was more unusual but still not right.

A few years ago I upgraded the stone and the ring and now have a princess cut diamond in a sapphire and diamond setting (white gold!). For our 10-year anniversary DH bought a matching eternity-type ring to go with it with square diamonds. It goes perfectly. Every once in awhile I think about upgrading the stone but now I really like the ring, it fits my style, it fits us....I don't think I would change it again.

But neither of us wears our original wedding band either. We both had puzzle rings when we got married (again, wanted something a little different). DH lost a lot of weight and his didn't fit any more so he bought the cheapest one he could find on Overstock.com (showing the clear difference between men and women and jewelry shopping!).

[salsah]

I would never sell/upgrade my engagement ring. THIS is the ring he asked me to marry him with..........any other ring would be just that any other ring

:yeahthat:

but i wouldn't be opposed to him buying me a fantastic ring for our anniversary. so fantastic that i only wear that new ring and just keep the original in the safe deposit box.

[salsah]

he proposed to me in Egypt


ooh, have we heard your proposal story?

[larig]

I wouldn't, but we just did wedding bands not a regular engagement ring (mine does have little diamonds embedded in it). Also I picked my ring out and I love it - I can't imagine finding something that I would like more. It is the only jewelry of any kind that I wear.

I could see getting a nice piece of jewelry for a big anniversary - a ring for the right hand, nice earrings or necklace. But I am not really a jewelry person so would probably use the money for something else!

this is me too, but I don't wear it right now, because I'm washing my hands too much to do it. It makes my hands crack and bleed underneath it (which is a shame, because I love it so much).

ETA: I'd totally trade mine in if I didn't like it, or save it with my other family engagement/wedding rings to be passed down some day (I have both grandmothers' and will have my mom's).

[KpbS]

I wouldn't change my original wedding ring but what I have thought of doing is adding another band on the opposite side (so having a band on each side). I like the look of some of the anniversary bands with very small diamonds.

[caleymama]

Could you incorporate your current stone in a new ring? Maybe a setting with three diamonds (you have a diamond?)? Or your current stone plus two of some other kind of stone? Personally I'd be more inclined to do that or to add an anniversary band than I would be to start all over. But it's yours, you should do what would make you happy!

For me, I didn't trade mine in or upgrade. But I did ask for and get a new ring for an anniversary.

:yeahthat:

I have no intention of changing or trading in my original wedding set (yellow gold, diamond solitaire), but for an anniversary DH and I picked out a white gold 3-stone sapphire ring w/ channel set diamonds and a coordinating diamond anniversary band. I would say that both sets get about equal wear.

[codex57]

DW wouldn't mind going bigger, but it's REALLY low on the list of priorities. Don't think she'd change the setting tho.

[ThreeofUs]

If you want it, go for it!

My ring's an antique, so not the type of thing to put aside or change in any way. (Heck, I don't even WEAR it. I just wear the wedding band DH made for me.) But I've often thought I'd like a ring for my other hand, as some PP's said. A diamond pave' band, or something with three stones for my three guys.

Many different and good options for you on this thread. GL!

[baymom]

I have. I kept the same stone (a one caret diamond) and put it into a new setting with side stones that I love. We did it on our 10th anniversary year and I have no regrets, even though I'm a fairly sentimental person.

[soontobe]

I would do it if you want to. you can always keep part of it and change the other part. meaning trade in the stone and keep the setting or trade in the setting and keep the stone.

however I really like the idea that someone else had to use your stone as one of 3 stone in a new setting.

or you can get a diamond ring for the other hand:)

[AnnieW625]

No we have not, and I can't say it will never happen as I think DH has already thought about it. My center stone is 1/2 carat and I have small hands so honestly anything bigger would look giant on me. I remember we looked at solitaire 1 carat stones and they looked giant on my hand (best thing we ever did together was look at rings:)). For the same price DH thought a smaller center stone and more detail on the band and inset side stones looked better on my hands and it did. I would rather get a nice pair of diamond stud earrings once the kids are older (and not pulling at my ears!) or take a vacation with the family.

ETA: if he did decide to replace the center stone of my ring I would want the current stone put into another piece of jewelry like a necklace or as a keepsake of some sort for DD because diamond is her birthstone.

[kozachka]

I would if my original engagement ring was too small/not particularly good quality. I am quite happy with my ring, so I don't want to upgrade it. I also like its simple Tiffany style setting, it works well for my age. I might consider adding sidestones when I get older.

We did change the ring setting from pink gold to platinum shortly after the wedding. The original setting was a copy of MIL emerald ring setting and was completely inappropriate for my diamond. I only wore in for a little while so never got emotionally attached to it. I saved the setting for another stone, it's been over 10 years now, and I am not sure if I'd ever use it, but it was the right decision for us.

Do whatever rocks your and your DH boat. There is no right or wrong answer, just like with most material things in life.

[ellies mom]

I'd like to downgrade my ring. Right now it is in a platinum setting and I'd like to go for white gold. I'd also like the setting to be a smaller version of what it is now with a lower profile. The stone is fine. And finally, I'd like it to have an attached wedding band. I have a really inexpensive band (seriously less than $50) because I used work on machinery for a living and if I ever needed to have my ring cut off I didn't want to have to think of the cost. The problem is that it looks horrible with my engagement ring so now I don't even wear my ring on special occasions. I figure if it had its own band then I could wear it for special occasions and use my beloved cheapo band for every day.

[khalloc]

THe jeweler where DH bought my ring will let you trade in the stone for an upgrade. THey will give you the exact same price you paid for it, if you get something else (more $$).

I think DH paid about $4500 for the stone in my ring. Its just under a carat. He always said that someday we can upgrade it. And I would love a bigger stone, but at the same time I love the stone I have now. So I dont know that I would follow thru with it if the time ever comes. Its sentimental. But upgrading for us is a possibility.

[sewarsh]

didn't read any replies, but i would try to incorporate your current stone into your new ring. or if not practical, see if you can do 3 bands.

[Corie]

I have absolutely no interest in upgrading/changing my engagement ring.

(My husband has offered many times though.)

[Clarity]

I'd probably get a 10yr anniversary band other than upgrading my engagement/wedding band. In fact, I've been thinking about a 5 yr anniversary band lately. I can no longer wear my wedding/engagement set in the winter due to eczema or a nickle allergy or some such problem. I want something to wear in lieu of my set.



DH and I have been married for more than ten years. Our financial situation definitely has changed since we got married. Now that we can afford a nicer ring, DH has offered to let me upgrade it for my upcoming birthday. Should I do it? Would you do it?

If you upgraded, did you trade it in or get a completely new one? If we do upgrade, I would like to trade it in because I wouldn't know what do do with it. I don't wear jewelry regularly, just wedding band and engagement ring. I don't have a lot of real jewelry pieces stored away either. Taking my old ring and using the stone for a necklace is a little silly considering the size of it.

If you traded it in, what kind of things should I watch out for? I have yet to call any jewelers but I wonder if larger more reputable jewelers do trade-ins. I would feel uncomfortable taking it to a pawn shop or a shady looking place.

What do you think? TIA!

[maestramommy]

Have not, and will not. I love my ring :love5:

[DietCokeLover]

I would never sell/upgrade my engagement ring. THIS is the ring he asked me to marry him with..........any other ring would be just that any other ring

:yeahthat:

[dcmom2b3]

No. My simple carved silver bands mean too much to me to change them or set them aside.

But I'd ask for sizeable diamond stud earrings or the tennis bracelet to end all tennis bracelets, if I wanted more bling. Just thinkin' . . .

If your DH were taken from you tomorrow, what would you cherish more?

[gatorsmom]

I couldnt' trade up. I'm just too sentimental.

However, I did get a very nice diamond pendant for a combined Xmas and birthday present. I won't wear it all the time but I wear it occasionally and LOVE IT.

[jgenie]

Have not, and will not. I love my ring :love5:

:yeahthat:

[dhano923]

I upgraded for my birthday just before our 4th anniversary. I never liked my ring. My MIL had gotten it for me (indian custom) and it wasn't my taste at all. Just a stone in a plain dull 20k gold setting. DH had told me that when we had some extra money, I could upgrade it. I kept the stone (.75 carat) as it is a very good quality and got a 3 stone setting from Robbins Brothers, using that as the center stone. I found a nice v shaped wedding band (gold with small stones) that fits perfectly underneath the engagement ring. I have chubby fingers, so the 3 stone ring suits my hand better than a single stone -- takes up more space.

[Karinyc]

Even though I tend to be sentimental & often feel nostalgic, I would have no problem upgrading or switching the engagement ring or band. I actually like my engagement ring (not a true engagement ring, just a simple ring) but I was never crazy about the wedding band (we needed something simple & economical for the ceremony so I quickly purchased one myself). I actually switched the band a couple of years ago (not upgraded, though). I wouldn't if it had been engraved. Many people switch/ and or upgrade. If you don't feel uncomfortable or guilty with the idea of upgrading & it would make you happy then I say go for it!

[momof2girls]

I love my ring and would never even consider changing it. It is exactly what I would have picked out.

[fumofu]

DH did a wonderful job and gave me the exact ring I had wanted. So I have no plans to upgrade...for now.

My mom has been wearing this ring my dad bought her for over 20 years now. It's the only ring she wears. She never received an engagement ring (not in our tradition, especially back in the day) and she no longer wears her wedding band (may also be too small). But she wears that ring all the time and is definitely an upgrade from her lack of engagement ring and plain wedding band.

My former boss's wife was in the same situation as you are in now. Married 10 years and decided to upgrade her ring as a birthday present. She now has major bling in a modern band and setting, which replaced something modest and dated in style. She loves it and is thankful for her husband's gift and of their relationship. Not sure what she's doing with her old ring. She may've mentioned she's going to save the diamond and/or ring for her daughter when she grows up.

I say if you have the money and you would like a bigger ring, go for it! You'll love your ring, and your husband will be happy that you're happy!

[MoJo]

I did, and I have no regrets.

My original was something I bought myself out of a mail-order catalog for people with nickel sensitivities. There was only one wedding set available (for a grand total of $50-$75!) I paid for it (he was still in college); there was no presentation/proposal tied to it (DH just asked me if I wanted to wear it the day it arrived, having asked me to marry him many times before that); and I never loved it. (I loved him, but not it!)

So, several years later (and now several years ago) we found a set together at a department store that I liked much better and could wear. And he was working and able to pay for it. It's still a very inexpensive set, but I do like it much better. He gave it to my for Valentine's day.

FWIW, DH has an upgraded band too. He decided he wanted one with a different edge/band shape that would be more comfortable on his hand. (I forget what they call it)

My originals couldn't have been traded in, and I don't even think they are particularly worth passing down to either DD. However, I have saved them in my jewelry box.

[♥ms.pacman♥]

i would only do it if my DH suggested it. i sorta hinted at it a year or so back and it seemed like he didn't like the idea and his feelings were a bit hurt so then i decided to forget about it.

i stopped wearing my ring anyways, since while prego it didn't fit anymore..and these days with a baby i don't wear much jewerlry

[Pennylane]

My DH bought my ring just for the quality of the diamond and had every intention of having it reset into a platinum setting. Of course, once he gave it to me I couldn't bear to take it off! 10 years later, we took it in and had the setting changed and added a few smaller diamonds to the side.

I don't think I could completely switch out my ring though.

Ann

[SkyrMommy]

I don't think I ever could or want to... the ring is from the late 1800s and has been in the same platinum setting with the same diamond in DH's family and passed down from bride to bride.

I love the history of it & can't wait to pass it to my DD.

[wellyes]

I have no interest. To me that'd reduce the meaning of my engagement ring to being a status symbol.

[sidmand]

Reading the other posts—I think it also does matter how long you've been married and what your circumstances were (to a point).

After many many years I no longer consider material possessions to have sentimental value (this took me a long long LONG time and I realize it's my view and not everyone's)—for the most part.

But...

If DH and I had gotten married only a few years ago and/or later in life when we could afford more...

If DH and I had gone together and picked out the ring (or he had it designed especially with me in mind)...

If the ring was a family ring or held sentimental value for DH (even if it didn't for me)...

I think many of those things would make someone never want to change their ring and that totally makes sense. But if none of the above are true and the ring is simply a piece of jewelry and if both you and your DH want it changed, then go for it and enjoy!

[awoodm]

I would not be opposed to it later down the line, but I am not very sentimental with material possesions. As long as DH had no objections, I would do it. Right now though, I love my ring and band, but my styles and tastes change often. ;)

[nov04]

I could see changing the diamond and keeping the setting and have thought about it over our 8 years married. But looking at it right now and the fact that I've always been happy with how big it is, I might get a same-sized trinity anniversary ring for my right hand too. Not sure if it would be more expensive than my engagement ring.

[brgnmom]

I have no interest. To me that'd reduce the meaning of my engagement ring to being a status symbol.

:yeahthat:

My DH's friends have asked me whether I would upgrade my ring in the future, once our student loans are paid off, and I said, "no". I feel bad enough as it is that my DH evidently took out a loan while in med school to purchase my rings at the tiffany store. My father said that my DH didn't need to do that in order to propose to me, and a simple ring would have been just as sweet. I agree.

[hellokitty]

I love my engagement ring. Unfortunately, after DS2, my hands have swelled so much that I can't wear it. However, after having kids I haven't been able to wear my engagement ring much anyway, b/c it scratches and gets caught on things. My wedding band looks awful. Mil convinced DH not to get the wedding band that came with my engagement ring and to instead get a plain platinum band, it just looks like I'm wearing a keychain when I wear it by itself. Anyway, for our tenth anniversary, he got me a 5 diamond anniversary band. I love it and that is what I wear now as my only ring. It's more practical for everyday use and is sized to fit correctly. I should get my engagement ring re-sized and wear them together.

[elephantmeg]

I love my ring. It's only 1/4 car. For our 5th anniversary he did get me a custom wrap that added 2 small rubies and 2 small diamonds to it and it looks much better. I love that-I have my origional ring which was all he could afford then and then a wrap that was about the same price to add to it a few years in...

[PearlsMom]

I wouldnt trade in my ring but I would definitely get a diamond right-hand ring. I am not a jewelry person and only wear my wedding/engagement rings but i would get the ring for my other hand.

:yeahthat: DH got me (ok, more like "let me pick out") a right-hand diamond ring for my birthday this year. Cheaper than upgrading the engagement ring -- but then, I had a pretty nice rock to start out with. I love having more bling and I wear it every day! We'll see if I still want to wear it all once DC arrives, though...

[pinkmomagain]

After many many years I no longer consider material possessions to have sentimental value (this took me a long long LONG time and I realize it's my view and not everyone's)—for the most part.

But...

If DH and I had gotten married only a few years ago and/or later in life when we could afford more...

If DH and I had gone together and picked out the ring (or he had it designed especially with me in mind)...

If the ring was a family ring or held sentimental value for DH (even if it didn't for me)...

I think many of those things would make someone never want to change their ring and that totally makes sense. But if none of the above are true and the ring is simply a piece of jewelry and if both you and your DH want it changed, then go for it and enjoy!

Very well said. My sentiments exactly.

[jse107]

I would have no qulams about it. That said, I love my engagement ring and wedding band.

Someday I would love an anniversary band though!

[Happy 2B mommy]

I upgraded before we got married. DH proposed with a very simple solitare in white gold. He wanted me to keep the stone, but said I could change the setting. We had never looked at rings and he had no idea what I wanted. We were engaged for nearly 3 years before we got married. During that time, several other friends got engaged. I admit it was very petty of me, but I felt funny (ok, envious) that all the women had larger and more elaborate rings -especially since we were in a much better finiancial situtation than our friends. I had talked with DH about someday upgrading for an anniversary and he was adamant that the rings stay the same once we married. This was the only major fight we had while planning the wedding!

So 2 months before the wedding, he got me a larger stone. It's slightly less better quality than my original diamond (the first diamond was completely colorless and nearly flawless, but just over 1/3 carat, my upgrade is nearly colorless but twice the size) What's funny is that I kept the setting pretty much the same, only changed the rings to platinum.

We did keep the original ring and stone. Diamond is my birthstone and DH said that someday he wanted to give it to me in another piece of jewelry.

[cchavez]

I have a nice sized diamond (over a carat) in a classic platinum setting. My wedding band also has channel set stones. It is not major bling but I get compliments on it all the time. Plus my hands are small so that helps. I wouldn't mind a bigger ring but 1.5 to2 carats would look rediculous on my hand! "Plus I would never change my ring for sentimental reasons. I would prefer and nice diamond studs, and anniversary band or a tennis bracelet instead.