When we called off the engagement the first time around, we obviously kept the ring, but I didn't wear it for three whole years. It sat in a drawer, and I didn't really think about it. And unfortunately while the ring was sitting there for three years, I, along with my ring finger got a tad plumpier. I call it the "Grad School 6." Not quite as severe as the "Freshman 15" but same concept. So when the time came around for me to possibly put the 'ole E-ring back on, I couldn't *quite* slip it past my knuckle. SO, we had to resize it. Keep that info in mind because it will be important in second I promise.
So, I have previously lamented about my confusion over getting a wedding band in addition to my engagement ring. After much consideration, I decided I was totally down for wearing two rings. HOWEVER, over the last 6 months I've lost about 15 pounds and consequently am now faced with having to resize it AGAIN - as the ring practically fell off my finger last night. So in light of this news, I thought of an alternate solution to just getting the ring re-sized and purchasing a separate wedding band to wear alongside it. I'm kinda thinking of re-purposing my engagement ring - and re-designing it to be my actual wedding band - just one unified ring. I'll still use all the same diamonds and white gold from the E-ring, but I'll have a jeweler craft it into a completely different ring - something that lays more flat, looks thicker, more "band-like" - maybe use two types of metals instead of just white gold. I couldn't find the *exact* ring design I have in my head, but here are a few pics to give you an idea.
I would like the shape to look like this (minus all the extra diamonds):
And the style, color, and vibe of the ring should be akin to the look of these with added antique style etching/engraving on the side and more white gold.
There are a few problems with doing this:
- Cost. I had only planned on spending no more than $200 on my actual wedding band, and re-designing the E-ring would probably cost more than that. I'd be willing to pay a couple extra hundred. MAYBE.
- Sentimental value of the original E-ring. I'm not so much attached to this. We designed the ring together at a totally different time in our lives, when we were totally different people. So honestly, it would be nice to look down at a totally different ring and not be reminded of the sh-tstorm we went through during the time when we first got engaged -and the hellish process of having to call it off. I'm proud of our "epic love story battle," but do I need to be reminded of it every time I look down at my finger? Because it's true, I look at this ring, and I am immediately transported back 4 years ago. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I want to look forward, and not back. That makes sense, right?
- I could hate new the ring. Goes without saying, but that would BLOW. And I'll never be able to get my original ring back. So it's a
But even after listing these reasons not to, I still want to. What would you do? Anyone out there re-purpose and re-design your E-ring to be your actual wedding band? Do people actually do this? Or am I the lone weirdo?
Here's the thing about spending money on your ring: you're presumably going to wear it every day until you're dead. If you're lucky, that'll be a good long while. So, it seems to me a justifiable expense to pull from the budget elsewhere if need be to make it exactly what you want, be it one ring or two, new or old. It's not just an investment in metal and rocks.
ReplyDeleteI know that's what I'm doing. My man and I are going to do the wedding ring workshop (http://weddingringworkshop.com/) and spend more than what we would to just buy the same bands in a store. But part of my extra money is a fun day of learning with my honey, and most of it is knowing that the ring I wear everyday, it was made for me by the person I love most in this world.
Hmmm, tough call. The cost will likely be more than a few hundred bucks too.
ReplyDeleteI do like the idea a lot though of just redesigning and creating 1 ring. Wedding rings are great but usually pale in comparison to the e-ring and my best friend doesn't even wear her wedding ring because she decided she didn't like it.
Basically end of the day you're wearing it. What would you be comfortable with? Keep in mind you could probably also redo it in a few years when you're more financial comfortable with the idea (I have a non-wedding band ring and will probably get another one in a few years, didn't want to stress out about wedding bands when I only had 3 months to plan the wedding!).
I also don't want to spend more than $200. And I also have an engagement ring from when he proposed years ago. He got me a new one this time so I also had planned to melt the old engagement ring and have it turned into a new design. I thought that would be cheap, so, uh, maybe not? Ill keep you posted on what prices I hear about down here.
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely look down at your ring and look forward! Good luck working it out, it sounds like a new custom design might be the way to go.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important that you're happy with your ring(s), but I was more than a little surprised with prices for custom work - even when you bring your own stones and ask for your gold to be recycled. As CNC mentioned, maybe you could re-do it in a few years, when wedding prices aren't breathing down your neck? And maybe it will be nice to have a plain inexpensive wedding band for whenever you go to the gym, travel outside the US, want to wash dishes, etc. The re-done engagement ring will still be special - whenever you do it - but it doesn't necessarily need to be incorporated into your wedding band.
ReplyDeleteOh screw it! Do it now! I love love love your idea and think you have great reasoning for why you want to do it. The one band wedding ring merged from your e-ring is so amazing. Yes, it will be more expensive than what you planned but as said above, it is going to be a lifelong thing. I am not getting a wedding band, my e-ring will also serve as my wedding ring...I like to call it the conversion on wedding day of e-ring to w-ring. I'll be anticipating the final design as I have a feeling you'll come up with something so great.
ReplyDeleteOK I know this is really late, but I love this idea!! Especially using the first or second designs. It's also a really cool idea for the future because you can get really thin rings made to be stacked together with your e-ring/wedding band--my mom has done this and it looks amazing and makes it easy to mix and match a lot of other jewelry over time.
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