Piggybacking on previous topic--do you notice people's rings?

[Anonymous]

And if so, what do you think? I inherited a fairly large ring (2.5 carat stone) and b/c DH didn't have to buy an engagement ring, he splurged on a 3-carat eternity band for my wedding ring. We are not rich by any means, we drive older inexpensive cars, and I buy most of my clothes at Target and Old Navy. I always wonder what other people think when they see my ring, if they think anything at all. I've found that ever since I have it I tend to notice other people's rings a lot.

[Anonymous]

i don't usually. unless they are huge honking things that are hard not to notice. i would imagine 2.5 carats is hard not to notice. especially if you have skinny fingers.

[Anonymous]

Well if your dressed nicely i would check out your ring ,but if you look avg and unkempt i would not notice or try to look. Its the way you dress that is more important.

[Anonymous]

If it's particularly large, then yes. But I don't think much of it, as I know women with enormous rings (like JLo rings) that aren't enormously wealthy. I don't assume the circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Definitely notice. I have a fairly large engagement ring and others look and so do I. I love diamonds though.

[Anonymous]

I started noticing rings about the time I began to shop for DW's. I noticed for about a year after we were married. Now I do not notice it.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I do. I especially notice the "fit" of rings. I perceive as tacky someone who's wearing rings that are just totally out of proportion to her hand (and this has to do more with all the setting extras (baguettes! eternity bands!) than the size of the central stone itself).

I have a friend who has tiny child-like hands. Her engagement ring is an antique, with a very low profile, and it just looks elegant on her. The rock is by no means small, but in its setting, it doesn't overwhelm her hand. It seems to me that for the last 20 years or so, people have been totally ignoring the size/shape of their own hand when choosing a ring.

[Anonymous]

I never notice, but honestly I am not into jewelry. If it's really big- it might be hard to ignore...I sometimes think 'why'. We have alot of $ and I am very athletic--weights at the gym, run, etc..and I insisted on nothing that would get in the way--plain platinum band and the engagement ring platinum with solitaire emerald cut (not too big that it would catch or get in the way).

I personally think oversized jewelry on a daily basis is very gaudy. If you are going to a Royal Wedding or the Oscars then by all means bring out the bling---but in everyday life...looks trashy with workout clothes, jeans, etc.

[Anonymous]

PP - remember that most women don't choose their own rings. My husband chose the diamonds and the setting and surprised me with it. My ring is stunning but maybe you'd think the "fit" is off because I do have small hands.

[Anonymous]

Mine is similar in size to the OPs and I am surprised by the number of people who comment on it. I am less observant about others unless it is hard to miss.

[Anonymous]

Never. I'm totally not into jewelry at all, and my rings are the only stuff I wear, and I often take them off at home.

[Anonymous]

Hmm...I'll be honest, not always but sometimes I definitely do. And when I do see a large ring I admit I usually wonder what it's overcompensating for in the relationship. I know, harsh and looking way into it. But I guess I just don't get needing a big ring. I quickly try to remind myself that jewelry to some people is a bigger deal than I think of it.

[Anonymous]

For those who say they tend to notice "big" rings, how big is big?

[Anonymous]

On the same topic--I've been married 11 years, turn 40 in a few months....my husband's younger co-worker's fiance INSISTED on nothing less than 2 carats. This is the trend among her group of friends and they gossiped about each other's rings. It made me sick to my stomach. I just don't find that kind of stuff important and these ppl could seriously use that $ towards the downpayment on a house instead of living with their parents.

I also used to hear about the '2 month salary' thing---dreamed up of course by 'DeBeers'. If my husband went by that---my ring would have been enormous. I find all of 'this criteria' tacky and missing the pt of 'marriage'. As someone else indicated---the size of the ring is not directly proportional to the amount of $ the ppl have--nor is it often one of high quality. I loved that Carolyn Kennedy wore a simple gold band after she married. There's a lady that could have been sporting a serious rock.

[Anonymous]

An important point is that carat does not equal value (remember the 4 Cs!) - so I never assume what the wearer's circumstances are. DH and I chose a 1 carat solitaire for my skinny finger, but the cut, color and clarity we picked make it far more valuable than what a bigger diamond might be worth.