mdiver said:

I look at things. They're different.

Vincey-Princey. Ahahahahaa! I DID A RHYME! Why don't you have a goblet of wine?

TheCrackFox said:

No way i am tasting YOUR wine mate!

benyamin said:

nope!

mdiver said:

CalhounSq said:

to both of you. It's very symbolic, and reflects the relationship to the world. Why else would there be a ring if not to send a message to those on the outside?

morningsong said:

Why does a man need to rob a Brinks truck in order to provide?

When i got Val's ring it was very much a turnaround for her.She has never been a diamond person or the kind of person that WANTS ALOT.
I wanted her to have the BEST because i wanted to treat her as she should be treated. I wanted to give her the best i could afford and the best i could find.
I sent my jeweller in search of a specific diamond. I told him what i wanted not how much it should cost, he found it and when he showed it to me i knew it was right. It wasn't about cost it was about what was RIGHT.
I had it set in the only things Val said she wanted..platinum
From me to her as a demonstration of how much i love her. It really is that simple.It was never about size or cost but about what is RIGHT from me to her.

heartbeatocean said:

Definitely, it's phony. But I know some really cool couples who have cheap rings.

The ring is a symbol, it shouldn't be phony, but it doesn't have to be diamond & platinum.

NDRU said:

mdiver said:

I just like platinum because it is tough and it wears beautifully. I think if it is something you are going to wear everyday and have something to pass down through generations then it should be able to withstand the test of time.

shanti0608 said:

yeah, nothing wrong with diamonds (try to get "conflict free" at least) & platinum if you can afford them, but they shouldn't be necessary to confirm true love is all.

mdiver said:

Why are you defensive

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I don't think he's defensive at all. Simply explaining what it means to him, since the thread is about you're being so offended by the tradition.

CarrieMpls said:

Why are you defensive

I can't believe this hits such a nerve. Must be cuz it's not built into my society so I have no expectations

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

you need to quit

heybaby said:

OK. Men, you're enslaved to buy real diamonds or you'll never hear the end of it and you won't get married and women you deserve diamonds for nothing more than being the chosen ones

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

you don't think people are entitled to their own opinions?

ZombieKitten said:

You mean like my opinion?

Yeah, people are entitled to feel this is something they deserve. I'm just asking why and encouraging men to find the right women that won't care if they don't bankrupt themselves in order to give the princess her society fueled dream

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

some people actually can afford it.

Phil wanted to do it, so he did. It makes him feel good to do it. Val I can tell, like he says, is one to not want much. That makes him feel even better to do this for her, because he could, not because he had to.

That situation is NOT the same for everyone, I agree. I don't think people should feel like they HAVE to buckle under some kind of pressure to, but if they really want to do it, then of course they should be able to.

Your opinion is valid, just remember IT DOES NOT APPLY TO EVERYONE, no matter how much you want it to

ZombieKitten said:

Well I would still ask the question Why they want to? Because it's something that came floating out of thin air into their minds or something drilled into it with a Saturn sized drill by all of society and the Diamond association! And just because you can afford something doesn't mean someone actually deserves it! But I'm happy for Phil and Val actually.

.
[Edited 2/26/08 17:17pm]

personally I would not have to be lied to about a ring. I don't want someone to the point where the man has to refinance his house or car or anything-I would never put that type of pressure on anyone and a woman who does that really isn't worth it. But in the end as I've said before it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks; family, friends, and acquaintances are not the one's in your bed at night.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

of course it is the latter

It is symbolic. It is something that has gained a kind of western world universal meaning a "diamond is a symbol of forever". Like any tradition anywhere.

Loads of people all over the place buck tradition, for many reasons. Some choose not to because it sits well with them, and others because they are too weak to buck it.

If you felt your love deserved everything you could give them, and a big rock symbolises that, and the recipient felt the same, then it works.

However, a nice big rock is no substitute for all the other things a strong relationship requires

She's happy if I just keep her in noodles.

ZombieKitten said:

Well I'm probably secretly jealous because I'm not included in this societal shindig

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Supa will you marry me

Homer gave Marge an onion ring and she still loves him!

heybaby said:

Because of how much I love you, Look what I got you





Unfortunately, you're gonna have to pony up for the crane to help you lug it around

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I'm jealous you get to be with people who have the sex drive of men!

Supa, I love you, but this is a bait thread.

As for me, I didn't get Mon a ring. In Thailand it's not really about diamonds though, but gold. It's not so much about rings either, but sometimes a gold ring is given, and sometimes a necklace or bracelet. I didn't give Mon anything in the end and it wasn't a big issue since the most important thing was that I gave cash and 24k gold necklaces to her parents! They need it way more (Mon got the gift of marriage to me ), and besides, gold is an investment too so it's useful. Gold was $340 per baht (15.2 gms) when I bought the necklaces and now it's about $440 so should they ever need to they can pawn them.

At some point Mon and I plan to get simple, matching platinum wedding bands but there's no rush.