I’ve been writing a lot about rings lately and it got me to thinking about something some women do: trade up for bigger diamonds.
Some do it only a couple of years into marriage, some do it for bigger anniversaries such as 10th or 20th.
When Wayne and I went to pick out my ring he knew how much he was willing to spend. He wasn’t buying into the spend-three-months-salary concept for choosing a diamond, much to the saleslady’s chagrin. She kept pushing him to reveal how much he earned, but he wouldn’t tell her.
I guess she figured he might be embarrassed about his salary so she said, “It’s okay. Buy what you feel comfortable with now. You can always trade up for a bigger ring down the road when you’re more established.”
I remember thinking, “Why on earth would I do that? This is the ring Wayne’s giving me and I want to keep it forever.”
I didn’t even have the ring yet, we hadn’t even picked out the one that would eventually become mine, but already it held sentimental value. That was the ring he’d give me when he finally proposed. That was going to be the ring on my finger when we got married. It held huge significance. Another ring, just to boast a larger diamond, was just going to be another ring. What was special about that?
Because rings, especially wedding and engagement, are very special. Size doesn’t matter. Price doesn’t matter.
The only thing that matters is the fact that ring will forever symbolize your love. If it’s trying to represent anything else –like your financial status, importance in the world, or the size of how much you think he loves you (or should love you)—you’re marrying for the wrong reasons.
So I guess you know where I stand on this. There is absolutely no way I’d ever “trade up.” Would you?
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