My engagement ring was something my DH had made from his Grandmother's original wedding band and a tanzanite stone from a ring his mother had. It was a completely unexpected gift, since I was inclined to tell him "don't buy me an engagement ring, put the money in our house downpayment account -- that's more important to me." I love the ring, and in the days after I got it I'd find myself staring at it because it was so sparkly, but it doesn't match our wedding bands at all, so if I wear it, I put it on my right hand.

I have a nice diamond solitaire engagement ring with a wrap wedding band. I feel sort of guilty because I hardly wear it anymore. the wrap tends to catch on clothing, towels and skin. I've scratched the kids more times than I can count so I pretty much ditch them (the rings, not the kids) on a daily basis and only wear them when I'm going out (and when I can remember to put them on).

What I should do, is find a nice regular, plain wedding band that I like and get one so I can wear it in a more utilitarian setting.

But I'm not really a jewelry person.

Ahah. I thought you were responding to my "it looks like boxing until I kick him in the nuts" with dirty boxing, as opposed to not boxing.

Oh, that's true. I think kicking in the nuts may get a special exception, since it's so awkward to punch somebody in the nuts. (Especially if you're taller than the possessor of said nuts.) Really, if you want at the nuts in a not-nice way, feet are the way to go.

(Feel free to explain why 4 out of 5 martial artists disagree!)

The boy only found out a few weeks ago that engagement rings and wedding rings are different things. He's twenty six.

I am spared any sort of ethical dilemma by failing entirely to see the appeal of diamonds.

Handy cutting surface if you're ever held captive somewhere with a window or two-way mirror big enough to escape through?

It's so awkward to punch somebody in the nuts. (Especially if you're taller than the possessor of said nuts.)

Well...

Feel free to explain why 4 out of 5 martial artists disagree!

Okay, so you see me coming. I punch guys in the nuts quite a bit. I've been punched mid-thigh hard enough to drop me by a guy who's 6'2. Fuck. Although the thigh had been injured a week before, it still grates. It's the only time I've been dropped in a fight.

Handy cutting surface if you're ever held captive somewhere with a window or two-way mirror big enough to escape through?

But, see, if I had a big rock I could just break the window instead.

Lots of faceted gems are sparkly. Some of them are even in colours I think are pretty. Most diamonds, NSM.

My diamond solitare (inherited from my godmother b/c I could never afford a stone of this quality) is a stone that sparkles in colo(u)rs -- it throws rainbows in ways that surprise me.

For what it is worth my parents were married for 40 years, and lived together a few years before marriage. My Mom was there when my Dad died, and his last words were to tell her he loved her. They never had engagement rings. Their wedding rings were plain gold bands without markings. Nothing my Mom ever told me about their marriage leads me to believe she regrets not having a diamond.

My diamond solitare (inherited from my godmother b/c I could never afford a stone of this quality) is a stone that sparkles in colo(u)rs

It may be that I just haven't seen the right diamond, but since I'm not a huge fan of faceted stones to start off with, it might be a me thing. I like the deep red/blue/black stones the most.

The boy only found out a few weeks ago that engagement rings and wedding rings are different things. He's twenty six.

A likely story.