***Disclaimer! I wrote a lot. Sorry.
One of my favorite parts about this matrimonious thing (besides marrying Cdawg, having so many really amazing people coming together to help celebrate, looking forward to eating the really good food and changing my name to Beckass {totally kidding on that last one}): is THE RING! Who would have thunk it? Not me, since I don’t really wear much jewelry.
While visiting Washington in February the task was to start the ring selection process. I told the Cman long ago that I didn’t need a $293857923875923875 engagement ring. Actually, I didn’t want one at all. I’d rather save the money for something else. So, instead of doing the traditional two ring deal we hunted for something else to adorn our fingers. I realized quickly how painful this process was…especially since there are so many large and in charge big honkers out there that just are not me and I had no idea what I even wanted. We’d go to a jeweler and I’d look for something simple and understated which beyond just a basic band was virtually impossible to find. Luckily, C-dawgs mom was SO kind to offer her grandma’s engagement ring…a beautiful but simple rose gold ring with a missing stone in the center with one small diamond and one small pearl on either side. For some reason this ring just spoke to me and I fell in love. Plus, it was full of good “juju” since Cdawg’s great grandma had been married some 40 54(!!!) years. We took the 100-year-old ring to a family owned jeweler to see what we could do with it and it was somewhat suggested that I not consider working with it because it was so worn. They suggested melting it down and making something new out of it. I just didn’t have the heart to do that. So I gave up (a little) on the heirloom.
On our way back to Cali we drove through some outlet stores in Oregon (no sales tax! woot woot!) and I found a different ring that I kind of liked for $199. Ha! I found my potential wedding ring at an outlet store! I’m too embarrassed to say the name of the store…you’ll laugh at me. Yes, I kind of felt like a cheap date but the ring was really me and simple and tiiiiiiiiny (like only 1 mm wide!). The guy even said, “Boy, you sure don’t want people to know you are married!” (side note, I have long white fingers so something big and shiny just wouldn’t work…small and simple felt better). So I bought my wedding ring at an outlet store. Whatever.
Then my wild mind got going again and I thought…maybe I should just try working with the heirloom ring at a local family owned jeweler and see what they say. We took it to Oaks Jewelers in Berkeley….first we met the founder of the store, a man who started the store in 1948. Yes, 1948! (and I fell in love with him by the way). He directed us to his son (who is now the owner) and after showing him the ring he didn’t question for a second the ability or desire to keep the 100 year old treasure alive. He worked with us without pressuring in any way to get the ring just the way we wanted it and each time we went in they’d remember who we were. They were beyond awesome. And although a family heirloom is priceless I would have to say their prices were so reasonable (ok, so maybe a little more than outlet prices, but still). Cooper also found just the right ring for him there too…a euro cut (i.e. not so domed but not square) yellow gold band. I bought his ring, he bought mine. That is romance.
Anyhow, SHAZAO! this is what the end result looks like:
I kick myself for not having a “before” photo but really the ring is exactly as it had been except they polished it, added new little diamonds in place of the one little diamond and one little pearl and in the center is a yellow sapphire. Yes, diamonds are a girl’s best friend but I wanted color/character not just another diamond! And we thought it would look a little less like an engagement ring if I didn’t go all out diamond action. I love it love it love it love it love it love it love it love it love it love it love it love it and just can’t wait to wear it for as long as it will keep living. THANK YOU to my future ma-in-law for giving me such an incredible gift! Makes my heart and warm and cozy inside. I truly am so grateful.
Oh, and just to clarify I’m not wearing it until the “deed is done” and I returned the outlet mall ring to the outlet mall.