So, I finally got over myself (since my previous "Diamonds" thread) and reconsidered my position on this whole "upgrading the diamond" thing.

Rather than upgrading the diamond, I decided to buy my wife a new engagement ring on the weekend. One that I designed myself, with the help of a jeweller. I also sat and watched as the ring was built and refined in the way that I requested.

She has no idea, because she's still under the impression that I plan on upgrading the center diamond.

I also plan on reproposing to her on our anniversary in September, when I give her the ring.

The new ring (and new proposal) should symbolize the beginning of a new age in our marriage. Cast out the old crap and baggage that we've been carrying around with us, and start fresh.

I hope she likes it.

It takes a good man to do this even though you don't understand it. You're a good bro!

I appreciate that! :)

That sounds like a wonderful idea. I hope your wife appreciates the thought and sentiment that you have put into it.

This is something that I wish I had the ability to do the first time around. Her current ring is empty, and void with meaning. It's more of a formality ring.

My wife says that she likes it, but I know she's just saying that to be nice.

I'm gonna need to find a way to come up with the money to pay for this new ring. I bought it on approved credit, but the transaction won't take place until September. The store has it locked up in their safe right now until I go to pick it up.

It felt pretty good spending the past few months looking around at rings ON MY OWN without the pressure of an obsessed girlfriend breathing down my neck about it. This was my decision and it was being done on my own time.

And the ring is pretty fancy. I lot of people walked over to watch as it was being made as well. It drew quite a crowd.

There's just one small catch though...

Come on man!! What's the catch?!?!

(What you did brought tears to my eyes by the way..So sweet..)

Well... the catch is that my wife will no longer have her current engagement ring.

I brought her rings with me when I went to see the jeweller. It's the same place that I bought these rings from. I told her that I was going to get her rings polished (which I did), but at the same time I wanted to show the jeweller the design of her ring so that we could work on doing a similar, yet enhanced, design on the new one.

I explained to the jeweller what I was doing and he suggested that I could sell them back the current engagement ring and that they'd use it as a credit towards the price of the new ring at the price for which I bought it three years ago.

I had to take some time to think about it, but ultimately decided that I would go ahead and do it.

My wife might flip out, but I think she'll quickly forget about her old ring once she sees this new one that I made. I'll also explain to her about the pain and misery that we both seem to have attached to her current ring, since it conjures up memories of the not-so-romantic way in which we became a couple.

I should've taken a picture of it to post here. This ring is so ICED OUT, but it's classy. After the ring was finished being refined, I told the jeweller that my wife was going to poo her pants when she saw it.

Now I have to devise a strategy to get the ring off of her before we leave for our honeymoon, because I have to give it to the jeweller in exchange for the new ring.

I have a few ideas....

That's really awesome. So you became a married couple in a not so romantic way too? I know its hard and stressful..

Maybe you could "accidentally" spill some ketchup on her ring.."Sorry about that dear, let me get that cleaned for you so it will look great before we leave..Then maybe you could tell her that eh jewler found a loose stone and had to send it off to get tightened or replaced and it won't be back until later..??

Whatever happens I hope it all goes well.

Red, you are such a good man. And I don't mean because of the bling. But because of the thought behind it. God is going to bless you guys for all the blessings you're dishing out.

Maybe you should renew your vows while you're at it.

Might save that for another time. I know the burning desire to have another marriage ceremony will bite her one day... maybe at our 10 year mark or something.

I think this is a great idea. I think she'll be happy that you came up with it yourself. Well done. Very romantic.

redguard,
i think what you are doing is great. it has meaning and love behind it and that's all a woman ever wants from her man :) i am a little concerned, however, that she might regret you selling the original ring back....only because my husband did the same thing and i really was sad about it. it took me a while to get over it. but i eventually did. you should, if at all possible, ask the buyer if it is still available there to take a photo of for your memory book. i'm sure she would GREATLY appreciate having a memory of it....even if the meaning behind it wasn't what you think it was, after a woman wears a special ring for a long time she becomes VERY attached to it.....or atleast i did. i am in no way trying to put a damper on your special day.....i'm only trying to make it go a little smoother. i would hate for you to put so much effort in to this, and then the only thing she could think about was the fact that she isn't getting the original ring back at all. for me, i was hoping to keep mine because i wanted to pass it down to one of my daughters as a promise ring....so it was hard for me to let go of that.
our anniversary is in sept too :) it will be 10 years for us....man we are getting old! i really do wish you the best through this exciting time. i'm probably way off base with worrying about it, so please forgive me if i'm talking out of turn. i can only relate to my own experience. good luck!