Claddaugh (up to date version...)

Ok, FH and I are thinking of doing this. We really can't afford a nice diamond right now for an engagement ring. We would rather put that money toward the wedding itself and the house (we just bought last year and needs some work)

So, what do you think of a bride to be without a diamond? I will get one eventually, maybe with the wedding band, or before the wedding, but later... after we have saved some, but we REALLY want to make it official so that we can talk to our families and start the planning.

We were thinking of getting a claddaugh ring instead for a while (I am irish(american) and wear a silver one now, but we were thinking of getting a nicer one as an engagement ring in white gold maybe) We might even use it as the wedding band, and buy the diamond at time of wedding. The Claddaugh can be turned around to mean engaged or married, depends which way it faces.

When I do get a diamond I want a plain solitaire type. (he knows this)

Oh, i dont know... not sure if it is wierd? what do you guys think? should we wait to get engaged until we can buy a ring?

Re: Claddaugh

IMO, the ring isn't important. What is important is that you and your FH love each other and are ready to make a commitment to each other.

Just be prepared to get some flack from other people on your non-traditional engagement ring.

Re: Claddaugh

The ring shouldn't be important but that is usually what people ask to see first. But I think the claddagh is a nice idea. Or if you don't want to have rude people make comments about your non-traditional ring you could always get a 'fake' nobody would have to know but you and your FI!

I have seen fakes that look just as good as the real thing. Just make sure you get a band that won't tarnish.

They do sell claddagh with stones in the middle even diamond like stones. Sp that may be an option.

Re: Claddaugh

I think that it would be beautiful to get the claddaugh ring. Society is the one that makes you feel that you have to get a diamond. My friend who just got engaged is greek and she did not get a diamond. She is wearing her wedding band on her left hand and when they get married she puts it on her right. In the long run would you not rather invest the money in your house? A dimaond is pretty but you can't sleep in one...jmo

Re: Claddaugh

I have a really pretty claddaugh wedding band type ring with small channel set diamonds and emeralds in it. It was fairly inexpensive, and it might be a better option if you want a ring that will sit flush with a solitaire you might get in the future.

Re: Claddaugh

Wow, thanks ladies for the support. We really want to make the committment and make it 'official', but just aren't ready for the diamond thing, financially. I am not a big jewerly person anyway. I tend to wear one silver ring now, and usually a pair of earrings. (not typical Long Island LOL)

I agree that what matters is being with this wonderful man, not some stone. We have also thought about getting an emerald ring, but I know emeralds can sometimes be just as expensive as diamonds. We'll see, gonna look around, see if we see 'the right' thing. I think we want to at least have some symbol of the commitment...

Mom said pick out my setting and have a CZ set in it until we can afford the stone (and not to tell ANYONE and NOBODY would notice) BUT, I am a terrible liar, and I am sure I just wouldn't pull it off.

Anyway, anybody else have ideas??

Re: Claddaugh

Well, not one person has asked me if my diamond is real since I've been engaged. (It is, but that's not the point.) I have a travel ring that's CZ, and nobody notices the difference. If you want a CZ ring, get it, you wouldn't be lying, you'd be witholding the truth

Re: Claddaugh

I would go with the CZ and if you can't keep the secret so what. You would only wind up telling people you are close to. And if they have a problem than they don't care about you anyway. This way you have a 'symbol' to the world and when the time is right you will have the exact ring you want.

Re: Claddaugh

If having a traditional ring is important to you, def. get a CZ.

My boss has this beautiful engagement ring. It looks like a 2.5 carat emrald cut with a trillion on each side, set in platinum. She just told me today that it's CZ, since they couldn't afford the diamond at the time, and they just got the setting. She has been married 15 years, and never got around to getting it replaced.

For as long as I've been working for her, I had no idea it wasn't a diamond.

Re: Claddaugh

I have to say, I have always been a touch jealous of the Irish and their claddaugh...I think it has such a wonderful message!!!

go for it!! you may wait to get your diamond on the 10 year anniversary...

Re: Claddaugh

I think its a great idea. It does not matter what you have on your finger as long as you and your FH love each other. At first I was planning a wedding without a ring (we couldn't afford it) until my DH's family gave him a family herlum e-ring and wedding band. People sometime are materialistic and what matters is that you 2 love each other and decided to spend the rest of your lives together.

Re: Claddaugh

Wow, i feel a lot better now. I am not the type that has to do things the way society suggests for EVERYTHING, but sometimes I do take it into consideration I guess. Well, you have convinced me that whatever we decide, it doesn't matter what the others think (or know ) Well, I guess I will fill you all in when we decide (even though we are doing all this planning together I think he is still trying to figure out a way to surprise me)

P.S. Does anyone know how much emeralds cost in relation to diamonds? Same? Less? More?

Re: Claddaugh

think a good emerald is pretty expensive but I am not positive

Re: Claddaugh

They're generally cheaper, but high quality emeralds can cost a lot! Make sure you go to a jeweler you trust, a lot of emeralds these days are lab created, and not worth as much as natural ones.

Re: Claddaugh

Yes, I have seen the lab created ones. I do not personally care for the look of them myself, they are TOO green I think. Maybe it was just the ones I saw though. Oh well, guess I have to start researching again LOL

Re: Claddaugh

I LOVE the Claddagh and what it symbolizes. I am also Irish (mostly).

I received a Claddagh ring with a diamond heart shaped stone from my former fiance and I still wear it to this day. My MOH use to tell me that that was my first engagement ring. I did get a 'real e-ring' a few months after the claddagh. He passed away 6 years ago and for a few years before I met my FH I wore it with the heart pointing out but have had it pointing in towards me for 3 years now.

Re: Claddaugh

I have been engaged without a ring for almost a year ... and although I am waiting for my ring (FH is actually making it/putting it together) ... but I don't care that I am not getting a diamond. FH is originally British, and you might know that they gve safires as engagement rings, not diamonds, and I am gettint a high, high, quality one for my e-ring.

I guess that if you truly die for a diamond and later on he can give you one, it is great. But don't worry about not having one, or even ring right now, the most important is the love!

good luck,

Elena

Re: Claddaugh

Thanks ladies! I did not know that brits used saphires, how cool!! See, you learn something new every day!!

Re: Claddaugh

The sapphire thing in Britian is very well known, actually. Prince Charles gave Diana this ring (or something very similar) when they became engaged:

I think it's a great idea to use a gemstone for an engagement setting. Some of the women in my family have emerald e-rings, and they are beautiful and very original! Congrats on making it official - don't worry a thing about what anyone else thinks - this is YOUR life, and YOUR future. You and your FI are very wise to be planning for it!

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Re: Claddaugh

I think thk the claddagh idea is great . I am irish (born & bred) and the claddagh is historically a wedding ring
hands for friendship
heard for love, and
crown for loyalty.
Sounds like a great combination for an engagment ring to me