BLING BEYOND THE BUCK
Every woman, from the time she was a little girl dressing in princess costumes and sneaking her mother’s red lipstick, dreams of that special day when the man of her dreams bends down on one kneee, profesess his love to her and opens a tiny black, or blue for those Tiffany’s afficianados, box and the the glimmer and gleam of that diamond ring burns an everlasting twinkle in her eye.
However, by the next morning when the rush of excitement has decended, the new bride-to-be begins showing off her love rock to all her friends and family; where vigorous examination will continue until the four “Cs” have been determined. Color, cut, clarity and carat size. Women have become experts at deeming a ring acceptable, or something they would have thought came from a penny machine at the local drug store. If the ring does not meet the expected 4-C standards, she is left dissappointed.
What happened to the days when a simple band of gold woud be sufficient? The ring is a symbol of a commitment from a man to a women, between them both, that they plan to stand by each ther and love each other unconditionally until death. When did the ring become the focus over what it symbolizes? Do people get married to share their lives together, or to acquire signifiant goods and status?
I admit it, I am one of these women who dream of that perfect flawless diamond ring being slid on my finger one day. It’s the grown-up-girl’s castle in the sky fantasy. Not more than three years ago my standard sat somewhere between $5,oo0 and $7,000. Since then, and since I have engaged in a long-term relationship, my standards have not lowered, but rather come to a realistic and reasonable level. Just $1,199 will give me my dream ring. But when it comes down to what the ring symbolizes, you may as well give me a yellow wire bread tie wrapped around my finger, if it meant that I knew my significant other and I would be married and commited to each other forever.
