Engagement rings - "classic" or not?

[Cheeseandolivesplease]

I was talking to my husband tonight about engagement rings. He said that "most" women prefer the classic style of a solitare, or at least a solitare-like setting synonymous with a traditional engagement.
He said I was a (in a kindly teasing way) a "nightmare" as I insisted nothing would displease me more than a classic ring "similar to that of most other women" - hence why I chose my ring myself (tbh he was correct!!)
But it got me thinking - do "most" women really opt for this classic style?
Subsequent to that, I also pleasantly surprised him with retaining my Ms MyName and having a home birth, but I do like to do "me"! 😀

Oh get you being so edgy 🙄

What's a home birth got to do with it?
Anyway, can we see your ring?

I can’t imagine ever having a conversation with my DH about engagement rings.

Given most of the rings of the newly engaged I have seen over the last 30 years are diamond solitaires. I suspect that is probably correct. Not that a diamond solitaire isn’t lovely but I love seeing a “different” style engagement ring as it is more of a rarity.
Mine is not a solitaire 😊

But you already told him that you’d hate a classic ring “similar to that of most other women”. So presumably you already agree with your husband that most woman want a classic style, because you’ve used that to make it clear how nonconformist you are.

I didn’t have an “engagement” ring (but was bought a sapphire ring for an anniversary that I wear with my wedding ring), and I had a home birth, but I’m not sure I see the connection between the two.

I’m with @PersephoneParlormaid.

Can’t ever imagine either of us striking up a chat about engagement rings.

I like more unusual rings. A solitaire is so ubiquitous that I was not interested in having one myself. I also wanted an engagement ring that I could wear everyday; that wouldn’t catch on random things - so in the end I opted for a celtic design with diamonds (I’m also Scottish).

C’mon @Cheeseandolivesplease show us a picture. You know you want to…

I’m guessing you’re both probably right that a majority of other people prefer a classic style of engagement ring, though what that means will vary a bit I guess. I remember a friend getting a very unusual ring for her engagement, I thought it was hideous tbh. I was quite relieved when they broke up and she went for a solitaire the next time.

Indeed. What a cool girl.

It sounds like your dh is gently trying to communicate that you can be a pain in the arse at times......We need to see the ring before we can decide if most women wouldn't like it.

Classic is classic because it doesn't date or age I guess, what you love at 25 you may not love at 75.

Women get "classic" ones so it "holds its value". I think its kind of a fear based decision...what if it dates??? What if I dont love it in the year 2046

I was lucky enough to get married just as lab diamonds / moisanite was taking off and decided diamond were not where its at anyway so id just get what i wanted (and saved myself about 20k on my ring in the process)

I got exactly what I wanted.
its not mad-wacky, its a custom art deco style and i like it as much now as when i got it.

I perosnally find solitaire incredibly dull. A lot of women who get solitaire now get fancier / more interesting wedding rings which is nice to see.

I don't have a solitaire. My ring is still classic. 36 years old though.

Picture needed
I change my rings every 5 years as I change my mind a lot. I’m currently on an 18ct radiant halo lab grown 1.75ct - gorgeous and shiny, with a plain band to match. Last one was a natural diamond solitaire with chunky natural diamond eternity band. One before was moonstone and morganite rose gold with diamond band.

It's a 'classic' solitaire for me. Coloured diamond.
I'm not a home birth person thankfully, as one birth would have gone tits up when I needed an emergency caesarian. People give birth in hospitals for a reason.
People also make their own choices and they are still individual ones, even when most people choose the same thing.

If most people choose a Sunday roast but you opt for a soup and sandwich, you're both making individual choices and none is 'better' than the other.
So what's the op's point?

God it's annoying when people go on about how "different" they are. They usually have absolutely 0 personality and all they have to talk about is how they're not like everyone else.

I like diamonds. And I like not diamonds. Diamond solitaires are versatile and sit happily alongside a wedding band or whatever other jewellery you might wear.

I'm glad you're happy with whatever something you have.

My friend has an opal engagement ring and it's lovely.

I kept my maiden name - it's made my divorce slightly less faffy.

I haven't given birth in any venue.

My personal opinion, but I think solitaire diamonds are rather "common" and were probably the result of marketing or influnce from the US. I prefer 3 or 5 stone rings, preferably repurposing inherited family jewellery.
But spare a thought for your European eighbours, some only get their wedding ring, to wear on the other hand, when they become engaged. The ring is swapped to the appropriate hand at the wedding ceremony. Attempts by the jewellery industry to sell engagement rings with precious stones over the past 50 years or so have failed miserably.

God no. Round solitaires are pretty boring!!!

Not one person I know has a classic 😂 Maybe it’s just my friends but for some reason we all bar one have a coloured stone (3x emerald, 1x amethyst, 1x Sapphire) and multiple stones/halos and they’re all vintage style particularly art deco or art nouveau.

One has a diamond solitaire and she’s the one who likes hers the least. She never wears it.

So I actually think the solitaire is becoming the rarer option and coloured rings will be ‘of’ the 2020s.

My original ring was a green stone set in a gold leaf design - not expensive (student). I still have it but changed it to a more traditional sapphire with 3 little diamonds either side, as the original didn't look right with a wedding ring - it was meant to be worn alone.
I'm also someone who likes change - I'm currently wearing a diamond solitaire, diamond eternity ring and platinum wedding ring - I wear jewellery because I like it, but I'm just as married whether I'm wearing the original or not, so I think it's fine to swap according to mood.

Most women probably do get a diamond solitaire because few people are going to go 'off' it - they are beautiful and classic for a reason.

Traditional three diamond engagement ring girl. I’ve had mine for 50 odd years and I love it just as much today as I did then. I also have a beautiful art deco square shaped ring from Mappin and Webb that I inherited which I wear on special occasions.

I think some of this depends on your age group. My 80 year old mother has a ruby and diamond engagement ring; one of her sisters has a an emerald and diamond engagement ring; I can’t remember what the others have but none of them had a diamond solitaire. My sister has a yellow diamond flanked by two other stones. My engagement ring is vaguely similar to this: https://uk.pandora.net/en/rings/statement-rings/sparkling-polished-lines-ring/190919CZ.html I didn’t want a solitaire and at 22, I knew my fiancé wouldn’t be able to afford a large diamond. 26 years later I still love my engagement ring.

Have you made 'Im not like other girls' your whole personality?