Out of curiosity, does anyone know the original meaning behind an engagement ring, and asking the father for his daughter’s hand in marriage? I know where it all started, I’m just curious if anyone else knows how it all began.

I am still holding onto my wedding set from a marriage that ended 6 years ago. It is not what you would call an up-to-date set. It’s not very modern. It is two rings, one is an engagement ring and one is a plain band. Both are yellow gold, and the engagement ring contains several diamonds totaling 1ct. It’s not worth too much…I know that. I just don’t want to get a ridiculously low amount for it. I think that’s why I held on to it. I can’t "trade-up" because it came from Service Merchandise, which is now out of business. Any suggestions to getting a decent, or fair, price for this set?

maybe he asks me for a hand for the marriage?
Thank you Daniel! I hope you are correct, so I would be so happy!! It is a very pretty ring.

My friend – who is an energy reader and quite spititual – had a dream that a she opened a wrapped box that was in my mailbox. It was a diamond ring. There was a card with it but she could not tell who it was for. No one is at the marriage stage in my household…my friend said she would never go in anyone’s mailbox and she has never dreamt about my house. Any thoughts? She cannot get a handle on this dream.

WTF? I don’t have it ANYWHERE that I’m engaged or even thinking about getting engaged! Marriage just isn’t in my cards!

Ok, my boyfriend is talking about getting me jewelry for Christmas, and the other day, he asked my mom what my ring size is…He also asked her if I like diamonds…
So, my question is, do you think he might be getting ready to propose? We’ve only been dating a little while, but he brings up marriage from time to time. He’s 28, and I’ll be 21 soon. He has two degrees, two jobs, a nice car, and a house, so he is financially stable enough for a wedding. I’m just curious. Not getting my hopes up or anything, I just wanted to know if you can give your significant other a diamond ring without it meaning something so important as an engagement?
Note to Pspop:
That would be embarrassing!

LOL, thanks for these answers guys! Like I said, I’m not getting my hopes up, or expecting it, I’m just curious. I didn’t know if there was an unwritten rule saying that or not.
Hey, Thanks Lorkin. I was wondering about that too!

My marriage is over due to my husbands cheating.What to do with the rings? They have no real value,we never had any money so selling them or donating them to charity is pointless. What shall I do with them? Saving them for our children doesn’t feel right after daddy let them down so badly!

Maybe you aren’t ready for marriage or ready to get engaged. Would you want people to know that you are in love and taken by wearing something to show you’re commitment?

I want to file for divorce. No-fault in PA. My husband won’t sign unless I give him my rings. Does he have a right to my rings after 10 years of miserable marriage? What is PA law concerning this?

If a cubic zirc. looks like the same thing, why does it matter? The diamond ring has a been a recent and commercialized thing. Why do newlyweds have to spend tons on a little ring if they could use that money for other things, like furniture or neccesities? Why do we have to shovel out the cash for marriage if it is not supposed to be based on the material, but on love and commitment.

Boyfriend and I have exchanged promise rings with the commitment to marriage at a later time. No date has been set. I want to know what is the official title do we use? Boyfriend
/girlfriend or fiancee’?

slogan is "Wife Insurance." I saw this one yesterday!
Seems like a sad commentary on marriage.

I am 26 years old and a junior in college studying history and theatre (ye, i know, i dont have a life). I dont have a job and am usually broke. My mom is pestering me to find a nice girl to settle down with. i am afraid of marriage and committment (that it wont work out like everything else in my life doesnt). Anyway she mentioned she put away in the safe a very expensive diamond ring worth at least 50,000 dollars. she used to say she’s saving it for my future bride but id rather sell it and invest the money so i can have a business, the other things will fall into place afterwards.

so what sayest thou.
I have this idea of opening an internet cafe in the summer in a vacation area.

My mother would also like to have a family business so if it works out its a win win situation.

The way I see it, right now the only thing I have going for me is my looks (though my hair is starting to thin) and my wit but I am more broke than ever and what kind of girl would want me now?
The diamond belonged to my grandmother.

Where did the idea of giving a woman a diamond ring for marriage come from? I know some women out there say theyre happy to get the ring but seriously every woman wants the diamond ring cuz it makes them feel like a princess, but where did the idea come from?

Me and my boyfriend are getting to the point where we are talking about marriage! We want to be engaged but we want to have a long engagement. I found this amazing ring that I want and I showed him and he LOVED it. I was just wondering if getting a guy a ring was weird because I found one for him that he would LOVE but I’m just not sure if it is right to get the man a ring before you are married…I mean they dont really have engagement rings for guys. Just wondering about this…any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

this is the ring that I want

http://www.zales.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2993630

and this is the ring that i would like to get him

http://www.zales.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2501076

thanks ahead of time!

I am recently divorced and was previously engaged once before, a long time ago. So now I have two engagement rings, and I don’t know what to do with them. I could sell them, only to suffer a large monetary loss on them.

Are women wearing the rings on another finger? Converting them into other pieces of jewelry? Or simply letting them sit in a drawer?

Just curious. . .they’re beautiful and it’s a shame I can’t wear them any longer. They’re just sitting around the house now.
Seems I should clarify some things that have been mentioned in responses. The first engagement was as a teenager many years ago. He did not want the ring back, but I did attempt to return it.

My marriage was a 12 year marriage that ended because he cheated. He then became an alcoholic and eventually a habitual narcotics user. It’s like a bad Hollywood movie. He did not want the ring back either, however, after his addiction caught hold of him – he did ask for it back several months after our divorce. I wouldn’t return it due to the fact that I felt I would be enabling his addiction by providing him the funds for it from selling the ring. He sold everything else he took from the marriage to do the same.

Nice story, huh?

I have a very alternative view of marriage, and things in general, and buying a ring, especially with an expensive shiny rock on it, feels really foreign and stupid to me. So I’m looking for an alternative to the whole "diamonds are forever, blow two months salary" sort of thing. I’m thinking something oceanic would be nice. My girlfriend and I are surf fanatics.

personally i think that an engagement ring should be new. I don’t understand why anybody would want to wear a ring that symbolizes somebody else’s marriage. What do you guys think?
Wow it’s great to see all the different opinions! I guess in case of a divorce the ring is given back (even though it meant something to the ex wife) and given to the next bride… which sounds sick to me but again, that’s my personal opinion.

I have a bridal ring set which my hubby gave me,and it has a engagement ring and matching wedding band,which one do you wear first after marriage????? engagement ring first or wedding band first?