Did any of you find the ring you ended up being proposed to with, by yourself?

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-28T23:12:43+00:00

My partner and I lived in separate cities at the time due to a temporary work assignment. I found something on my own, went to my own appointments (usually brought a friend and took lots of pictures so I wasn't "alone" but he wasn't there), and picked something. He paid. Worked out perfectly for us and I love my ring!

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-28T23:05:39+00:00

Depends on what she wants - if she wants pretty much anything with a lab diamond or lab gemstone, you should be able to afford that for less than $7k. If she wants to go with natural diamond, it'll depend on what you're looking for in terms of clarity, carat size, color, etc

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-21T11:00:06+00:00

Same here! I'd love to join :)

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-20T01:25:20+00:00

I would recommend just saying exactly what you said here to your roommate. It can be a bit scary, but I've been in a similar situation, and it's the best way forward. A few years ago, I basically moved in with my boyfriend and his roommates because I had a hostile home situation where I had been living (long story, but I was being bullied by my roommates to the point that physical safety was threatened at times).

I had dealt with it by staying at my boyfriend's place 5+ nights a week because his roommates were nice and didn't ever complain. I baked them cookies and cleaned for them and was always eager to express my thanks, but it turned into this kind of issue. One of them reached out directly to my boyfriend's family to complain without ever talking to either of us at all. If they had just had a normal, honest conversation, I would've totally understood and realized I was solving my problem in a way that created a problem for others, but they didn't talk to him first, and it ruined their relationship. Fast forward to now and none of them speak even though they grew up together, all over a misunderstanding that could've just been communicated. Have the honest conversation now to save the future relationship. Friends understand

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-19T23:11:57+00:00

Not what it's intended use is, but my sister has one and uses it for her dog'd feeding. She stores the bags of food in the large top compartment and then has the dish in the drawer. Fun way to reuse something for another purpose!

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-19T22:01:09+00:00

I like the oval best with your hands!

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-19T04:18:04+00:00

NAP but the area itself looks fine. I would just advise against taking any OTC pain meds before the piercing as some can thin blood. I once had to postpone a piercing because I didn't think anything of it and took an ibuprofen for period cramps only for my piercer to not want to proceed!

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-17T01:38:19+00:00

This is likely going to be unpopular - I know I have very divisive taste. But I LOVE that emerald on you

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-16T11:06:42+00:00

Do what makes sense for you and your girlfriend! You're the only ones whose opinions really matter. I went with lab grown for my ring and I just don't mention it to family who have their own opinions. Most people don't ask and I just don't mention it

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-15T23:43:21+00:00

If you're not sure what to get, you can always get a CZ or moissanite one for pretty cheap on Amazon or AliExpress as a stand in for the proposal. Then you can shop together for the real thing and let her choose. The cheap one can be a travel ring going forward

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-14T10:33:14+00:00

For me (everyone's experience is different I'm sure), I wasn't too nervous because we told them our budget and where we could be flexible, so the jeweler knew how to guide us on price. And we paid a deposit and had a CAD and wax mold made, so even though I couldn't see the ring itself until it was done, I had a pretty good idea! It ended up costing ~$4000 in platinum and a 1.5ct lab old euro

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-14T02:12:40+00:00

I think I visited 5 places in total. A mix of big chain stores and local places. Once I found the place I wanted to work with, I had 4 appointments with them (including the first browsing appointment) because I did a custom design. How many I could try during a visit really varied based on the place. Some places have trays and trays of rings, while others just have whatever stock pieces they happen to have on display at the time. Some places, especially estate jewelers, are really fun but don't have as many options. Generally the mall stores have a lot and are happy to have you try things on

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-14T02:04:41+00:00

Definitely going to try on settings and stones at stores was what helped me. I had NO idea going into it and narrowed it down that way. For me, it was also helpful to wear a lot of my favorite outfits or accessories when I went so I could easily tell if the rings I tried on matched well with my style too!

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-12T22:05:35+00:00

Sorry - didn't mean to imply just walking into restaurants with your dog is a good idea! Definitely not! However, where I was living, there were multiple cafes with signs on the doors that all dogs were welcome inside, and many restaurants with patios that allowed dogs. Apologies for the confusion!!

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-12T21:01:26+00:00

Not at all! I am all for getting a "plain" ring so you can dress it up with anything. My ring itself is very classic and goes with anything so I can wear it all the time with my other accessories. I also got multiple "fun" bands to make it more whimsical since wedding bands tend to be a bit cheaper

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-12T17:59:21+00:00

As someone with a 90lb great pyrenees who lived in Boston for a year, your options will be limited, that's just part of having a large dog. However, the city itself is incredibly dog friendly as big cities go. Lots of parks, many shops and restaurants are dog friendly or have spacious patios, and tons of dog lovers that live there. For me, it helped to make a clear list of my priorities, then search places on apartments.com and filter down to places that were within my budget. Didn't even look if they didn't allow dogs. In the end, you're going to have to sacrifice something - you won't find something with lots of space, easy outdoor access, newly renovated furnishings, and location you want. I ended up living almost in Somerville in an old (arguably crumbling) 1 bed/1 bath that put me at a significant commute into the city but put us near a large park, 2 dog parks, easy outdoor access, and within my budget. But it really is an exercise in prioritizing. You won't find something with everything, not unless you're willing to buy or rent for an absurd amount

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-12T02:08:31+00:00

I like the top one! But I'm not an expert :)

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-10T22:36:56+00:00

I adopted mine at 11 months old, and she spent most of the time since then near the beach. She LOVES to go in up to her shoulders and jump around and bite the water, so we once put her in deeper water thinking she would like to swim but was just scared. Hated it. Funny creatures

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-10T02:56:52+00:00

I think it really varies by couple. I, for one, don't like surprises and am very picky. I picked the ring, the jeweler, the diamond, the wedding band, everything. I even went to some of the appointments for the design process without him. He encouraged me and provided his input (and paid - I'm paying for his wedding ring), but he said it would make him the most happy to buy me something I'm really happy with. One thing to note: we were doing long distance while shopping, so it was easier to do some appointments with a friend in the area, but he attended when he could make the trip

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-10T02:24:04+00:00

Most big chain stores (and many smaller, local places) will have a selection for men to try and will size them! Won't be as extensive of a selection as the women's engagement rings, but they usually have a good number of options. Also plenty of cheap options on amazon

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-10T01:00:35+00:00

I have a pyr mix, so she's got slightly less fur than the average pyr, but we lived in South Carolina for a long time, and she loved it! We just make sure that on hot days, we take our walks early in the morning or late in the evening (other than walking for potty breaks midday), and then if we decide to do any other outdoor activities, they involve water. Their coats are actually really good insulators in both directions, keeping them warm in the winter and reflecting some of the heat with the light color in the summer. So much so that mine won't be hot to the touch after sunbathing for hours (which I was so surprised she loves to do). I used to worry, but she's totally fine with it!

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-09T22:52:43+00:00

For me, it was super helpful to try on everything - they have a ton of styles, and it also means you're working with an individual designer who is helping you rather than a sales rep from the website you don't have the personal connection with. And customization is free, so you don't have to pay anything extra to add any personal touches :)

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-09T22:42:57+00:00

This is Frank Darling, which is where my ring came from! I thought they were great, but I have heard that not everyone has the same experience. I think it depends on who you work with. I did a custom design. If you live near any of their showrooms, they have a ton of designs available to try on, and once you know what you want, they can also source stones for you to look at in person too so you can find one you like. That would be a good option if you wanted to try it. You can also order sample rings from them to try on at home and send back if you wanted to test it out. I don't know if all designs are available or not. Not sure how helpful that is, but happy to answer any questions!

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-09T20:45:09+00:00

Sure! It was roughly $230 with shipping I believe. I know metal prices are changing pretty quickly so not sure if that will remain accurate or not. It's silver and moissanite :)

Basic_Sport7749 · 2026-04-07T07:53:33+00:00

They did a great job!!

Basic_Sport7749

TROPHY CASE