Rings on her fingers

[gwyn]

I am so not a jewelry person. I used to wear a lot of big outlandish stuff back in the late '80s and early '90s, but it got old fast. And I can't keep my ears pierced (infections never really go away), so earrings are a big pain -- I used to have to convert all my earrings to clip ons, and they never really aren't painful, at the end of the day. Jo mentioned that she noticed I don't, and asked me why I never wear jewelry recently. It's really just a lack of interest in accessorizing, I guess -- the kind of jewelry I'm drawn to costs money, because I like unusual, simple, and very handcrafted pieces without too much blinginess. I do like one kind of jewelry, bracelets, but more the cuff style of bracelet. That's probably one of the few things I'd actually want to have a few of, but again, the ones I like are $$$.

Plus, you know, the same money you pay for a ring or necklace or something that you would rarely have a chance to wear anyway could go for shoes, clothes, dvds, music, or BPAL. Which all makes it even less likely I'd want to spend money on it.

But I got the Sundance jewelry catalog today and OMG, I want these two rings, and I'm completely surprised by it. They're both really affordable, and totally my style, not ornate, soft colors, simple and handcrafted. The mabe one is a bit pricier, and the glacier one is so pretty, but it has those two little knobby things, which I don't know how comfy that would be on a finger. I don't even know what my ring size is -- I have one that fits my ring finger, the only jewelry I wear, but I can't tell what size it is comparing it on a ring chart. It looks like the 6 circle is inside the ring edge, and the 7 is dead on with the edge of the ring, so which one is right?

Every year, my therapist encouraged me to buy a present for my sister on our birthday, to do just what I would do normally only keep it for myself and then I would feel better about the day -- I was doing something for her still. I never have done that, but this is totally what I would have gotten for her. She loved jewelry, and was totally a silver girl like me, and what she did have I almost universally liked. Maybe I should do a Jeremiah and write a card for her and burn it.

OTOH, I shouldn't spend money on something that frivolous now, so you all should probably do me a big favor and talk me out of it, 'kay?

Comments

[tazlet]

so you all should probably do me a big favor and talk me out of it, 'kay?

Nope. I think you should buy it, as mourning jewelry, that symbolically a gift that you would have given your sister will be encircling you.

[gwyn]

Enabler! ;-) I have to admit, I've been kind of tired of the one ring I wear all the time. I don't know if this is the kind of ring I can wear 24/7 though, and not damage them with showers and lotions and such. Might be nice to change the permanent dent in my finger.

[devilc]

I would write her a card and then eat some sort of food you both loved, drink some sort of vino/booze you both loved and then flambe the card.

[gwyn]

Not a bad idea -- I'd have to switch out booze for iced tea, though. ;-)

[adair]

I agree with tazlet (forgot how to make that work)

If one of the rings has symbolic meaning for you you should buy it as long as you can eat and feed the cats.
Symbolic objects are important in remembering those we love, and this time has a lot of meaning for you.

My father died in October 2008, 3 days before his 93rd birthday. I found myself this year starting to think about gathering all the pictures I can find, including some from WW2, and making a scrapbook. Of course I wish I had thought of it while he was still alive and could tell me stories, but making it is really about me remembering him and what I know about his life. A ring for your sister is also a gift for yourself on your joint birthday; it's about her, but it allows you to continue your connection.

[gwyn]

Oh, you know, a scrapbook might be a good idea for both me and my dad. It might be something he and I could work on together. I definitely don't have money for things, these days, but my therapist was always pointing out that whether I had money or not wasn't the issue -- I always got her a really nice gift, and that's what the whole thing symbolizes, keeping that commitment.

[minim_calibre]

Glacier is gorgeous, and you'll probably with a wider ring want to go with the larger size.

(I'd talk you out of it, but on November 22, I have to go buy a wonderful towel for a dead friend's 42 birthday, because as a Hitchhiker's Guide fan, he'd have loved it so much. So I'm in favor of the plan where you buy her the gift and keep her close to you.)

[dine.livejournal.com]

I think you should go ahead and buy a ring - both are lovely and you would have the fun of wearing such a beautiful piece, and something physical to keep her close.


here's a bit of help wth determining sizing
http://www.bluenile.com/find-ring-size

[fishsanwitt]

I don't know - are you sure you don't want to splurge? Just a little? They're both quite beautiful.

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

If you have the money, make yourself happy.

That said, only do it if you'll not miss the money.

Sounds kinda zen, don't it...

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

If you really feel you can't spend the money on it now, print pictures of the rings and include them in the card?

[gattagrigia.livejournal.com]

I have a jeweler's set of sizing rings somewhere around here. At least you could find the current size of your fingers! And one thing I think about with rings, is what is the hardness of the stone? Pearls register 3.5-4.5, and moonstones around 6. In rings and bracelets, the harder the better, IMHO.

[sdwolfpup.livejournal.com]

Those are really gorgeous and fairly affordable. I think you should do it, especially since this is a big birthday.

[klia.livejournal.com]

You only turn 50 once, so if you can swing one or both, I'd go for it.

And, hey, consider yourself lucky they come in your size; I haven't sized myself lately, but I used to wear a 4, and can find very few rings for my ring finger.

[rattlecatcher.livejournal.com]

I am the same way - if I buy jewelry, my dresser drawer is the one to wear it most of the time. But I have been struck by the omgneedthatnow lightening, including one purchase that was far and away the most expensive piece of jewelry I have ever purchased and possibly will never be topped (it cost more than all the other nice pieces I own put together. yes, there are only a few nice pieces but still, I'm sure you recognize the "wow, that was a leap" in this).

But it is gorgeous, and though I rarely wear it, I do wear it, and wear it for all the right reasons. Everytime I put it on, I think about how special it is and I have yet to regret buying it.

And I recently have commissioned a jewelry-making friend to make me a lariat necklace that is so far getting good reviews.

I don't know if I'm changing in my adornment needs (it's why I like my tatts - no muss nor fuss), but I am happy to say that the few pieces I've bought in the past ten years have given me such pleasure.

Which is a long way to saying BUY THOSE THEY'RE GORGEOUS!

[leela-cat.livejournal.com]

If you will fret and worry endlessly about having spent the money on yourself, then buying one of those rings is not a good thing to do for yourself.

However, I am one of those folks who believes in an occasional moderate splurge, because we're humans and we do need to occasionally feel that we're able to buy something that's strictly not necessary.

So, if you can bring yourself to do it, those rings are gorgeous and inexpensive and I think you should buy one for yourself. If you're worried about the ring size and they can't be exchanged, then go into a jeweller's and have them measure.