Diamond peeves and LOVES

[lumpkin]

Date: 1/23/2007 6:33:05 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 1/23/2007 6:10:46 PM
Author: lumpkin


I guess I could add this to my peeves: assumptions people make about you because of the diamond on your left finger. Negative attention. When I had my pear diamond I went through the drive thru at McD''s for a drink and the girl at the window snarled out a ''Must be NICE!'' at me. I was so taken aback and then angry. I hate to admit it, but it did dampen my enjoyment of it when things like that happened.

I think that would have caught me off gaurd for a second, but quickly recovering I would have said, It is, thanks!

You are so ornery!!!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/23/2007 6:34:33 PM
Author: lumpkin

Date: 1/23/2007 6:33:05 PM
Author: Ellen

I think that would have caught me off gaurd for a second, but quickly recovering I would have said, It is, thanks!

You are so ornery!!!

Who, me?

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 1/23/2007 6:24:52 PM
Author: EBree


I completely agree; I love my diamond. I look at it all the time. It''s amazing. But the fact is, diamonds are status symbols whether an individual feels they are or not. You wear a big honkin'' diamond, and people are going to think, ''wow, that must have cost a ton.'' And I think more people enjoy that feeling than will admit it, which is fine.

It''s the same with designer bags and clothes, too. Do girls wear sweatpants with ''JUICY'' on the butt because they''re of higher quality than sweatpants that aren''t as well known? Please. Do women carry Louis Vuitton bags because of the way they''re made and that reason alone? Sure.

Feeling pride (or loving compliments) when someone notices something you have isn''t awful, and that''s all I was saying. I personally wouldn''t care if someone came up and asked about my diamond''s every detail. That''s me. You don''t feel that way? That''s you (I don''t mean you, lumpkin, I mean the collective you!). But it doesn''t change the fact that diamonds are known to be expensive and thus, are status symbols.

Hm...interesting EBree. I guess here in L.A., I truly don''t see my one carat ring as any status symbols whatsoever. If anything, it probably shows that we have no status and are just run of the mill, hehehe.

But when I go to other, less urban parts of the country, I do get some looks, and maybe some assumptions about my status, which is just strange to me.

You''re going to get all kinds of people saying they buy stuff because they like it, the quality, etc etc. Personally I never thought bags were SUCH a status symbol (because I never notice them) until I lurked on the purse forum for a couple of weeks while looking for a decent work purse. They''d go on about how status had nothing to do with it, but in the same breath one said she was embarrassed to walk into a store with her friend because she carried a cheap purse and the salesrep gave them the onceover. I guess I never particularly cared what a salesperson, who most likely makes less money than I do, thinks of me.

Whoa...did I just say something that sounds...statusy?

 

[lumpkin]

Date: 1/23/2007 6:38:21 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 1/23/2007 6:24:52 PM
Author: EBree


I completely agree; I love my diamond. I look at it all the time. It''s amazing. But the fact is, diamonds are status symbols whether an individual feels they are or not. You wear a big honkin'' diamond, and people are going to think, ''wow, that must have cost a ton.'' And I think more people enjoy that feeling than will admit it, which is fine.

It''s the same with designer bags and clothes, too. Do girls wear sweatpants with ''JUICY'' on the butt because they''re of higher quality than sweatpants that aren''t as well known? Please. Do women carry Louis Vuitton bags because of the way they''re made and that reason alone? Sure.

Feeling pride (or loving compliments) when someone notices something you have isn''t awful, and that''s all I was saying. I personally wouldn''t care if someone came up and asked about my diamond''s every detail. That''s me. You don''t feel that way? That''s you (I don''t mean you, lumpkin, I mean the collective you!). But it doesn''t change the fact that diamonds are known to be expensive and thus, are status symbols.

Hm...interesting EBree. I guess here in L.A., I truly don''t see my one carat ring as any status symbols whatsoever. If anything, it probably shows that we have no status and are just run of the mill, hehehe.

But when I go to other, less urban parts of the country, I do get some looks, and maybe some assumptions about my status, which is just strange to me.

You''re going to get all kinds of people saying they buy stuff because they like it, the quality, etc etc. Personally I never thought bags were SUCH a status symbol (because I never notice them) until I lurked on the purse forum for a couple of weeks while looking for a decent work purse. They''d go on about how status had nothing to do with it, but in the same breath one said she was embarrassed to walk into a store with her friend because she carried a cheap purse and the salesrep gave them the onceover. I guess I never particularly cared what a salesperson, who most likely makes less money than I do, thinks of me.

Whoa...did I just say something that sounds...statusy?

TravelingGal, I think you are so right! Where I live a carat is kind of the center mark. Nothing to get too excited about, but nothing to sneeze at, either. In other parts, a carat is like the holy grail. Other parts, merely a chip.

Yeah, I don''t really get the purse thing, either. I have a black leather bag I''ve carried for about 4 years now, and all my stuff fits in it, it goes with everything, etc. Except, probably some people would think it didn''t belong in the summer months. Oh, well. All my stuff fits in it and it''s a nice sturdy purse. I''ll probably carry it another 4 years.

Ebree, if they made Juicy sweats in my size, I wouldn''t DARE wear them! Nothing like the word Juicy on a big girl''s behind! Hee Hee! But I get your point.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 1/23/2007 6:47:11 PM
Author: lumpkin

TravelingGal, I think you are so right! Where I live a carat is kind of the center mark. Nothing to get too excited about, but nothing to sneeze at, either. In other parts, a carat is like the holy grail. Other parts, merely a chip.

Yeah, I don''t really get the purse thing, either. I have a black leather bag I''ve carried for about 4 years now, and all my stuff fits in it, it goes with everything, etc. Except, probably some people would think it didn''t belong in the summer months. Oh, well. All my stuff fits in it and it''s a nice sturdy purse. I''ll probably carry it another 4 years.

Ebree, if they made Juicy sweats in my size, I wouldn''t DARE wear them! Nothing like the word Juicy on a big girl''s behind! Hee Hee! But I get your point.

Hey, I''m with you on the purse thing. If that makes me tragically unhip, I''ll be laughing all the way to the bank. I was talking to an affluent friend of mine and she and her husband have nothing saved for retirement. It comes in and out. I was very surprised. So I gave her the run down on why it''s important to save early. She said she didn''t make much (he is the breadwinner) and didn''t have much to put away. I told her, when you go shopping and don''t buy something, put that the money you would have spent away...like the $2000 that would have bought an LV purse. She laughed and said she''d give me her LV purses for my portfolio...

Don''t get me wrong. If you can afford it and other things are taken care of, I think a treat is a nice idea. After all, we do have to LIVE.

Hm...do you think if I come with with "beefy" sweats, it would sell as well?

 

[E B]

Date: 1/23/2007 6:38:21 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Hm...interesting EBree. I guess here in L.A., I truly don't see my one carat ring as any status symbols whatsoever. If anything, it probably shows that we have no status and are just run of the mill, hehehe.

But when I go to other, less urban parts of the country, I do get some looks, and maybe some assumptions about my status, which is just strange to me.

You're going to get all kinds of people saying they buy stuff because they like it, the quality, etc etc. Personally I never thought bags were SUCH a status symbol (because I never notice them) until I lurked on the purse forum for a couple of weeks while looking for a decent work purse. They'd go on about how status had nothing to do with it, but in the same breath one said she was embarrassed to walk into a store with her friend because she carried a cheap purse and the salesrep gave them the onceover. I guess I never particularly cared what a salesperson, who most likely makes less money than I do, thinks of me.

Whoa...did I just say something that sounds...statusy?

I obviously hit a bit of a nerve talking about diamonds being status symbols on a diamond board, but it's because I don't find the fact that they *are* status symbols so horrible. They just are.

And yeah, purses are total status symbols! I'm not a purse person at all and even *I* notice a Balenciaga, and I know they cost a thousand dollars or more. If someone has $1k to spend on a bag, people will assume your status, no? It doesn't mean you shouldn't carry one to avoid attention, but I don't understand being surprised or angry when you get it.

 

[diamondfan]

I will admit to one thing...when I wear my ring and some my other stuff, and am dressed well, I truly think I get better service in stores where I am not known. When I am schlumpy and casual, and not wearing any jewelry, I think I do not get viewed the same way when I am put together. This only goes for places I do not know, like if I am on vacation...I think because I look young that also is a factor...but that is just something I have been noticing...it might sound odd, and maybe I am nuts, but I have been sort of paying attention to it...

I did not say anything to the manager of the sunglass store, I guess I figured he really did not mean any harm, and I just wanted to get out of there. It is a tiny little store, and he and one other young guy were there, neither looked too authoritative so I just wanted to get out. I did not want my son to see that I was uncomfortable at all...

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 1/23/2007 6:52:31 PM
Author: EBree


I obviously hit a bit of a nerve talking about diamonds being status symbols on a diamond board, but it''s because I don''t find the fact that they *are* status symbols so horrible. They just are.

And yeah, purses are total status symbols! I''m not a purse person at all and even *I* notice a Balenciaga, and I know they cost a thousand dollars or more. If someone has $1k to spend on a bag, people will assume your status, no? It doesn''t mean you shouldn''t carry one to avoid attention, but I don''t understand being surprised or angry when you get it.

EBree, I don''t think you''ve hit a nerve...I just think people are trying to say whether they are or not status symbols, there *are* folks out there who buy them without thinking anything status related. Truly when we got our ring, I was not thinking status. I didn''t even want a ring but FI liked the thought of a tradition: proposals, one knee, etc etc. If I had to admit that anything was status related, it was that I did want a one carat diamond...but that was always because I thought one carat was such a lovely, perfect size (this was before I knew that one carat was weight, not "size" per se).

 

[bookworm21]

Date: 1/23/2007 6:52:28 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Hey, I''m with you on the purse thing. If that makes me tragically unhip, I''ll be laughing all the way to the bank. I was talking to an affluent friend of mine and she and her husband have nothing saved for retirement. It comes in and out. I was very surprised. So I gave her the run down on why it''s important to save early. She said she didn''t make much (he is the breadwinner) and didn''t have much to put away. I told her, when you go shopping and don''t buy something, put that the money you would have spent away...like the $2000 that would have bought an LV purse. She laughed and said she''d give me her LV purses for my portfolio...


Don''t get me wrong. If you can afford it and other things are taken care of, I think a treat is a nice idea. After all, we do have to LIVE.


Hm...do you think if I come with with ''beefy'' sweats, it would sell as well?

LOL...beefy sweats. I''d buy them just to see people''s reactions.

And as to the original topic: I love it when friends ask me for advice about jewelry. I hate it when I give them a detailed explanation as to why cut is more important and they make comments like "Ok....you''re just a little too into it. You''re obsessed." There''s this one girl who goes around and tells random people we meet that I''m obsessed with diamonds. One day, I snapped and said, "Do you REALLY think it''s necessary for you to tell people that about me?"

Her answer? "Well, you are."

I''m not giving her advice when she wants it. She can wind up with the crappiest cut diamond from Zales for all I care.

Oh boy. I''m a bit angry with her.

 

[E B]

Date: 1/23/2007 6:52:28 PM

Hm...do you think if I come with with ''beefy'' sweats, it would sell as well?

LOL!

Lumpkin, I wouldn''t wear ''em either. I must be totally unhip, because I was at VS over Christmas shopping for my cousin and stumbled upon sweatpants with the word "PINK" in huge letters across the butt. Apparently, they''re very popular and have been out for a while. The brand is called PINK, but I still wouldn''t want it written across my backside! How embarrassing.

 

[Mara]

lol beefy sweats. that''s like ''yummi donuts''.

i tell greg that i want to open up a donut shop and call it ''yucki donuts''. think it''d sell?

 

[TravelingGal]

Mara, you're such an enabler, sure...I think it'd sell!

Nah, I decided I can't do "beefy sweats." I'd be really sad to put it together and realize I have room for 4 more letters on my ass.

 

[lumpkin]

Date: 1/23/2007 7:08:04 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Mara, you''re such an enabler, sure...I think it''d sell!

Nah, I decided I can''t do ''beefy sweats.'' I''d be really sad to put it together and realize I have room for 4 more letters on my ass.

No, dear, you just make the letters BIGGER!

 

[lumpkin]

Date: 1/23/2007 6:58:33 PM
Author: EBree


I must be totally unhip, because I was at VS over Christmas shopping for my cousin and stumbled upon sweatpants with the word ''PINK'' in huge letters across the butt. Apparently, they''re very popular and have been out for a while. The brand is called PINK, but I still wouldn''t want it written across my backside! How embarrassing.

We could manufacture men''s swim trunks and underwear with "BLUE" written on the front. Think they''d sell????

 

[diamondfan]

I know girls who save like crazy to afford special things, like nice sunglasses or handbags. One of my sitters used to save a lot of her pay, not go to Starbucks, not go to dinners out a lot, and she would treat herself to something really nice. She calculated what she saved not having $5.00 lattes once or twice a day, and she was careful with her discretionary spending. I really admired that she set a goal for something special that she would treasure and really appreciate.

I think maybe semantics are at issue. If I am wearing a Chanel bag, I am certainly buying into the hype of paying way more than the actual bag costs or is worth, and someone who sees me with it might make assumptions about me based on that bag. The bag, because it is costly, is a status symbol to a degree, BUT, everyone is different and so I might just really love it and enjoy the quality, of course I am paying for a name and could buy a fake just as easily, but I just want someone to know me before assuming things about me based on my clothes or accessories or jewelry. Maybe this bothers me because I have had this for a long time in my life, my own sister is guilty of this because she does not understand what motivates me, she choses to think her view is right, maybe because HER motivation would just be to have status with an item. We also all know that you can see a really cruddy 4 carat yuck stone, or a stunning incredible 1 carat, and the 1 carat would cost more but since it is not as large it might not get as much attention...

 

[Ellen]

I was reminded of another love last night.

That after 10 months, I still don''t know what my diamond will do in a new/different light situation, that it constantly comes up with new faces.

 

[Sparkledrops]

Peeves: Well, when I go into a jewelry store, and the sales person looks at my rings and tells me I paid too much because of the brand, "Leo". They quickly tell me that the same cutters cut for them exactly the same. That kinda hurts my feelings, because I really like my Leo jewelry, and my hubby and I have worked very hard to pay for all of it. These are the nicest pieces I''ve ever had, G color and VS 1, and I just liked the look of the extra facets. I''ve never been sorry for buying any of it. It''s like, why do we buy anything that has a name brand? There are just some things you want a name brand in, and don''t mind paying the extra $$$ if you want it...my latest thing is Vera Bradley purses. I know they''re not all that, but I like them anyway! If it weren''t for being impolite, I''d love to tell them it''s none of their business what I paid!

Loves....HOW DO I COUNT THE WAYS!!!! I never get tired of just looking at my rings! I''m like most on PS who stare at their''s in the sun, in the car, at work, just wherever! (Oh my, even in church...don''t tell...since I''m the preacher''s wife! ha) I am just mesmerized by the sparkle of good diamonds. I could look all day!! I agree with those of you who like the sparkle of colors flashing in the car when you move your hand. (Was test driving a car once and the salesman even noticed!!!

I love how I can wear my diamonds everyday and enjoy them with never getting tired of them. I love CLEAN jewelry too!! I love when my friends and co-workers ask for my jewelry advice! Not that I know that much, they just know I love it!

 

[Skippy123]

sorry to bring this back but I couldn''t help but tell you guys a love and a peeve.

Today I was at the grocery store and the cashier said "Gosh, did you clean your diamond?" I said not lately and then the cashier said "Diamonds never sparkle like that!" I felt like saying that is was because of the cut!!! It made my day

It made me so happy I learned so much from such WONDERFUL PEOPLE here on PS; thanks again!!!

Peeves: People love to touch my diamond no matter what? I don''t get that part. I think that is the weirdest; I try and duck my hand but it is so akward.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 3/7/2007 9:19:57 PM
Author: Skippy123
Today I was at the grocery store and the cashier said ''Gosh, did you clean your diamond?'' I said not lately and then the cashier said ''Diamonds never sparkle like that!'' I felt like saying that is was because of the cut!!! It made my day

It made me so happy I learned so much from such WONDERFUL PEOPLE here on PS; thanks again!!!

And WHY hadn''t you cleaned your ring lately??

Isn''t it funny, and sad, how most people think the sparkle has to do with how clean it is?

 

[Skippy123]

Dearest Ellen,
You made me LOL!

It is sad and it did make me sad that people don''t know about cut making a ring super sparkly. I think we are very lucky