What lighting environment do you like for ''the proposal?''

[JohnQuixote]

Assume you have a top-performing diamond.

It's a real hum-dinger that performs well in all lighting conditions. It sizzles with bright rainbow sparks in direct light, it's electric white with subtle scintillation in diffuse light and alive with broadfire flashes of color in soft light.

Question: If sentiment were not part of the equation (like, 'we met in this cave so this is where I must pop'), what lighting environment would you prefer for 'the proposal?'

1. Direct Light: A bright sunny day - under spotlights - in ballroom lighting, etc.
2. Diffuse Light: A cloudy day - office lighting - on a mountain when it's lightly snowing, etc.
3. Soft Light: Candlelight - clear dark sky w/ bright stars and moon - numerous distant light sources like in Disneyland at night, etc.
4. Other? Describe. (In a grotto...sitting in canoe with green luminescent plankton all around and kermit the frog shining a maglight on the ring from above as I slowly open the box...)

Of course, I realize this is far down the 'setup and priority' list when it comes to the moment and time that's right for everyone personally - but this is just for fun... Imagine you're writing a movie script and can have it any way you prefer. If it already happened perfectly for you please share.

 

[Shay37]

I would like to receive my proposal (in the situation you put forth) on a beach at night with stars and a really beautiful moon, maybe with a small fire and definitely a bottle of bubbly. Woohoo, would that diamond shine!

Shay

 

[Patty]

John, is there something you''d like to share with the group?

 

[butterfly 17]

I picked soft lights. I happen to love the way my diamond looks best in low light conditions. For example, it looks amazing under the Christmas tree lights or when we go out for a candlelight dinner. Also, whenever I am driving to work and I take a drive under the above ground train platform (around 6:30 in the evening), just as it is starting to turn dark, I think my diamond looks the great!

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 9/27/2005 10:15:47 PM
Author: Patty
John, is there something you''d like to share with the group?

hehe Patty, i was thinking the exact same thing

I voted for soft light, candlelight, etc. I just love how diamonds look in soft light and for me it''s really romantic. of course, hubby gave me my ring outside on a starry night so i''m probably bias

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 9/27/2005 10:27:52 PM
Author: mrssalvo

Date: 9/27/2005 10:15:47 PM
Author: Patty
John, is there something you'd like to share with the group?

hehe Patty, i was thinking the exact same thing

Crikey! You girls!

I guess I should know better on a diamond forum, huh? My question's not loaded - though it may come in handy one day. Actually I'm working on a pamphlet of suggestions for 'poppers' and was interested in the consensus.

I suspected there might be a lot of soft light fans (writing down Christmas Tree - that's a good'un!)

 

[Patty]

Date: 9/27/2005 10:43:43 PM
Author: JohnQuixote

Date: 9/27/2005 10:27:52 PM
Author: mrssalvo

Date: 9/27/2005 10:15:47 PM
Author: Patty
John, is there something you''d like to share with the group?

hehe Patty, i was thinking the exact same thing

Crikey! You girls!

I guess I should know better on a diamond forum, huh? My question''s not loaded - though it may come in handy one day. Actually I''m working on a pamphlet of suggestions for ''poppers'' and was interested in the consensus.

I suspected there might be a lot of soft light fans (writing down Christmas Tree - that''s a good''un!)

LOL!

But yeah, Christmas tree lights are the BEST!

 

[sjz]

I picked the first option. I''m old now, and can''t see too well anymore, so I need all the lights I can get! Besides, I''d want to get a good look at that diamond!

I suppose I would have chosen soft light back when I was young and didn''t know anything about diamonds. All diamonds looked great to me then, so I wouldn''t have been looking that close.

 

[strmrdr]

sunny day under a tree near a river with a nice gently breeze blowing the leaves creating a dancing mixture of light where I was kneeling in front of the park bench she was sitting on.
Thats the lighting I wanted and the lighting I got :}
And the answer I wanted too :}

 

[aphisiglovessae]

I had the night sky with big spot lights shining on statues behind my fiance. Talk about romantic!

 

[belle]

diamonds look best in diffuse light of course! an overcast day, under the filtering shade of a gazebo would be perfect. of course, a mountaintop and lightly falling snow is very romantic.

i almost choose other though...i was completely lulled by the thought of luminescent plankton and kermit

 

[ame]

Doesn''t matter as long as I can actually SEE what''s going on.

 

[HOUMedGal]

Ooooh, Christmas Tree lights, I like it!!!

My proposal was in the soft light of a roomful of candles...and champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries....ahhhhh.

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 9/27/2005 10:52:46 PM
Author: suziQ
I picked the first option. I''m old now, and can''t see too well anymore, so I need all the lights I can get! Besides, I''d want to get a good look at that diamond!

I suppose I would have chosen soft light back when I was young and didn''t know anything about diamonds. All diamonds looked great to me then, so I wouldn''t have been looking that close.

Before I became versed in the sheer firepower of the diamond I would have leaned towards the place as the priority no matter what the light condition.

The most dynamic place I have found to observe diamonds herebouts is standing in the shallow end of my pool on a bright, sunny day. Strm, you''d be happy to know I have a couple of palm trees. In the morning the sun filters through them as you described and any diamond is pretty fantastic. Those with premium cut are beyond belief. Problem is, if I were ever to propose there I don''t know if I could let it go

I have imagined being in a canoe with the sun overhead and reflections coming off of a lake as well. Seems I am a direct light guy on first thought - but I have other ideas.

It really is going to depend on who SHE is.

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 9/27/2005 11:04:22 PM
Author: belle
diamonds look best in diffuse light of course! an overcast day, under the filtering shade of a gazebo would be perfect. of course, a mountaintop and lightly falling snow is very romantic.

i almost choose other though...i was completely lulled by the thought of luminescent plankton and kermit

Very unique Belle. I love the gazebo idea. Always have. One knee - traditional. Nice.

I don't have access to one, but when I read the snow part I pictured a snow-cave with ice everywhere (stalactites and stalagmites) and sun filtering through breaks in the ceiling. That would be a good zone. Spectral colors everywhere. Ice against ice... Also COLD so thar'd be some snugglin'

HMG - Delicious. I had a long-time steady in college and gave her a birthday necklace one time: Set up my apartment like the Sting video (Wrapped Around Your Finger) with over 100 candles on various stands, tables, etc. Disabled the smoke alarm and placed the necklace in a bucket of ice in the middle of the candles - along with a bottle o' bubbly. My roommate and I were scraping wax off of that carpet for weeks. It was worth it.

 

[Mara]

Hmm well knowing what I know about when diamonds look the best, DEFINITELY not bright sunlight. But IMO spotlights are not direct lighting...

I really love soft lighting or TRACK LIGHTING is the absolute best for diamonds. So I'd want him to position me under some track lights in a restaurant or something and then bling me out. YAY! Christmas Tree lights are fab too as long as there's alot of them and maybe some candles around the room too.

My proposal was in a restaurant that had great lighting for the diamond, so it was pretty sweet. He done good re: lighting!

OH and another great place for diamond beauty, the CAR. So yanno I could have been down with a car proposal too. With Kermit. and plankton. Batman loves plankton!!!

 

[sjz]

Date: 9/28/2005 2:34:12 AM
Author: Mara
Hmm well knowing what I know about when diamonds look the best, DEFINITELY not bright sunlight. But IMO spotlights are not direct lighting...

I really love soft lighting or TRACK LIGHTING is the absolute best for diamonds. So I''d want him to position me under some track lights in a restaurant or something and then bling me out. YAY! Christmas Tree lights are fab too as long as there''s alot of them and maybe some candles around the room too.

My proposal was in a restaurant that had great lighting for the diamond, so it was pretty sweet. He done good re: lighting!

OH and another great place for diamond beauty, the CAR. So yanno I could have been down with a car proposal too. With Kermit. and plankton. Batman loves plankton!!!

That''s funny, I guess all diamonds are different, cuz most of mine look really great in bright sunlight! The brighter the better. I really get the arrows popping and flashes of color in the sun.

The lighting that my diamonds look their absolute best is in my bathroom, though. They glitter and sparkle like they are lit from the inside under the bathroom lights. But that wouldn''t be a very romantic place to propose, would it?

 

[HOUMedGal]

Date: 9/28/2005 1:42:31 AM
Author: JohnQuixote

Date: 9/27/2005 11:04:22 PM
Author: belle
diamonds look best in diffuse light of course! an overcast day, under the filtering shade of a gazebo would be perfect. of course, a mountaintop and lightly falling snow is very romantic.

i almost choose other though...i was completely lulled by the thought of luminescent plankton and kermit

Very unique Belle. I love the gazebo idea. Always have. One knee - traditional. Nice.

I don''t have access to one, but when I read the snow part I pictured a snow-cave with ice everywhere (stalactites and stalagmites) and sun filtering through breaks in the ceiling. That would be a good zone. Spectral colors everywhere. Ice against ice... Also COLD so thar''d be some snugglin''

HMG - Delicious. I had a long-time steady in college and gave her a birthday necklace one time: Set up my apartment like the Sting video (Wrapped Around Your Finger) with over 100 candles on various stands, tables, etc. Disabled the smoke alarm and placed the necklace in a bucket of ice in the middle of the candles - along with a bottle o'' bubbly. My roommate and I were scraping wax off of that carpet for weeks. It was worth it.

John: Niiiiiiiice!!! Yeah, the day after my proposal, I helped my fiance pick the wax outta his carpet, hehehe.

 

[Mara]

sjz I guess it's just what is preferred visually...many experts agree that diamonds, even ideal cuts or H&A don't look super great in direct sunlight. mine tends to blur out, meaning that there is so much color and sparkle going on, the stone itself loses definition and you can't see arrows or anything but a big blurry sparkle fest with lots of colors inside. it's too chaotic for me! then again i get a thrill when i see arrows so i have a seemingly different view of diamond happiness..

indirect sunlight, aka shade out of the sun is great, low lighting is great, car indirect lighting is great, bathrooms, kitchens (under track lighting!) restaurants etc. but the one place i really have never liked from the beginning was direct sun. that's just my thing!

 

[curlygirl]

My proposal was with candlelight and white Christmas tree lights! We had them up around our windows for a holiday party and never took them down so they were still there in April and created great mood lighting! Very sparkle-enhancing...

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 9/28/2005 2:34:12 AM
Author: Mara
Hmm well knowing what I know about when diamonds look the best, DEFINITELY not bright sunlight. But IMO spotlights are not direct lighting...

...Is this more your kind of spotlighting, M?

 

[MissAva]

If you are looking for cute/cheesy ideas to propose I could be of some help, but for lightening I think the tone of the proposal would indicate the lighting. JMO

 

[Mara]

Date: 9/28/2005 1:39:22 PM
Author: JohnQuixote

Date: 9/28/2005 2:34:12 AM
Author: Mara
Hmm well knowing what I know about when diamonds look the best, DEFINITELY not bright sunlight. But IMO spotlights are not direct lighting...

...Is this more your kind of spotlighting, M?

 

[sjz]

Another place my diamonds ways sparkle and look really great is in church! I''m not sure why, but they really look good there. Once I was sitting near the windows, and a sunbeam came through one of the stained glass windows, and a the reds that came out of my diamonds were amazing! I ususally mostly see blues and yellows and greens. That red was awesome!

 

[JohnQuixote]

Suzi these are good.

Church with light streaming through the windows. Epic.
Writing it down.

I am LOL about the bathroom. I agree. Somewhere waaay back I posted about how the bathroom is one of the best places to view diamonds. All mirror-ee and light-ee and bright and silver and clean.

 

[moremoremore]

Home Depot, 7-11 or yes, in the bathroom LOL... That's where my lovely really dazzles me!
But if he does propose in Home Depot, 7-11 or the bathroom, I'd have to say no LOL

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 9/28/2005 2:44:29 PM
Author: moremoremore

But if he does propose in Home Depot, 7-11 or the bathroom, I'd have to say no LOL

I would think this would be common sense...but I may go ahead and include that in the pamphlet, lol.

ETA: Just curious - standing next to the red ICEE machine or the blue in 7-11?

 

[sjz]

John!!! You need to give some guys all the help they can get! My husband proposed in the mall parking lot. He handed me the ring still in the bag right after we purchased it from the store! Sooooooo not romantic. Heck, his heart was in the right place, though. He''s a sweetie, just sometimes a bit clueless, but his heart is always in the right place, even if his proposals aren''t. He says he was just anxious to get the ring on my finger...I say he was just nuts...lol. Either way, he would have gained some benefit from a phamplet which gave him a few pointers!

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 9/28/2005 2:53:42 PM
Author: suziQ
John!!! You need to give some guys all the help they can get! My husband proposed in the mall parking lot. He handed me the ring still in the bag right after we purchased it from the store! Sooooooo not romantic. Heck, his heart was in the right place, though. He''s a sweetie, just sometimes a bit clueless, but his heart is always in the right place, even if his proposals aren''t. He says he was just anxious to get the ring on my finger...I say he was just nuts...lol. Either way, he would have gained some benefit from a phamplet which gave him a few pointers!

Well, that''s the aim. Trying to cover it all: A ''diamonds for dummies.''

And just to get my home boy''s back... Did you even LOOK at the diamond in that parking lot-bag light? Did you?

 

[sjz]

Date: 9/28/2005 2:44:29 PM
Author: moremoremore
Home Depot, 7-11 or yes, in the bathroom LOL... That''s where my lovely really dazzles me!
But if he does propose in Home Depot, 7-11 or the bathroom, I''d have to say no LOL

What''s up with those lights in Home Depot and Lowes, anyway? My diamonds always look absolutely GORGEOUS in those stores! I agree, though, not the most romantic place to propose.