Eternity Ring

[mats01_99]

Hi folks,

My wife has long hinted that after the birth of our first child I should buy her an eternity ring!, well, our first born is due in a few months. Should I buy her one and then give it to her the minute the baby is born or give it a while. Her 30th birthday is coming up later in the year so should I wait for then or would she see that as being a little tight?! Any ideas?

[jake-the-peg]

Ever wondered why you don't see antique eternity rings?

They're pretty much an invention of de Beers when Russia started to produce large quantities of small diamonds for export.

Trouble was cutting and polishing them cheaply enough. Luckily India has loose labour laws. In Surat 1 in 10 diamond cutters is a child.

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/actrav/child/publ/indiadia.htm

Somewhat ironic to celebrate the birth of a child with a diamond cut and polished by one.

[Lonnie]

Congratulations on the forthcoming event, just one idea, how about a lovely bouquet when the child is born, the when the opportunity arises, ask one set of grandparents or some close people you can trust with the baby, take your wife for a meal, and surprise her with it there. As far as being tight is concerned, we all have to cut back somewhere, our anniverisary is the 30th Nov, my wifes birthday is the middle of Dec, and of coursem Christmas almost straight after, I only by her one thing for all three.

[Englishbird]

I would give it to her for her Birthday definately. I don't think she would feel cheated in the slightest, well I certainly wouldn't.

You have to bear in mind that she may be carrying some extra weight after being pregnant, so check you know the right ring size before you get it, as she will want to wear it straight away to show off, you can always have it re-sized later.

I hope everything goes brilliantly for you both and the baby, and things like diamond rings, flowers etc after the baby is born, just re-inforce to her that you still love her and make her feel secure. ooo, I feel all emotional. :o)

[maggie01]

I have to agree with Lonnie. After the birth of a baby, sometimes a woman feels like she is torn in all directions looking after baby and her husband. How lovely to have some time for yourselves and let her just be a wife for a few hours. Hope she likes the ring?

[Kingaroo]

Many new parents, especially new mothers, find it difficult to get away on a date. If that doesn't work out for you, don't let it spoil your plan. Find a special time in a normal day to present it.

As far as when, certainly not in the delivery room! Maybe when you bring the baby home. If her birthday is within a month or two, I would wait. Personally I like the idea of the ring being a gift to her on her 30th, not a prize for successfully popping out a baby. However, she may disagree. And I can certainly see the merit in giving something more permanent than flowers to commemorate your transition from a couple to a family.

[Kingaroo]

jake-the-peg, I appreciate your feelings about diamonds, and I admire a co-worker who went to a do-it-yourself mine in the NW US to dig up a "sunstone" himself for his fiance. It was not only done in an ecological way with no child labor, it was a very personal gesture of his love and commitment. But it's not for everyone.

Mat's wife clearly wants diamonds. Substituting some other kind of ring would spoil the whole thing for her. I remember a friend who clearly asked for a cobalt blue KitchenAid mixer. Her husband got a good price on an almond one instead, and she never forgave him for putting higher importance on the price than on her preference, and demonstrating his lack of understanding how important the color scheme of her kitchen was to her.