I’m going to start this post with a disclaimer. First, this post is NOT sponsored. In fact, the company doesn’t even know I’m writing a post about them. Second, this post is off-topic of what I normally talk about but I felt the need to write it…
A little over 15 years ago my husband and I got engaged. We were 20 and 23 years old, and full of young love bliss.
Back then, my friends were getting large, flashy,expensive diamond engagement rings. After all, isn’t that what you’re suppose to get? I, however, wanted something small and simple. A 1/4 carat solitaire to be exact. I’m not a huge jewelry fan and I felt like I didn’t need a big diamond for him to show his love. After much discussion with my then boyfriend/soon to be fiance, he convinced me to try on the ring below. I thought it was still to big/fancy, but he thought I deserved something more than a small solitaire.
Though it was slightly larger at 1/3 carat and not a solitaire, I loved it the moment I tried it on! It was perfect, and man did it sparkle! He scraped enough money together to get the best color and clarity diamond he could…an H (near colorless) VS1 (very slight inclusion/defect). Because, the better the diamond, the more a girl is going to love it, right?
Yesterday I was searching the internet and came across Chinchar/Maloney Fine Jewelry. I don’t know how, or why, since I wasn’t looking for jewelry, but their rings intrigued me. They are simple, handmade rings and their diamonds are not perfect. In fact, most of them are grossly flawed.
I LOVE them! In fact, if Hubby and I ever decide to renew our vows, THIS is the ring I want. You see, handmade rings with flawed diamonds are the perfect representation of marriage. Marriage isn’t about perfection. It’s about accepting each other’s faults, and loving each other despite them.
The gold in the ring is pliable. Pliable enough so that it can be forged by hand with some tools and effort. It represents the changing times in your marriage, the endeavors you’ll go through, and the labor you’ll exert to keep your marriage in that near perfect circle of love.
The semi-opaque (as they call it) diamond with it’s noticeable inclusions, represents the strength of the marriage despite each others flaws. Diamonds are the hardest gemstone on earth. Though large inclusions will cause a diamond to be weaker, they are still quite strong. As your marriage continues, and each other’s faults become more noticeable, you’ll need to remember that despite each other’s flaws, your marriage can still be strong.
Hubby and I haven’t had the perfect marriage over the last 14 years. Anyone who tells your their marriage is perfect is lying. However, we love each other just as much, if not more than we did when we got married. We love each other in spite of (or maybe because of) each other’s flaws and differences.
Had I known 15 years ago, what I know now, I would have chosen a hand-made engagement ring with a grossly flawed diamond because it is beautiful and it represents my perfectly, imperfect marriage.