Click for larger view of opal.
Yes, I am officially off the market! We were married at 3pm on May 30th at this cute little place: The Hitching Post in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. This page is about my engagement ring.
The engagement ring is a fine Mexican Fire Opal set with 4 sweet little pave diamonds in 14k gold. It was custom built for us by a quirky asian jeweller in the mall with a delightful little store tucked around the corner from yet another franchise jeweller. I searched all over town. I researched online. I looked and looked but could not find the right opal. In fact most jewellers only carried white crystal, milk or aggregate opals. None carried anything with true sheets of fire except this one store. When they had one that really caught my attention it happened to be during a nice little sale while my sweety was visiting. We went into the shop so I could show it to him and it had been sold. I was entranced by a couple others, though less so, so we discussed it awhile. The jeweller came out during this exchange with the salesgirl and when he heard it was for an engagement ring he went into a flurry searching his desk for an opal he'd tucked away for something special. There it was, a delicious mexican fire opal nearly transparent with just a hint of yellow like as if it were aged lightly. Inside it's delicate curve flashed a sheet of rainbow fire that while it rode mostly the cool spectrum did at times twinkle a bit into red and violet. We ordered it into a setting I liked and paid the deposit. Today we picked it up and the jeweller seemed reluctant to let it go and after one last gaze into it's shine he dropped it on the counter as if thrusting it out of his heart to go to it's new home. It will be loved.
I never did want a diamond. My whole life I've been set on having a fine and lovely opal for my engagement ring. I have a small doublet black opal set in a bracelet that I've had since my youth and it has set the tone for my opaline expectations. I realize now just how fine that little slip of rainbow really is! The nifty side effect of loving opals over diamonds is that they are much lesser in price for quality and size. We didn't have to break the bank to get a truly fine gem. I think this is because they're priced truly where diamonds are inflated in value for being so popular. To me a diamond, while lovely, is much too common now, everyone's got a diamond and it's no trouble for me to find sparkling things. I love color and I love shine. Sparkle is overrated. Opals suit me better too. I am like a fine opal, transparent, mysterious, strong as rock yet somewhat fragile, with a deep core of brilliant color and fire. After researching I realize I will have to pay a little more attention to my jewellery now. I'll have to wear gloves when working with things that dry the skin as they'll dry my stone too. I'll have to remove the ring or tape cotton over it when doing hard labourious work like housepainting or renovations or working in the garden, to protect the opal. It's just as well as it will also protect my pearl and my skin. The red stone on my pinky is a carnelian from my paternal grandmother.
Dan's proposal was simple and private. He asked, I said yes, he put the ring on my finger, here at home, with little ceremony. We had gone out for a fancy sushi and sake meal on our bicycles and were pleasantly glowing from both the wine and the exercise. It's a lovely time we've had. I know this will be a marriage to last and comfort us in our mature years. We're well matched.