Heirloom Engagement Ring Etiquette
So you are ready to pop the question to the girl of your dreams? In that case, you must have thought about the engagement ring, right? With what kind of ring are you going to propose to your girl and sweep her off her feet? Is it going to be a diamond engagement ring, or something jazzy and unique? Let me suggest! How about an heirloom engagement ring? I guess it will be a fantastic idea! Your fiancee will be thrilled to receive such a ring which has been passed from generations in your family! But before that let us understand the etiquette associated with this ring, what say?
Family Heirloom Engagement Rings - The Etiquette
Heirloom engagement rings don't just indicate the love of the couple, but they also are significant in the sense that the family which has the heirloom has accepted the bride.
Ring Permit
One of the very important aspects of the engagement ring etiquette when it is a heirloom ring is that the person who owns the heirloom has to be asked if it is acceptable to him or her. For that to happen, it is obviously important to meet and spend time with the owner of the ring. Here it is vital for the couple to be vocal about their feelings for each other. It is also essential to make that person realize that how honored you would be if you get a chance to use that ring to put the question. These are not just rings, these are the traditions passed down from generations to us. Hence, if the person is skeptical about parting with the ring due to obvious reasons, he is totally justified in doing so. Avoid insisting and pushing him or her to give away the ring.
"I don't Like the Ring"
Okay, if the ring does not fit the person it is intended for, he or she might not be this blunt. But in case there is some hesitation in using it, there might be a chance that your partner has not liked it. This is the reason why so many couples chuck the idea of heirloom rings for their partners. But in case, let's say you get it and you don't like it, it is absolutely fine to return it to the owner after the proposal with a 'thank you'. This can happen if it is too vintage or antique. Or if the design can be changed slightly, perhaps it still can be used. However, what matters most are the feelings behind the ring and not actually the ring. But then it is up to the person to decide what to do about the heirloom engagement rings. In addition to this, engagement ring norms say that heirloom rings have to be cared for as properly as any other engagement ring. This is more so with antique rings, because due to the years of usage, they can be fragile and need to be handled carefully.
What about Broken Engagements?
If due to unfortunate circumstances the engagement is broken, heirloom engagement ring etiquette can be a tricky affair. Usually, the etiquette for engagement ring holds that the woman will have to return the ring. Although, she is under no legal obligation to do so. A prenuptial agreement is normally made in case such rings are involved. In fact, there are some states which actually have laws regarding engagement ring etiquette! Some states have laws saying the woman has to give it back, while some states have laws saying that if the man breaks the engagement she has a right to keep the engagement ring. Same things could possibly be true in case of Hawaiian heirloom engagement rings!
Well, that was all about heirloom engagement rings and the etiquette regarding them. At the end of the day, it is the love and companionship that matters and the long-lasting bond which matters, than any ring or anything depicting the relationship!
