Thelife- I wore a fake engagement ring for a week on a trip to Ireland.
- I was surprised by how often I looked down at my finger and felt the urge to show off my ring.
I love weddings. In fact, I already have mine planned — actually two. And although I'm not getting married anytime soon, I was excited for the opportunity to get a sneak peek at what wearing an engagement ring might be like.
But when I flaunted a fake diamond for a week, the results were seriously surprising.
This article was originally published in February 2019.
Selecting the ring was easy
I randomly received a faux engagement ring as a party favor once — a round solitaire that looked realistic enough — so I figured it would be the perfect prop for my assignment.
I was able to keep my 'engagement' a secret because I was headed on a vacation
As luck would have it, I happened to be on a trip to Ireland when I carried out my experiment.
Thankfully, that saved my single self from having to awkwardly explain to friends and colleagues how I managed to get engaged overnight, or worse yet, having to create an elaborate backstory.
I did, however, have to come clean to my travel buddy who was both amused and overly excited.
I could not stop staring at my ring
From the minute I put the ring on that first day, I could not stop glancing at my left hand.
I kept checking to make sure the ring was properly positioned, took it off when I washed my hands, and was careful not to get it caught on anything that might damage it.
I tried to follow the proper ring-showing protocol
Believe it or not, there are guidelines to properly displaying your ring in public.
When showing off your rock, it's impolite to simply thrust it toward someone — instead, you should hold your left hand with your right palm facing your chest, so the person can get a good view or reach for your hand if they wish.
And if you want to subtly draw attention to the ring, you need to keep your fingers on display. I found myself using my left hand more than usual and making exaggerated motions excessively throughout the week.
I was absolutely obsessed with my nails
To be fair, I am generally always like this. Ever since a doctor encouraged me to get a manicure years ago to help me to stop biting them, I have been pretty fastidious about keeping my nails in pristine condition.
But this week, I was doing the absolute most because of the ring. I chose a glossy earth tone as an ode to Ireland and kept cuticle oil on hand for maximum shine.
I struggled to come up with an idea of the person I wanted to marry
The moment of truth finally came when a waitress commented on how gorgeous my ring was and asked about the "lucky guy."
Blushing furiously, I opened my mouth to say … nothing. I had avoided thinking about my fake fiancé too much, deciding to just go with whatever description came to mind when put on the spot. But it dawned on me that I had no clue what type of man I even wanted to marry.
Sure, he should be kind, loyal, trustworthy, and attractive, but these were pretty generic traits. I needed to learn what parts of a person spoke to my soul, and at that moment, my mind went blank.
At one point, I totally forgot I was 'engaged'
As the week went on, I finally got over the novelty of the attention and started forgetting about the ring.
At first, I took the accessory off for pictures to avoid having to explain to family and friends why I was wearing an engagement ring, but I was well into yet another photo session at a tourist attraction before I remembered the rock on my finger.
I guess the excitement of wearing an engagement ring does wear off after a while — I just didn't expect it to happen so soon.
I learned more than I expected
When I took on this assignment, I thought it would be a fun change of pace or even a good story to tell, but I got more than I bargained for.
For one, I will certainly think twice before joking about newly engaged people who seem to go out of their way to make their ring pop. I am by no means flashy, but even I couldn't help but keep my rock on display — and it was fake.
Also, I realized I probably need to put myself out there a bit more. It's OK to not know what I like, but I will never find out if I don't try a few options. And as much as I've thought of an amazing future wedding, I'm not emotionally ready for it yet.
But I do at least know a round solitaire looks brilliant on my finger.