This post is dedicated to my one and only valentine :) - the previously untold tale of how I obtained The Ring.
It all started online. Months before the actual Quest, I started to browse the net for diamonds and rings, and guides on how to choose them. It was then that I discovered all the mindboggling details a small piece of carbon can have... I delved into forums and silently observed heated debates about where to buy diamond rings, and browsed countless vendor websites to look for different designs. Finally I decided that it shall be a Tiffany & Co ring - despite online comments about how overpriced their diamonds are, no one dared to deny their quality. And I liked the elegant simplicity of the Tiffany 6-claw setting (and I know Dear would like it too)
As the days to The Quest neared, I needed to "charge up" my credit card. With my current credit limit, the transection would probably fail when I present my card at the shop. So I started making advanced payments to my credit card company. As my savings account had a daily transfer limit, I had to repeat the process several times on separate days. With my card "powered up", I was ready to go... (I later found out that most retailers allow payment by installment - some offering a 0% interest rate. How stupid of me.. haha)
21/12/2011 was D-day (D for Diamond). It was my off day and I made my way down to Orchard during the late morning, when I thought the crowd would be the thinnest. I was extremely nervous - I had never walked into such atas shops before, let alone buy a diamond ring! Trying to will my heart rate to stay down, I proceeded to the Ngee Ann City branch of Tiffany's. I circled the shop twice (or was it thrice?), before I finally mustered enough courage to step in.. A nice gentleman opened the door for me and I was in! The first step to claiming my prize! I walked around the shop floor, looking around, bewildered by shiny and expensive-looking things.
A friendly looking face appeared and I squeaked, "erm, I'm looking for a proposal ring.."
"They are on the second floor"
"Oh, thank you" I didn't realise that there was a second floor. I trudged up the stairs sheepishly.
More shiny and expensive-looking things came into my view upon reaching the second floor. A friendly looking lady by the name of Selina caught my eye and nodded to me.
"Hi, I'm looking for a proposal ring," this time sounding slightly more confident.
"Sure, what kind of design are you looking for? Something simple?" she replied, almost reading my mind.
Selina then proceeded to show me some diamonds in the Tiffany setting.
"May I ask what is your budget? That would make things easier..."
My mind suddenly went back to a post that I read online: *Never tell them your budget!* But Selina seemed quite sincere so I told her anyway..
"Wow that's quite a lot," she sounded a little surprised. (Maybe it was the T-shirt and jeans that I was wearing, maybe it was my youthful-ness - one of my nurses recently told me that I look like a JC student.. LOL)
She then went on to show me some more rings within my budget and specifications. I squinted and stared, trying to pick out the difference between a F and H diamond; a VVS1 and a VS2; 0.5ct, 0.6ct, 0.7ct.......
"Hmmm, I got this nice piece here," Selina said as she handed me another one after rummaging through her drawers.
The first time I laid my eyes on that piece, I knew - this is The One. It shone and dazzled, and was just the right size. Of course I kept a non-chalant face, trying to calm my inner self by telling myself that it is just the lighting that jewellery retailers employ. I toyed around with the ring, tried it on my pinkie while it sparkled and sparkled. Finally I couldn't resist anymore.
"I'll take this!" I said, trying to contain my excitement.
Selina then went to clean up the ring and placed it in the signature blue box with the white ribbon. I was presented with the certificate and warranty of the diamond. My credit card then took a critical hit - but it was probably the most awesome purchase that I have ever made :)
With all the goodies placed inside a blue Tiffany bag, I walked out of the shop, feeling exhilarated and relieved at the same time. But wait - the Quest isn't over yet. With the Tiffany bag, it was like shouting, "HEY I GOT A RING AND I'M GONNA PROPOSE" to the world. What if I met someone I knew on the way home! Devastating to my secret plans. So I made my way to the nearest toilet, hid myself in a cubicle and packed all the stuff into my own bag. With all the ninja business done, I finally embarked on the journey home...
TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT EPISODE "THE PROPOSAL"....
It all started online. Months before the actual Quest, I started to browse the net for diamonds and rings, and guides on how to choose them. It was then that I discovered all the mindboggling details a small piece of carbon can have... I delved into forums and silently observed heated debates about where to buy diamond rings, and browsed countless vendor websites to look for different designs. Finally I decided that it shall be a Tiffany & Co ring - despite online comments about how overpriced their diamonds are, no one dared to deny their quality. And I liked the elegant simplicity of the Tiffany 6-claw setting (and I know Dear would like it too)
As the days to The Quest neared, I needed to "charge up" my credit card. With my current credit limit, the transection would probably fail when I present my card at the shop. So I started making advanced payments to my credit card company. As my savings account had a daily transfer limit, I had to repeat the process several times on separate days. With my card "powered up", I was ready to go... (I later found out that most retailers allow payment by installment - some offering a 0% interest rate. How stupid of me.. haha)
21/12/2011 was D-day (D for Diamond). It was my off day and I made my way down to Orchard during the late morning, when I thought the crowd would be the thinnest. I was extremely nervous - I had never walked into such atas shops before, let alone buy a diamond ring! Trying to will my heart rate to stay down, I proceeded to the Ngee Ann City branch of Tiffany's. I circled the shop twice (or was it thrice?), before I finally mustered enough courage to step in.. A nice gentleman opened the door for me and I was in! The first step to claiming my prize! I walked around the shop floor, looking around, bewildered by shiny and expensive-looking things.
A friendly looking face appeared and I squeaked, "erm, I'm looking for a proposal ring.."
"They are on the second floor"
"Oh, thank you" I didn't realise that there was a second floor. I trudged up the stairs sheepishly.
More shiny and expensive-looking things came into my view upon reaching the second floor. A friendly looking lady by the name of Selina caught my eye and nodded to me.
"Hi, I'm looking for a proposal ring," this time sounding slightly more confident.
"Sure, what kind of design are you looking for? Something simple?" she replied, almost reading my mind.
Selina then proceeded to show me some diamonds in the Tiffany setting.
"May I ask what is your budget? That would make things easier..."
My mind suddenly went back to a post that I read online: *Never tell them your budget!* But Selina seemed quite sincere so I told her anyway..
"Wow that's quite a lot," she sounded a little surprised. (Maybe it was the T-shirt and jeans that I was wearing, maybe it was my youthful-ness - one of my nurses recently told me that I look like a JC student.. LOL)
She then went on to show me some more rings within my budget and specifications. I squinted and stared, trying to pick out the difference between a F and H diamond; a VVS1 and a VS2; 0.5ct, 0.6ct, 0.7ct.......
"Hmmm, I got this nice piece here," Selina said as she handed me another one after rummaging through her drawers.
The first time I laid my eyes on that piece, I knew - this is The One. It shone and dazzled, and was just the right size. Of course I kept a non-chalant face, trying to calm my inner self by telling myself that it is just the lighting that jewellery retailers employ. I toyed around with the ring, tried it on my pinkie while it sparkled and sparkled. Finally I couldn't resist anymore.
"I'll take this!" I said, trying to contain my excitement.
Selina then went to clean up the ring and placed it in the signature blue box with the white ribbon. I was presented with the certificate and warranty of the diamond. My credit card then took a critical hit - but it was probably the most awesome purchase that I have ever made :)
With all the goodies placed inside a blue Tiffany bag, I walked out of the shop, feeling exhilarated and relieved at the same time. But wait - the Quest isn't over yet. With the Tiffany bag, it was like shouting, "HEY I GOT A RING AND I'M GONNA PROPOSE" to the world. What if I met someone I knew on the way home! Devastating to my secret plans. So I made my way to the nearest toilet, hid myself in a cubicle and packed all the stuff into my own bag. With all the ninja business done, I finally embarked on the journey home...
TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT EPISODE "THE PROPOSAL"....
