Size Really Matters or It's An American Thing

If he liked it then he should have put a ring on it. Since I've been engaged, the number one question has been "Can I see the ring?" Oh, what, you can't see it from where you're standing ? You know where it is. The next question is "Where did he propose?" followed by "When's the big day?" It shocks me how much everyone just wants to see the ring. Is it the style or the size you want to see? Don't answer that. I already know the answer. I've found with living overseas that it's a very American thing to have a large engagement ring. Nowhere else in the world expects it or even wants it. My ring is actually bigger than some of my friends' rings here, but compared to my American friends - it's miniature. When O went ring shopping, he thought about it for awhile. He really contemplated what to get. What style would I like- what size- quality- etc. I don't really know that much about diamond rings, and he even knows less. So he went to a well known jeweler- Lee Hwa- and found one he liked. Then after he proposed, he gave me the option to upgrade the ring. We went into the jeweler to see what they have. Apparently, my ring has a number, is conflict-free, and is the absolute highest quality in clarity, colour and what are the last Cs ? Can't remember. Owen's words were "I thought you would pick quality over size." Ummm... no, I'm an American girls from the South. I want a big ole ring. After looking at the prices of the same quality ring that I currently have, but just in a bigger size- it's shocking. There is no way I can handle responsibility for something that expensive. So while my ring is small for the American standard- really it's not small and it's gorgeous. People really do comment on how pretty it twinkles and I can live with myself if I lost it- well, I'd feel pretty bad, but not like- damn, that was the down payment on a house , but like- oh, that was 3 months rent- oh well. You have to look at what can you do with all that money?What really matters? Spend it on a ring or spend it on life experiences that really matter. I also like the idea of being able to upgrade but choosing not to. It makes me feel less shallow than I really am.