The Diamond Engagement Ring

This was the moment that he had been waiting for!

Jasmine had just finished her crme brule and, putting down her spoon, she gently brushed her long, silky, blonde hair away from her face. Mike was filled with awe as he carefully observed her in the flickering candlelight - she was beautiful.

Looking up at him she smiled and said, "Oh that was simply delicious, darling."

There was genuine pleasure on her face. Mike was pleased. It really had been a wonderful meal in the splendid surroundings of 'Le Ciel de Paris', the highest restaurant in Europe, situated on the 56th floor of the Montparnesse Tower in central Paris. Jasmine looked out at the incredible view which embraced a significant part of city including the Eiffel Tower in all its splendor. She marvelled at some of the monuments that she and Mike had visited by foot earlier that day. They were all so clearly visible from the restaurant and, as she looked out at them, she realised that she and Mike must have covered some considerable distance - it was no wonder her feet ached so much now!

Jasmine hadn't expected the last minute suggestion of a weekend in Paris. It seemed to come completely out of the blue. Of course she was delighted. After all it was so unlike Mike, who was usually entirely predictable, and this invitation was contrary to his methodical, premeditated approach to almost everything he did. At times it drove her crazy. Mike had a 'five year plan' for everything and having trained in the army after leaving school, he had become painfully neat and precise in his daily routine too. His clothes were always carefully pressed and stacked in his wardrobe and he clearly would not tolerate clothing being thrown on the floor. He had even told Jasmine off once for casually leaving a cardigan hanging over the back of a dining chair before a dinner party they held at his flat in Putney. "God ... what would he be like to live with!" Jasmine had thought.

Mike felt a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. All of a sudden the room seemed a little too warm and he yearned to open the window of this famous Bistro 200 metres above the streets of Paris. For once in his life he actually felt less than certain. Was this really the right moment? He certainly didn't want to break the spell of the magical evening he was having with Jasmine. But there was this gnawing fear in the back of his mind: "What if she said no?"

He hadn't mentioned the weekend break to Jasmine for weeks as he plucked up courage to actually go ahead with his plan. Indeed he had given careful thought to this for several months. Without a little 'forethought' it would have been impossible to get a restaurant booking at 'Le Ciel de Paris' at short notice. He had made the phone call a fortnight ago. In his fluent French he had requested 'a discreet table for two' ensuring that the table he booked was by the window to the right of the entrance and not too far from the pianist. Having been once before, several years ago, he knew this spot had the best view and was well away from the kitchen door to the far side. Everything had to be perfect and he had planned this weekend break with military precision. Naturally he told none of this to Jasmine. He had kept the secret without any difficulty for over a month. He had only suggested it two days before they left! Of course he tried to sound spontaneous. But it felt awkward and he wondered if Jasmine was convinced by his clumsy attempt. She seemed surprised enough, he thought, and her eyes had lit up with an almost bewildered disbelief.

"Paris? For the weekend! ... Do you mean this weekend, Darling?" she asked.

"Yes of course," he said. "I just thought it would be nice to get away ... and so I booked the flights this morning .... A spur of the moment thing ... you know," he lied.

That conversation seemed a long time ago now as they sat here high above the lively streets of Paris enjoying this very special, memorable evening; this life changing moment! Mike fumbled nervously in his pocket, feeling out that small black box that held a symbolic gift that was so importantly attached to the question he was about to ask Jasmine. Christ! He had been amazed at how much he had actually needed to spend on the ring. He hadn't really given much thought to the value of a diamond. The man in the shop had given him some guidance and he had readily accepted the advice. He hadn't wanted to seem mean and, it was true, the rings with more affordable diamonds just didn't seem to sparkle as much as this one. No ... not nearly as much as the one that was now secretly hidden in his right hand pocket! The moment he was shown this ring he knew she would just love it. It was beautiful. How could she not? Shit! He would spend the next twelve months trying to pay it off but there was no doubt in his mind. She was worth it. He couldn't wait to give it to her....

...... He just didn't know exactly when!

Paul Wright has been designing and making diamond engagement rings and wedding rings since his business was incorporated in 1995. He exhibits handcrafted silver and gold jewellery throughout the United Kingdom at important international events such as the Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials, the Royal Show, the Royal Highland Show and other large country events. These short stories are based on real life experiences but the names and places have been changed to protect the identities of the innocent!

Visit our website to view our Diamond Wedding Rings and our Diamond Engagement Rings

cartier watches
citizen watches

Explosive Michele Watches Tradition Defies All Odds

It hasn't been very long since Michele timepieces made their debut in the world of luxury watches. Being such a young brand, it has impressed the likes of designer watch enthusiasts all over the world by quickly ascending to the top of their market. The Michele brand is named after its creative director Michele Barouh, who oversees every aspect of manufacturing, design and marketing for the watch company. Barouh is also a third generation watch maker.

Her grandfather founded the company, which was later steered by her father. Upon completion of her studies at Sotheby?s Institute, where she received a Master's Degree in the business of art, the company's reigns were handed over to the up and coming artistic visionary. Fossil, Inc acquired the company in 2004, although Barouh still oversees the brand's development. All Michele watches are consistently daring in their design and implementation of intricate color schemes. They blend international trends of fashion with functionality and craftsmanship to create beautifully versatile timepieces. The timepiece company's headquarters are located in Miami Florida and carry the vibrant lifestyle of their home town in every detail of their watch?s design.

Michele is also a brand that provides the freedom of choice for those who like variety and appreciate contrasting fashion techniques. All Michele timepieces can alternate a variety of bracelets and different leather bands. This is one of their most popular features. People who wear Michele watches can constantly change the appearance of their timepiece by switching to different color leather straps, including python, alligator, lizard and calfskin. Other designer watch brands have tried to do this in the past, including Tissot, Cartier, Raymond Weil and many others. Only Michele offers the world's largest variety of universally interchangeable bands and bracelet collections.

Besides offering the convenience and fun of versatility, Michele is also at the forefront of adaptability. The company's website allows users to actually create custom designed timepieces in their own taste and color combinations. The Michele brand essentially, allows its customers to be watchmakers and creative visionaries themselves!

When shopping for Michele time-keeping instruments online, customers are immediately saturated with a myriad of options to choose from including, case material, bands, bracelets, dial colors, diamond accessories and various watch functions. Michele manufactures chronograph quartz watches as well as regular quartz watches, all of which are considered precision time-keeping instruments.

The world of Michele is truly an enchanting array of contemporary fashion, cutting edge design and luxurious materials that come together in perfect artistic harmony.

Michele Watches and other ladies luxury watches can be found at Watches On Net. Free shipping, no tax, You got to love it.

cartier watches
cartier watches

Swarovski Rhinestones - The Many Uses

Swarovski rhinestones are becoming more and more popular these days due to a few reasons. Firstly, their sparkling outer appearance are naturally attractive. They look very much like precious stones, except that they come at a much lower price. A piece of rhinestone may cost as low as ten dollars. In addition, they are versatile enough to be attached to various accessories.

1) Crystals on clothing.

Swarovski stones are available in many different sizes. The smallest stone is only about 2.5mm. The largest stone is about 11.5mm. The industry measures the size of the stone in "ss", short for "stone size". If you translate the measurements to stone size, the stones are labeled from between 9ss to 48ss.

This means you will be able to find different stone sizes to match your clothing. The crystals can be attached to any piece of clothing with some special glue.

2) Rhinestones on gift items.

You probably didn't know that rhinestones can be used as decorative pieces on items such as paperweights, key chains, or photo frames. The stones are ideal because the crystals catch light, sparkles, and attract attention. They also help to enhance the overall look of the gifts, and make them look more expensive.

3) Nail decoration.

Fingernails today can be made into pieces of art. Usually, only nail paints are used for decoration. But you can also use crystals to spice up the design if you wish. The stones will add a 3 dimensional look to the overall picture. Of course, you will have to work with some of the smallest stones, since you don't have much space on a single nail.

4) Cell phones.

Stone pieces can also be attached to cell phones. This can be done either by gluing the stones in place, or attaching the stones to a chain (or a piece of string). You can create many interesting designs, and transform your cell phone into a unique gadget. Everyone has a cell phone these days. If you happen to like a particular design, try doing the same for your family and friends. Put your creative talent to good use and they will thank you for it.

5) Pet collars.

Use rhinestones to decorate your pet collars. This serves multiple purposes. Besides being purely decorative items, the gems will also help others identify the dog. When you take your dog out for walks, neighbors and friends will come to recognize that special looking pet collar. So if your pet ever get lost, there will be a higher chance that someone would recognize the pet and return it to you.

As you can see, there are many ways you can use Swarovski rhinestones. You don't have to restrict yourself to using them on clothes. Use them to redecorate any items that want. After all, they come at very affordable prices. The above are only some suggestions to get you started. Once you are more familiar with the stones, you can use them on any craft project that you can think of.

Browse all sorts of Rhinestones including Swarovski Rhinestones - High quality guaranteed.

citizen watches
cartier watches