Your friends do it. Lots of women do it in utter silence. Joan Rivers did it. On national TV! People loovvve to judge the size of a newly-engaged woman's ring. Why?

Because everybody knows - the larger the ring, the more he really loves you. Or is it the larger the ring, the fatter his wallet? I can never remember.

Personally, when I found out what D. spent on my wedding ring, I told him I would have been just as cool with an onion ring so we could have blown that cash on an african safari or something. But that's not to say I don't love my ring. I do.

But not because it's shiny and pretty and (fairly?) sizable. I like it because I love thinking of him picking it out, planning the proposal, all without me knowing. That there's the essence of romance.

Has anyone ever commented on the size of your ring? How does size matter, if it does at all? Do you even have a diamond angagement ring, or did you go for something less traditional?