After realizing that I was ready to propose to my girlfriend, I did what any reasonable young man will do. I went on google and searched “diamond engagement rings.” A simple brute like myself, I had no prior knowledge of the 4 C’s... in fact, the first thing I thought of when I heard Carats was Bugz Bunny. To be honest, I did not understand the “why” of the diamond ring. I mean, if I want to spend the rest of my life with the woman I love, is that not enough of a symbol of commitment? In my folly, I filed those concerns under reason #29 I don’t understand women. All I knew was that my lady liked shiny things, and by Jupiter, my lady gets what she wants! Alas, my education into this strange world of shiny hydrocarbons had begun in earnest. As a engineer in training, I found myself captivated by the different geometries of diamonds... of tables, depths, ratios and girdles. Oh my! I realized what had happened to me... I like shiny things too. Right then, off to the shops. I walked into the diamond district, with high dreams and a general idea of what I wanted to get. All I needed now was a lovely salesperson to guide me to my rock of ages. Sadly, my expectations were way too high. Somewhere between the overly pushy salesman trying to convince me I really did not want an Oval cut, to what I thought were exorbitant prices, I knew this was not how I wanted to make such a big decision. I returned, tail between legs, to my humble abode. A friend must have noticed the cloud hanging above my head and asked about my predicament. After explaining, she told me the 3 words I needed to hear. Celine, Diamond House. Emails were exchanged, pictures shared, and with my specifications in hand, a meeting was setup for me to observe the jewels and pick the lucky bling. Right then, my trusted accomplice and myself made our way for Celine’s. First and foremost, Celine knows her stuff and is excellent at helping you make a good decision. My stack of Oval diamonds were laid out in front of me, and they all screamed in glimmering delight for the chance to be picked. Celine was very helpful because she understood what type of ring I wanted, she nailed the cut and the setting down to the T. Finally, after an adequate emotional connection had been made, I picked my diamond. Then the darndest thing happened... I got cold feet. This is a big decision, I am spending more money on a single item than I ever have... maybe I should sleep on it. I explained my concerns to Celine, and she agreed to keep my diamond off market for 24 hours so that I could think on it. Can you say, most non-pushy sales person ever! That night I had nightmares about my rock being put back on the market, and lost to me forever. I woke up in sweaty panic, and called Celine first thing in the morning to say Yes! Celine, and Diamond house are the perfect blend of professional and supportive. Like it or not, purchasing a diamond ring is an emotional decision grounded in the very logical constraint of finances. It helps to work with someone who understands your ask (and budget), and is more concerned with catering to you and getting you the best available diamond, than the bottom line. And lastly, and probably most important for my frugal friends out there, her prices were fair, and a steal compared to what I found in the high street. My fiancée loved the ring. She has had it a month, and she still insists on sleeping with it on, so that she can look at it in the morning. Even though I have been replaced by a diamond, I am glad Celine was there to help me make my wife-to-be happy enough to marry this simple man.