Does wearing your bling make you feel more confident or more self-conscious?

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#16
It depends. If I'm having an 'insecure' day, I can feel self-conscious about anything and wonder if I have on the 'right' clothes or 'right' shoes too, as well as jewelry. If I'm not feeling insecure, I don't worry about anything and just feel how much I like having jewelry and keep looking at my rings and thinking how pretty they are.
If people are staring pointedly at my jewelry or say something wierd, then I tend to think how wierd they are, rather than that there's really something wrong.
If I'm going somewhere where I know it's inappropriate or dangerous then I just won't wear something (other than my wedding ring, which I always wear).
People rarely seem to pay a lot of attention to my jewelry. I did have a wierd experience the other day though. I went to NYC with a friend and met up with other friends. We dressed to go to a party. She had imitation diamond studs on-- they looked like maybe .50ctw. The other friends started to admire them. She said,oh,these are nothing, these are fake, BJ has the nice ones. Then they looked at my 1.80 ctw and said--Absolutely nothing. I mean, the silence got painful. Eventually the subject was changed. But nobody said ANYTHING. I thought that was a little odd. I mean, if it was me, once someone had pointed a friend's jewelry out, just to be polite, I would have, "oh, those are nice."
I felt kind of strange since they are good friends, but just kept dressing and went to the party and had a good time.
 
#17
black jade said:
It depends. If I'm having an 'insecure' day, I can feel self-conscious about anything and wonder if I have on the 'right' clothes or 'right' shoes too, as well as jewelry. If I'm not feeling insecure, I don't worry about anything and just feel how much I like having jewelry and keep looking at my rings and thinking how pretty they are.
If people are staring pointedly at my jewelry or say something wierd, then I tend to think how wierd they are, rather than that there's really something wrong.
If I'm going somewhere where I know it's inappropriate or dangerous then I just won't wear something (other than my wedding ring, which I always wear).
People rarely seem to pay a lot of attention to my jewelry. I did have a wierd experience the other day though. I went to NYC with a friend and met up with other friends. We dressed to go to a party. She had imitation diamond studs on-- they looked like maybe .50ctw. The other friends started to admire them. She said,oh,these are nothing, these are fake, BJ has the nice ones. Then they looked at my 1.80 ctw and said--Absolutely nothing. I mean, the silence got painful. Eventually the subject was changed. But nobody said ANYTHING. I thought that was a little odd. I mean, if it was me, once someone had pointed a friend's jewelry out, just to be polite, I would have, "oh, those are nice."
I felt kind of strange since they are good friends, but just kept dressing and went to the party and had a good time.
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In one word.......JEALOUS!
 
#18
I would hate to think so--these are friends of 30+ years.
That's my mother thought, though. She has 1.30 ctw and she said when she got them, none of her friends said anything for WEEKS. Finally a little girl (granddaughter of a friend) asked, Are those real? They can't be real, they would be too expensive.
That's when people paid her some compliments, finally, after that.
She was sort of hurt. She lost her e-ring about 40 years ago and hasn't had any diamonds since then. She had been excited to get her new studs (she is almost 80 years old) and it was no fun to be ignored, she said.
 
#19
I notice when people notice my jewelry, but it hadn't occurred to me to be self conscious about it!

Looking at my jewelry makes me happy, and that is why I wear it. When I look at my ER and band, I think of my DH, when I see my "L" necklace, I think of my beautiful DD, when I look at my Love bracelet, I think of my Mom, who got it for me.

I think it's all beautiful, and it makes me more beautiful. If anyone has an issue with that, it's their problem.
 
#20
black jade said:
I would hate to think so--these are friends of 30+ years.
That's my mother thought, though. She has 1.30 ctw and she said when she got them, none of her friends said anything for WEEKS. Finally a little girl (granddaughter of a friend) asked, Are those real? They can't be real, they would be too expensive.
That's when people paid her some compliments, finally, after that.
She was sort of hurt. She lost her e-ring about 40 years ago and hasn't had any diamonds since then. She had been excited to get her new studs (she is almost 80 years old) and it was no fun to be ignored, she said.
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That's just terrible!! Personally, I love looking at other ppl's jewelry, but feel that if I gush over them, I might make the wearer feel uncomfortable.

As to the OP's question...neither. It's only when I do not wear my jewelry that I feel I am missing something.
 
#21
Women rarely look for an e-ring on me, so I've noticed that most women don't notice or say anything. A few of my clients look at my earrings and such since I wear a lot of indie designers.

My male clients gush over my e-ring. I think it's really cute to be honest, because they are so unfiltered!
 
#22
Swanky Mama Of Three said:
Neither. . .

It just feels like "me".

Once in a while, depending on the area I'm in I am keenly aware of my bigger pieces and I may choose not to wear them for safety reasons. But on a daily basis I don't even think about it.
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I feel the same way. The only bling I don't wear every day is my e-ring and it is for safety reasons. I do feel a little sad that I don't see my e-ring at work every day!
 
#23
I feel proud of my engagement ring most days. Tonight, however, I did feel a little self-conscious. My best friend turned 30, and she got a little tipsy. She asked to try on my ring so she could pretend to be engaged. (Just so it is noted, I did not bring up my ring, did not talk about my wedding, etc.) So, she played with my ring. I understood why she did this, but I still felt a little odd about the situation.

When I was younger I felt very self-conscious about my jewelry. I remember in college there was a discussion about how wonderful Fossil watches were to own. The girls that I was sitting with all wore Fossil watches. I hid my watch, a Cartier.
 
#24
AntiqueShopper said:
When I was younger I felt very self-conscious about my jewelry. I remember in college there was a discussion about how wonderful Fossil watches were to own. The girls that I was sitting with all wore Fossil watches. I hid my watch, a Cartier.
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I have this problem sometimes. I'm pretty young, in college, and a few times at parties or bars with friends of friends, they, not knowing me well, have demanded to see my watch (a Rolex), and I feel utterly awful and turn bright red. Sometimes I wish I had a Cartier instead, since less of those not "in the know" would notice. Recently, I purchased myself a Timex from J. Crew to feel less uncomfortable in those situations.

Though I am not engaged, I feel like with engagement rings, people should mind their own business. It's a much more personal matter. Further, it is usually the fiance's choice to purchase the ring, so people should leave the fiancee alone.
 
#25
since i match my jewels to the occasion and location i am always confident.

given that should i get a stare or comment etc i first try to reflect and then either brush it off or think about it if maybe i was not as appropriately dressed as i thought i would be and caused that stare
 
#26
ofraredevice said:
I have this problem sometimes. I'm pretty young, in college, and a few times at parties or bars with friends of friends, they, not knowing me well, have demanded to see my watch (a Rolex), and I feel utterly awful and turn bright red. Sometimes I wish I had a Cartier instead, since less of those not "in the know" would notice. Recently, I purchased myself a Timex from J. Crew to feel less uncomfortable in those situations.

Though I am not engaged, I feel like with engagement rings, people should mind their own business. It's a much more personal matter. Further, it is usually the fiance's choice to purchase the ring, so people should leave the fiancee alone.
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I know as you get older, these type of situations do get better. So, wear your Rolex in pride.

When it comes to my engagement ring (1 ct Tiffany classic), I think my friend was a little upset about the idea that I am engaged, and she is not anywhere near that point. I just felt self-conscious because, I did not want to be the reminder of something she does not have coming soon. I tried to hide my ring, but it was her who pointed it out and spoke of its sparkle. I try not to talk about my wedding to her (unless she brings it up). I just don't want her to feel bad.
 
#27
Without diamonds I feel too casual, and sporty which is not my style at all. I always wear my studs even with jeans, and they do make me feel me.
The more jewelry I wear the better I feel, so I think they do boost my confidence, I feel influential, mature and with more authority. My bling armor perhaps? IDK!
 
#28
lily25 said:
Without diamonds I feel too casual, and sporty which is not my style at all. I always wear my studs even with jeans, and they do make me feel me.
The more jewelry I wear the better I feel, so I think they do boost my confidence, I feel influential, mature and with more authority. My bling armor perhaps? IDK!
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I love this! that's what i'm gong to say next time someone is rushing me - "hold on, hold on, I'm coming, just need to put on my bling armor!" (^(oo)^)v
 
#29
Before my 2 little ones was wearing jewelry, real ones and fake ones!! Most people kept noticing the fake ones, nothing about the real ones have been said to me from my friends that is!! :tdown: Sometimes it is nice to hear compliments about your jewelry from your friends! Now that I am planning my trip to my hometown I am thinking if it will be apropriate to bring some of my real ones with me?? Like my new Mikimoto with diamonds necklase? ;)
 
#30
Elina you are coming home? :yahoo: I hope you have a good time! I think you should wear your Mikimoto. Maybe they are a little jealous of your jewelry and skip the compliments on the real pieces in purpose?
I always get compliments from the women in my family, especially my granny who is very chic and loves nice jewelry. My best friend always notices as well. She has never said "how nice, you are very pretty" but she does notices. It's enough for me.
 
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