Um. I'm not even sure if I should file this under "f*cked up things about weddings,' or 'reclaiming wife' or 'this is why we still need feminism' or f*cking WHAT. But click through, won't you? Seriously.
And this wasn't even in a wedding magazine. There I was paging through a women's magazine, and I literally froze, jaw open. Whhhaaaaaaaa? Really?
Apparently yes. Really.
Dis-gus-ting. Yeah, you can tell quite a bit from my left hand, particularly when only my middle finger is extended in your face, WIC!
December 14, 2009 6:07 am
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OPT. OUT. Whoever is judging me by my hands is missing out on a whole lot. Thank god there's more to me than my f*ing jewelry.
December 14, 2009 6:12 am
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Who do they test these ads on?!?!?! Oh, wait, I know. Other men. If they test them on women, I just don't even know what I would say to those women. Seriously.
December 14, 2009 6:18 am
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sexist to the extreme..!
that being said, the line 'u can tell a lot about a womon by looking at her hands' has quite a bit of truth to it – u can tell whether she does a lot of manual work, her general age, how much emphasis she places on personal grooming..etc even minus any jewellery..just a note – i still agree it's a ridiculously douchey ad that the company shoots itself in the foot w/, as far as i'm concerned..
December 14, 2009 6:31 am
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Oh dear. And yet I have in no way been immune. In no way. It can really hit you.
December 14, 2009 6:32 am
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Especially when she's wearing brass knuckles.
December 14, 2009 6:32 am
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Seriously? What is wrong with people!!! My jewelry does not tell anyone who I am, what I am or anything about me! It says she's taken and in love. That's it! A$$holes.
December 14, 2009 6:32 am
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What, you didn't know that women are totally without worth unless they're married?
Ha ha ha.
And argh.
December 14, 2009 6:33 am
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This is why I get so angry when I see diamond commercials that basically say "If you don't get her diamonds, you don't really love her."
Really? Because I have a plain titanium wedding band. And I picked it out. Because I didn't want diamonds in my wedding band – the less than half carat on my engagement ring is almost too much for me! So I guess that means I'm in a loveless marriage? I don't f-ing think so!
I'd be much happier to get a thoughtful gift any day of the week over "the commercial said that diamonds are what I should get so I will go and blindly pick something shiny out without putting any thought into it".. yeah.. that really says "love".
December 14, 2009 6:37 am
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ewwwwwwwwwww
December 14, 2009 6:38 am
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ick.
December 14, 2009 6:53 am
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This is part of why I didn't want an engagement ring.
I still love to shock the haters: sometimes when I tell people I'm engaged, they look at my hand and say, "but where's your ring!?," and I say (truthfully), "I didn't want one, because I just don't like wearing jewelry." And then (sometimes) they give me a grim, pinchy look of suspicion/disapproval.
I am really amused by the way the rings in this add look so much like handcuffs. Was that intentional irony or what?
December 14, 2009 7:00 am
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I am so happy that other people out there feel the same and that makes me even more happier with my simple ring.
December 14, 2009 7:02 am
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And this one is even worse…..I saw it in one of the bridal mags a few months ago. I was so astounded that I had to show my betrothed.
http://robbinsbros.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/simonginstyleweddings082809.jpg
December 14, 2009 7:05 am
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If you go to their web site, there is another similar frame that has a giant diamond ring with a tag that says "I'm much cheaper than a therapist."
WTF
December 14, 2009 7:05 am
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I noticed also the almost non-existant logo of the Lili Claire foundation & googled it. Apparently they are "helping children with neurogenetic conditions, while providing hope & resources to the families who love them" If Simon G. really wanted to be effective in advertising they may want to make the fact that they contribute to that foundation the focus on the add, not that stupid quote.
December 14, 2009 7:09 am
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@ Katherine, WTF is that supposed to mean. ridiculous.
December 14, 2009 7:10 am
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You can tell a lot about a man by looking at his ad.
December 14, 2009 7:13 am
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I've seen these Simon G ads a lot…typically in InStyle and I think even in Real Simple. They're atrocious, telling women that if they were REALLY worth something, their boyfriends/fiances/husbands would buy them shiny pieces of carbon.
Barf. Barf. Barf. Almost as bad as the Robinson Diamonds billboards I see in Philly.
December 14, 2009 7:15 am
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I saw that. Fucked. Up.
December 14, 2009 7:26 am
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That's completely brutal. I cannot respect a company that uses catchphrases like that. :P
December 14, 2009 7:35 am
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The one that Brandy posted is, if possible, even worse, by far. "Virtually eliminates cheating, since you'll never want to take it off." *RALPH* Ugggh. Because yes, this ring, this sign of possession, is the only thing keeping my morals in check. Hot damn, Simon G, you've figured me out.
December 14, 2009 7:37 am
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um. i think i just vomited a little in my mouth.
December 14, 2009 7:42 am
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Ridiculous.
December 14, 2009 8:01 am
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Oh, my god. From the other ads that APW readers have posted, this company is disgusting. Absolutely horrific. I don't know who did their PR, but they should be fired, immediately. Nnngh.
The initial ad, though, about how you can "tell a lot from a woman", reminds me of the whole "right hand ring" phenomena. Your left hand is for your wedding ring and belongs to your man! Your right hand, however, is where you can EXPRESS yourself! So do it with gaudy diamonds!!
Ugh. My college ring goes on my right hand, thank you, and it doesn't have any stones, let alone a diamond, and tells you a helluva lot more about me than some giant, impersonal "right hand" monstrosity that the diamond industry tells me "expresses myself". Let me choose for myself what I wear my hands, thanks.
December 14, 2009 8:05 am
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@Brandy
I just looked at that link, so disgusting. What is wrong with these people?
December 14, 2009 8:06 am
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So sad.
December 14, 2009 8:07 am
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This is from last year, but still hilarious (and sad).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzLWn3xTGL4
December 14, 2009 8:09 am
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Gross. Gross. Gross. Thanks for my Monday morning "yes you should still work your ass off for what you believe in" finals-time pick-me-up – Rage can be such a motivator!
December 14, 2009 8:22 am
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Um. Wow. I am flabbergasted at the cynicism in these ads. Really?
December 14, 2009 8:24 am
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My left ring finger says I'm a confident, educated woman that doesn't need a bunch of bling to tell everyone I'm engaged. The smile on my face tells them all they need to know.
December 14, 2009 8:25 am
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I'm kind of laughing my ass off; thanks ladies, this was a good read! But seriously, these ads are the kind of crap that make me have to explain my non-diamond ring to others over and over again. Sheesh.
December 14, 2009 8:47 am
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When people commented upon my irish-friendship-band engagement ring and said things like "are you going to get a ring?", I liked to say things like, "well, since most diamonds are harvested by child slaves from civil-war torn African countries, I would really rather have this." Got 'em every time.
December 14, 2009 9:17 am
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As vomit-worthy as all of these ads are… I'm still too flabbergasted at the ad I saw for a new TV show "Four Weddings" where four brides compete, yes, *compete* and judge *each others* weddings. why? why???
December 14, 2009 9:22 am
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What my hands say about me: I work in a lab and wash my hands often, as evidenced by the cracks and severe dryness, and are always covered with slide stain.
But that's what you should tell from her hands. Not how much money someone was willing to drop on her.
December 14, 2009 9:39 am
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lol. this is hilarious. this ad sucks. just saying.
December 14, 2009 9:44 am
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Wow, did we just go back to the 1800's when we walked 3 steps behind men, took his name because our last name wasn't worthy…don't get me started on that one! Shame on Simon G.
December 14, 2009 9:53 am
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Sigh.
It's so sad that there's this strange belief that as soon as a strong, intelligent woman gets engaged her head is full of cotton candy and she biologically is drawn to "bling" and pastels.
Also, the whole "taken" thing really irks me. I'm not taken by anyone. I am engaged. To my fiance. Who is engaged to me.
Thus, he has his own engagement ring. :-)
December 14, 2009 10:34 am
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i also love (and by love i mean 'want to punch something') the current Kay Jewlers ad on TV of the couple in the cabin during the storm… thunder claps, and she jumps into her husband's arms, which are, of course, waiting for her with a diamond necklace.
Because, as women, we are of course afraid of thunderstorms! And we need our big strong men to protect us!
i feel it also bears adding to the conversation, that a woman should NOT feel guilty if she decides that she would like to have a bit of "bling" in her ring. Some ladies really dig diamonds. if that's your thing, more power. I chose a lovely 1ct lab-created diamond that i love and get many compliments on (and it also didn't cost us the GDP of a small nation). just sayin.
December 14, 2009 10:43 am
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Anon, I have tears rolling down my face from laughter at that youtube video. At work, which is totally inappropriate. Just like Simon G's ads.
December 14, 2009 10:43 am
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The comments here alone have made my morning!
December 14, 2009 10:47 am
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Vomit.
Ha, I'd like to hear what someone is thinking when they see my hand and judge me by what's on it. Wait, is that an engagement ring? Can't be, there's no diamond. But it's on the "ring" finger. Puzzled look.
December 14, 2009 11:40 am
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The ad IS pretty outrageous, but I suppose I'm not AS bothered by it as I am by other things because I'm not the woman to whom this ad is marketed. While there is something to be said for representation and perpetuating stereotypes (as this ad certainly does), this ad is marketed to a lot of women — not just us. AND the unfortunate truth is that many stereotypes find their bases in reality. This ad is for the women who insist that their boyfriend/partners/etc spend 3 months of his salary on a diamond engagement ring. This ad is for the woman who told me that her ring had to be at least 5 carats or "her husband wasn't worth marrying." This ad is for women who desire an engagement ring that they "can show off to their friends."
I think what I find MORE baffling is the magazine in which the article appeared. There are a lot of us for which marriage is more than a pretty bauble. But sadly to say, I think there are a great many women who fall victim to the wedding industry's anthems — and these are precisely the women who will relate to this ad.
December 14, 2009 11:41 am
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Well, at least they offer options for people who aren't in relationships. I think it's at least as bad as the others, maybe worse.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lEufC1mg04s/Spgogv4zYrI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/hD680FKQrdE/s400/Picture+8.png
Apparently these people: http://blog.emsardesign.com/2009/08/new-simon-g-jewelry-web-site.html
are claiming responsibility. I wouldn't if I were them…
If you go to the simon g site there are several. I think the worst is the one about marriage is about compromise but you can postpone that until after the wedding. If I said something like that (and meant it), my FH would be gone.
December 14, 2009 11:42 am
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@ Ms. Bunny: Lol. "Is she married? Engaged? Is it a class ring? Is she one of those 'MODERN' women who doesn't wear a ring? No diamond so I can't figure it OUT…this makes my head hurt…"
December 14, 2009 11:46 am
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while I totally love this blog and agree with the sentiment that you don't need a ring to be engaged and it doesn't have to be a diamond and it doesn't have to be huge and I also get angry at ads like this….I always find at least one or two comments that make me feel guilty for having and loving my diamond ring.
Not having a big flashy diamond ring or a ring at all doesn't make you less of a fiance or a woman or a wife…but to be fair..having a ring or even a diamond ring doesn't make you a self absorbed rich WASP who doesn't care about the world.
Damn our inability to comment on one aspect of the WIC without making sweeping generalizations that make certain women feel bad about themselves. Such a tricky tightrope to walk.
December 14, 2009 11:58 am
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Oh God. These are horrible!
And the "virtually eliminates cheating" one that Brandy posted? Seriously? 'cause I thought the vows I made promised the whole "no cheating thing," not my ring.
ugh.
December 14, 2009 12:08 pm
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meg, you're familiar with rasputina's (hella excellent) "diamond mind," right? it's an marvelous palate cleanser for ring-related drama. actually, it's just marvelous in general.
December 14, 2009 12:43 pm
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@rachel, where did you get your ring? My boyfriend and I have just started talking about engagement rings, and I am definitely interested in a man-made diamond, but the internet research I have done has just confused me.
December 14, 2009 12:49 pm
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Maybe we should all express our disgust with how their ads view women and how we love by commenting on that emsardesign website?
http://blog.emsardesign.com/2009/08/new-simon-g-jewelry-web-site.html
December 14, 2009 1:08 pm
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