Memorable Ways To Pop The Question By: David W. Richardson, CSP
My new job as assistant to the president of a large manufacturing form proved to be challenging in a variety of ways, not the least of them my huge attraction to my boss. He was a dynamic, handsome man with so much energy and enthusiasm it was contagious in the office.
I had only been working for Ron for a couple of weeks when he suddenly seemed to slow down and take notice that I was an attractive woman. I could just tell by the way he stopped what he was doing and got all flustered when I walked into his office one afternoon that something had just "clicked". Of course, I didn't pursue it because it's common knowledge that office romances are an invitation for disaster.
Ron, however, being accustomed to great success in the business world, set his sights on me and didn't let up until I agreed to go out to dinner with him. He was subtle about it and made it a point to ask me when no one else was around, and he was just so darn cute I couldn't say no.
Our first dinner together was perfect. He took me to a beautiful restaurant with a view of the city that took my breath away. And I found Ron's company absolutely wonderful. We talked and laughed for hours without feeling the least bit self conscious. And so it began...
Ron and I dated each other for almost a year without anyone in the company knowing of our relationship. I truly believe that work and pleasure should be kept separate, so it wasn't all that hard to switch from one relationship during the day to the other in the evening. Both of us were quite content with the situation, or so I thought.
It was the Tuesday morning before Christmas, and I was rushing to complete a couple of deadlines before I took a few days off for the holidays. I was in deep concentration when I realized that I could hear music other than the piped-in background noise that was always playing. I strained to figure out what it was and where it was coming from. It sounded almost like bagpipes, but why would anyone be playing bagpipes in our office building?
I went back to work but could hear the music getting nearer and nearer and, yes, I was certain it was bagpipes. I was determined not to interrupt my work but was forced to when the whole office reacted to the bagpipe player that had just walked off the elevator...Ron right behind him in full Scottish regalia. I couldn't believe my eyes!
The bagpipe player and Ron proceeded boldly to my desk and stopped right in front of me. I was so surprised, I didn't know how to react. And then, Ron took my hand and pulled me out from behind my desk, knelt down before me, and held out a diamond ring that made everyone gasp. Or, maybe it was the fact that the boss was proposing to his assistant that no one knew he was even dating! Either way, when Ron took my hand and slipped the ring on my finger, asking me to be his wife, I responded with a thrilled "Yes!"
Goldenberry ring with golden Philippine South Sea pearl and 1.11 cts. t.w. diamonds in 18k gold; price on request; Jewelmer, Makati City, Philippines; 632-810-0266; 
9:37AM BST 17 May 2013
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The Argyle Phoenix, a 1.56 carat gem, is one of three red diamonds on offer
at the annual Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender – the first time in the 30-year
history of the exclusive sale that it has included three red stones.
"This is the largest red that has ever come from the Argyle diamond mine,"
Argyle Pink Diamonds manager Josephine Johnson told AFP as she held the
stone.
"Never seen before, likely never seen again.
"The diamond world will be talking about this diamond for the next few months
intensely. And there will be lots of discussion about the rarity of it, the
value of it."
The 2013 pink diamond tender comprises 64 diamonds, including 58 pink stones,
three blue ones and the three fancy reds.
Such jewels routinely fetch over £1 million a carat. As a basic rule of thumb, a pink diamond is worth about 50 times more than a white diamond.
Such jewels routinely fetch over £1 million a carat. As a basic rule of thumb, a pink diamond is worth about 50 times more than a white diamond.
After previews in Sydney, New York and Tokyo, there will be tender viewings
in Hong Kong and Perth, to allow clients and experts to see the gems and make
offers for individual stones.
"The tender every year has great interest – when you think there's only 60 stones each year, that's about 12 grams of diamond weight – we tour it around the world because each one is like selling a Picasso," Johnson said.
"Each one is unique. They will find different markets.
"With a red diamond the colour itself is extraordinary, but what really transcends the appeal of the colour is just the outrageous rarity of something like this."
The Argyle mine in Western Australia produces virtually the entire world's supply of pink diamonds, with the red seen as the pinnacle of the colour scale.
It is not known how the diamonds acquire their pink tinge but it is thought to come from a molecular structure distortion as the jewel forms in the earth's crust or makes its way to the surface.
Japan is the largest consumer of pink diamonds, with the lighter "Cherry Blossom" shades in strong demand, but Johnson said Argyle diamonds were growing in popularity in other markets.
"There's an explosion of interest in China and India. We're certainly seeing that in the rare diamond world," she said.
"I am quite surprised at how quickly they have moved from a desire for large, white clean goods to an appreciation for the value of rarity and fancy coloured diamonds."
With the Phoenix, she said: "It being red is very interesting because that's a highly symbolic colour in Asia."
But she said with few reference points and increasing interest in coloured diamonds, particularly rare pinks and reds, it was impossible to know where the stone would end up.
"Our last diamond that came anywhere near close to this actually ended up in the US, so it's hard to say," she said.
Edited for Telegraph.co.uk by Barney Henderson
"The tender every year has great interest – when you think there's only 60 stones each year, that's about 12 grams of diamond weight – we tour it around the world because each one is like selling a Picasso," Johnson said.
"Each one is unique. They will find different markets.
"With a red diamond the colour itself is extraordinary, but what really transcends the appeal of the colour is just the outrageous rarity of something like this."
The Argyle mine in Western Australia produces virtually the entire world's supply of pink diamonds, with the red seen as the pinnacle of the colour scale.
It is not known how the diamonds acquire their pink tinge but it is thought to come from a molecular structure distortion as the jewel forms in the earth's crust or makes its way to the surface.
Japan is the largest consumer of pink diamonds, with the lighter "Cherry Blossom" shades in strong demand, but Johnson said Argyle diamonds were growing in popularity in other markets.
"There's an explosion of interest in China and India. We're certainly seeing that in the rare diamond world," she said.
"I am quite surprised at how quickly they have moved from a desire for large, white clean goods to an appreciation for the value of rarity and fancy coloured diamonds."
With the Phoenix, she said: "It being red is very interesting because that's a highly symbolic colour in Asia."
But she said with few reference points and increasing interest in coloured diamonds, particularly rare pinks and reds, it was impossible to know where the stone would end up.
"Our last diamond that came anywhere near close to this actually ended up in the US, so it's hard to say," she said.
Edited for Telegraph.co.uk by Barney Henderson
