Before amour, please tell us the story of your Dad winning the diamond. I smell screenplay!
Dad served in WW2 aboard the USS Saratoga. Mascot is a Fighting Gamecock.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CV-3_Saratoga_insignia.png
Torpedoed and Kamikaze attacked. (incidentally...Lynn's Dad also served on the ship but he and my Dad
never met)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Saratoga_(CV-3)
On the victory lap after the war they got some nice port calls.
People were so happy to greet them the sailors got a lot of stones and jewels
cheap.
My Dad laughed about how they determined fake from real. They hit 'em with a hammer and a piece of steel while wrapped in clothes. If they didn't shatter....they were real.

Still some opals, rubies and diamonds withstood the "test". We have a few.
This diamond wasn't one of those.
A shipmate during shore leave got drunk fell in love with a native girl. She picked out the ring.
His friends upon hearing all this notified the ship. Shore Patrol to the rescue.
Canceled his leave.
When all were back on board it was a great joke and the poor guy was embarrassed but grateful
to his loyal friends for his rescue.
Swearing to never marry he ran a raffle for the ring. Nice round stone with a great gob
of smaller stones all around.
It wasn't a cheap raffle then ....a dollar a pop.
Dad bought one. The winning one.
Mom had a ring but on occasions she would wear THE ring.
Mom would never admit it but I was her favorite of 3.

Lynn and I didn't have the time and couldn't bear to put the cost of an elaborate
soiree on our families.
We had met at Myrtle Beach as kids and were/are fast soul-mates.
We eloped to Pawley's island.
Married at All Saints. (great story but I shall not digress)
When we came home Mom presented me the ring to give to Lynn.
My older sister had agreed. They all love Lynn. Sis has the remaining diamonds.
She and Lynn cried twice. Losing it and recovering it.
I shed a sniffle too. Just couldn't let the girls see it.

Praise the Lord.
OT: just got back from Litchfield anniversary trip. Fantastic.
Check out this rainbow from the house's boardwalk to the beach.
crappy I-Pad pic doesn't do it justice.