Looking for a ring
Sheldon opens the door to Frank and sons Jewellers and ushers a slightly shell shocked Penny through. She's got a dazed grin on her face as she takes Sheldons arm and says "look at us, getting a ring."
The Sales assistant looks at the two of them, puts on a professional slightly knowing smile and asks "Ah, Dr Cooper. I see the bracelet was well appreciated"
Sheldon glances across, Penny is indeed wearing her double strand bracelet. She lifts her hand to show it off "So you came here to get this?"
Sheldon shakes his head "No, but they recommended someone to make it"
"And what can I do for you today Dr Cooper? A ring for the lady, perhaps?"
Penny laughs that they are so obvious while Sheldon just nods. "While Emeralds or rubies were historically used, I believe the current social convention is diamond for an engagement ring?"
The salesman broadens his smile. "My congratulations" and produces a tray of brightly sparkling rings.
Penny looks stunned "ooh, are those real diamonds?"
"Of course"
Sheldon simple scoffs "Ah, diamonds. remarkable things. Simple lumps of pure carbon but because its arranged into perfect crystals, rather than random lumps its rare in nature and thus commands such a price. It's the hardest commonly occurring material, did you know? They use it to define a perfect ten on the Mohs scale of hardness.
He holds one ring up to the light, admiring the stone "in 1772 Antoine Lavoisier focused the sun through a magnifying glass onto a diamond in an oxygen chamber and made it burn leaving only carbon dioxide behind, proving it was made entirely of pure carbon."
Horrified, Penny asks "Burn a diamond? How is that possible?"
"Because the structure is so stable it's densely packed and very hard to break apart, but high temperatures and a lot of oxygen would work. 1275 degrees Fahrenheit would do it, so if you used a welding torch on it until it glowed red then dropped in into liquid oxygen it'd burn away to nothing."
The sales assistant shudders. "I hope this isn't for burning?"
Sheldon remembers why he's here.
"So, I'm looking for something special, simple and elegant. I was thinking a solitaire setting, single stone, an ideal princess cut that's as square as you have, single carat or more, ideally internally flawless, pure white or as near colourless as possible."
The Assistant nods "Ah, so you haven't changed your mind from your earlier specifications? I have some ready for you to look at"
Penny looks suspiciously at Sheldon "You've been planning this, haven't you?"
Sheldon shrugs "Of course. I want to get the right ring for you and I wasn't going to leave that to chance"
The Assistant produces a tray of black velvet, on which are several stunning rings.
Penny can't tell if the sparkles are from the stones or the tears in her eyes "Oh Sheldon, they're beautiful"
The Assistant holds them out "Sir has exquisite taste, if I may say. Square cuts are traditional for engagement rings and the cut really brings out the depth and colour of the stone."
She leans over and hisses in Sheldon's ear "I can't see any price tags! that's usually a very bad sign!"
He smiles "Don't worry, they're all in my price range, so pick whichever one you like best"
Penny looks the rings over and picks a ring with the stone simply set on a plain silvery gold band. Something about it calls to her. She picks it up and shows Sheldon "This one."
Unceremoniously he takes it from her, examines it then nods to the Assistant, who tucks the tray of other rings away.
Taking her left hand, Sheldon just slips the ring onto her finger. She gives a happy shriek and throws herself onto him in a wild hug. "thank you thank you thank you"
After hugs and kisses she grins and says "oh, we should get you a 'conventional symbol' thing too. you don't wear rings, do you? what about a necklace or bracelet?"
"I'd not thought of that". He turns to the Assistant "have you any more masculine jewellery?"
"Of course, sir" He leads them over to a display of chunkier necklaces and heavier rings.
Sheldon ponders and tuts. Nothing appeals, until he spots something in a corner of a case
"Ooh, a pocket watch."
"a pocket watch.?"
"How could you resist a man with a pocket watch?"
Penny laughs "You'd certainly know what time it is"
The assistant reaches down to the drawers under the display case and produces two trays of various jewellery "as you mentioned Symbolic pieces, maybe these would be of interest?"
Penny freezes. They just look like ordinary items, rings and bracelets, chains and necklaces, some plain, others with pretty designs but there is another meaning here. A subtle understanding passes between the assistant and Sheldon that she picks up on but doesn't quite get.
She hesitantly reaches out and touches a ring with a finger tip. It's a plain silver band set with a small ball, onto which is fitted a smaller ring. Beside it is a small signet ring, suitable for a woman, with an engraving of a triple spiral. A charm bracelet with a stylised K and a flower. Three rings with chains that connect to a bracelet. A long ring in segmented pieces. A dove necklace. Yin yang designs.
Sheldon picks out a pocket watch with a circular design engraved on the cover, three lines curved together like a three part yin-yang.
Something clicks in her memory, the triple spiral is a triskelion, they used that in a story...
She jerks her fingers back as it burned "Roissey?"
Sheldon nods. The assistant smoothly withdraws the tray and returns it to its shelf under the counter.
Penny glances from side to side "Is that a real thing? I thought it was just in the story..."
"Before the book, who can say? but once the idea was out, some people would want to live in that world. If they can't find it, perhaps they'll make their own"
"that's a scary thought"
Sheldon gives her a hug and turns to the assistant, producing his wallet. Penny looks at the total on the register and goes slack jawed in shock.
Sheldon happily hooks the chain to his belt and puts the watch in his pocket. Pulling it out he pops it open and checks the time. "You know, I do like this. I feel like a train conductor"
