Alda, 48, believes her girlfriend Rachel, 33, should follow traditional jewellery 'rules' and avoid mixing gold and silver metals. Alda argues that combining expensive gold pieces with cheaper, mixed-metal accessories looks 'thrown together and cheap', and feels it dishonours the gifts she has given Rachel over their seven-year relationship.
Rachel, however, defends her eclectic style as a form of self-expression. She says the mismatched pieces, including a brassy silver ring from Thailand, hold sentimental value and that her love for Alda is not diminished by what she wears. Rachel accuses Alda of being controlling and judgmental, noting that no one else has commented on her jewellery choices.
The couple also disagree about wedding rings. Alda wants a wedding band to stand alone, while Rachel insists she should be free to stack it with other rings. 'If I chose to wear something else on top of my wedding ring, it doesn't diminish my love for her; that's ridiculous,' Rachel says.
Despite the ongoing dispute, both women say they get on well otherwise. Alda describes her reaction to Rachel's jewellery as a physical tightening in her chest, while Rachel remains defiant: 'I like my mismatched mess. And if that annoys her, that's on Alda, not me.'
