Winner Announced in National Ultimate Proposal Contest

"Something in the Ice" wins Grand Prize, a Sandals Resorts Luxury Included® Vacation and platinum jewelry

NEW YORK, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jewelry Information Center (JIC), the consumer education arm of Jewelers of America, announced that "Something in the Ice" has won the third annual Ultimate Proposal Contest, a nationwide search for the best proposal story. The proposal story was submitted by Pittsburgh, PA-resident Melissa Geer, whose fiance Daniel Monarko created an elaborate proposal including an ice sculpture of a diamond engagement ring complete with "Melissa, will you marry me?" carved into the sculpture. As the Grand Prize winners, Geer and her fiance won a Sandals® Resorts Luxury Included® Vacation and a platinum and diamond pendant. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120524/DC12934 )

JIC's Ultimate Proposal Contest invited couples to submit their proposal stories at JIC's website, www.JIC.org, and asked America to vote for their favorite. Over 53,000 votes were cast during the voting period. To determine the Grand Prize winner, a panel of judges reviewed the 20 entries that received the most votes and selected "Something in the Ice" as the ultimate proposal story.

"'Something in the Ice' is the ultimate proposal story because it has the elements that make marriage proposals special – surprise, thoughtfulness – and of course a beautiful engagement ring," says Amanda Gizzi, spokesperson for Jewelry Information Center.

"It has been such an exciting week for my fiance Dan and I. We set our wedding date, and two days later found out we won the Ultimate Proposal Contest! Talk about icing on the cake," says Geer. "I feel so overwhelmed with joy and so blessed.  I am so thankful to Jewelry Information Center for the amazing prizes and thankful to my fiance who asked me to spend the rest of my life with him."

The winning entry can be viewed at Jewelry Information Center's website, www.JIC.org - the source for fine jewelry and watch information. Visitors can also find reputable Jewelers of America-member retailers nationwide.

Sponsors of JIC's Ultimate Proposal Contest include The Knot; Platinum Guild International, USA; and Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company. Sandals Resorts, who has earned a worldwide reputation for providing two people in love with the most romantic luxury all-inclusive vacation experience in the Caribbean, has 14 Luxury Included® Sandals Resorts located in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia and The Bahamas.

SOURCE Jewelry Information Center