Engagement ring... for £700?!

suzybaby2001

When did this 3 month salary guideline come in??! I thought a month's salary was kind of silly, but 3?? I wouldn't expect my partner to spend that much at all. In fact I think mine was in the region of £250, we were in final year at uni and absolutely broke with no income except student loan. For him to spend that on a ring when living on plain pasta and chopped tomatoes by the end of term, that means more to me than anything I've had people be incredibly rude to me over the years and have said "oh, you're engaged? I didn't see your ring".

We're getting married in 9 weeks and I have the most beautiful gold wedding ring with diamonds in it. Now we're earning a good wage we could afford that, and it sits perfectly next to my engagement ring. In fact it was custom made to go with it.

I personally think that men are under a lot of pressure these days to "come up with the goods" when proposing. I've heard the girls at work over lunch when there's a new engagement, there's a lot of ring envy going on!

Proposing is about showing the world you want to be with your partner for the rest of your lives and no other reason.

rumncoke

Haven't read all this thread, but IMO it is definately the thought not the cost that counts. When we got engaged 25 years ago all my DH could afford was £30, & he emptied his building society account for it. It is certainly not flashy & very small diamond.

For the last 5 or 6 years he has wanted to get a replacement for it but I am still holding out against what I consider to be a waste of money. Yes it would be a better ring but it would not have the same sentimental value.

Primrose

Whatever you do, don't buy her a ring. Let her choose it herself. She's going to be wearing it for an awful long time hopefully, and buying something that's to your taste but not hers wouldn't be a good idea at all. If you've still got debts I think you should clear them first on the basis that you are determined to start your life off together on a good sound financial footing. If you're both very open minded, have a look at some second hand rings in some good jewellers' shops. They are much better value than new jewellery and you may perhaps find some different designs which your girl friend might like. My husband had no money at all when we got engaged. I actually bought my ring myself!

TheBex

Accessorize have a beuatiful silver ring that spells out "love" for only £6 - might do for the night?

Propose with something similar and you'll give her the chance to choose something she'll like. (important as she's going to wear it all the time)

£700 can buy some very serious jewellery if you're careful about where you look.

Update please OP...?

londoner1998

Honey, nothing is too low when it comes to money! It is about the meaning, not the price- my lovely man got me a 'wedding ring' (we are not married) in a second hand shop- it was the perfect ring for me- a plain, simple silver band, slightly chunky (he knows I love siver) and in a tiny size that nobody else would have been able to wear (I am a miniature of a person)- and the best? It cost a fiver. And I love it.
And you know what? It is my most treasured possession , because he just saw it and thought of me and five pounds was a stretch for him at the time.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking more expensive is better when it comes to these things. I agree you could give her something cheaper to begin with and then may be let her choose her own ring. Clear your debts first and you will be in a much better position to start your life together.
And being the romantic type, I am sure you can think of very creative, non bank-breaking gestures to let her know you wnat to marry her...;)

Lunar_Eclipse

It doesn't matter how much the ring costs, although since a lot of people have mentioned cheap rings I feel I should balance the replies by saying mine cost more than £700. However it needs to be affordable for you personally. And as ever, it is the thought that counts. Rings do not usually influence whether a person accepts or declines a marriage proposal.

I think how much you spend will be influenced by your earnings, expectations, current jewellery, metal preferences etc. For instance, if you earn a six figure salary at an investment bank, I don't think it would be appropriate to buy a cheap ring in Argos. Some people might think differently.

benjus

It always interests me to consider the involvement of De Beers in all of this... their marketing strategies have been incredibly effective in manipulating the culture regarding diamond jewellery.

They basically popularised the concept of using a diamond ring to mark an engagement - they also decided that 2 months' salary was the "right" amount for the man to spend. They also popularised the eternity ring (after being forced to purchase a large quantity of small Russian diamonds) and invented the slogan "a diamond is forever".

So basically many of these "traditions" are no more than marketing strategies to sell more diamonds. Don't worry so much about the price... as long as you're both happy with the purchase it doesn't matter.

marshmallows

My engagement ring was bought in America, it is worth over 2k but my hubby got a very good deal because he was from England (around 80% off) it was also a special limited edition that he knew i would love.
Most men just see a ring that they know their g/f will love and buy it without going silly

Mine and hubbys matching wedding rings cost us just under £300 and i love them

zippychick

i have to say I have read this thread with interest and would be interested to see the OPs update?!

I am not engaged or anything myself, but if someone spent anywhere near £700 on a ring for me, I think I would die off! I have a necklace my Mum bought me around the £100 mark and that is stressful enough to wear on odd occasion, never mind a ring which costs 7 times more!

Saying that, not all women feel the same. I have known quite a few to moan , nag and obsess about the particular ring they want, and a few who have even had the ring picked out long before their man even proposes!

I guess you know your Missus well enough to know if she expects a ring IRO £700 and what she would be pleased with. Myself, I am easily pleased . My only preference would be is it wasn't yellow gold, but I never ever wear that anyway, so hopefully when i meet my ideal man , he will know this!

Let us know what happens!

zipman23

Sami_Bee wrote: »

If you decided to let her pick you could steal my friends idea and propose with a haribo ring sweet

Heeeey, thats the one I used! It worked too!