MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Should Spencer trade in the engagement ring?

newkitchenfund

mippy wrote: »

Do men ever wear engagement rings? What happens if the woman proposes?

I believe it is becoming fashionable for men to wear them now - there was an article recently in one of the women's monthly mags about 'mangagement rings' - after all if she has a bit of bling to celebrate why shouldn't he! They tend to be less showy than the woman's though.
If I were in this position as a woman I would probably buy my other half one if he liked the idea, or if not, maybe some smart cufflinks or a new watch to wear on the big day. Wouldn't spend 7 grand though!!

garfield413

If I was Spencer, (and was marrying someone so shallow) I'd ask her why she needs to have a ring costing so much and explain the difference. Even say that the £3000 left over could go on a holiday or the honeymoon.
I'd rather get a ring made by a jewellery student so it is a one-off and not stupidly OTT money wise. My bro got a local college student to make his wedding rings out of bits of a motorcycle engine that literally went bang on a track day they had been to - really lovely and sentimental too. :j

Cloudane

I think he should leave the Square and....

Oh wait, a few years too late...

bilbobaggins

Some decades ago, I worked in South Africa for a while and, when time came to leave, I couldn't export my savings without taking a big hit on exchange rates. So I bought some proper 'investment grade' diamonds, with proper individual certificates, from a proper dealer in Johannesburg.

'Fast forward' quite a few years, and I still had the diamonds, for there's no market for 'em here I could find. Life moves on and, instead, I had batchelor fun taking them out of my pocket during dull after-dinner conversations, and rolling them about on the tablecloth with a forefinger. That started many a burgeoning relationship, until eventually I got around to marriage with my now-wife. It was a real pleasure, for both of us, to visit a specialist jeweller in Tetbury, present him with one of the larger VVS1 stones, and have him design and make a unique ring for my lady.

'Fast forward' a few more years, and I recently repeated the process without consulting her, using the largest unused stone, for a Christmas present. Result - lots of 'brownie points'! And lots of my lady's pals green with envy, allegedly....

I've never met a woman who couldn't value a real diamond to within $100, on a dark foggy night, from 100 metres away. Despite what they say...

....Oh, and I still have one!

fatstratpaul

A few words of advice from someone who has sold engagement rings for years.
You would be a fool if you tried to pull a fast one over your girlfriend!
A) Imagine her embarrassment if she took the ring to be cleaned into the jewellers she thought the ring was from to be told it was a fake!
You may think she wouldn’t know the difference - but she probably would and even if she didn’t you can guarantee one of her friends would.
C) How would you feel if she did the same to you? It’s not about the money it’s about trust and how honest you are as a person.
D) And finally, you get what you pay for. It is a piece of jewellery that will be worn everyday for many, many years and will be passed down through generations, so make sure it’s the right one. You can still get it from the ‘Top’ jewellers, just a less expensive version - it is possible.

Xdash

You get what you pay for is the biggest crock I come across, it's up there with people calling a purchase a investment.
Until the woman offers some off her own money or to buy the man something of equal value then where's the equality or idea of partnership.

ebsalita

He should tell her the truth... she won't have a problem if he points out she can use some of the money he saves on more plastic surgery...:D

young_codger

Putting a £4k ring in a £7k-style box is no way to start a lifelong partnership based on honesty and trust. On the other hand, why does he have to wave a £7k or £4k or even £50K bait in front of her, as though that's the only thing that will clinch the deal? He should just ask her the question, see what the answer is, and then bother about a ring, which they should choose together.

Marco12452

Don't do it, there'll be a lifelong feeling of guilt.

Ebenezer_Screwj

Spencer is obviously very well off to consider buying an engagement ring for even £4000, so what is an extra £3000 ? Unless of course he is very stupid and squandering their savings before they are even married. I wonder what sort of house and car Heidi has set her heart on . . .