engagement ring

marisco_2

There is a natural expectation that an engagement ring will be something a woman will wear for the rest of her life. I think it is far nicer to propose with a token ring and to then go out together and choose an engagement ring that she will really love and value.

As regards to how much to spend, that is a very individual decision. Set a budget that you are comfy with and research different options over where to purchase the ring.

annie_d

I am staggered! amazed!

My engagement ring with my second husband was £40. its beautiful. EVERYONE comments on it. It is swirly and glittery and gorgeous. Silver and marcesite ( Or how you spell it) My fiance ( at the time ) asked me what i wanted and i said glittery and not a straight round ring. Thats what I got.

My first husband spent 2 months wages as that's what my Gramps said to do..it was a beautiful ring too but it never felt special.I just knew it was an expensive ring.

Who knows what's right?

annie_d

Additionally----when we were getting married i desperately wanted a diana porter ring for £90 that said...on and on and on and on all the way around. That was £90. We couldn't afford it.

On our tenth wedding anniversary, although we could have afforded much more by then, he bought me that ring. My life is complete.

InsideInsurance

Guest101 wrote: »

not sure what the 2/3 months wage thing is (seems old fashiend to me)

It is actually a marketing ploy created by De Beers in the 1920s which was slowly driven up over time.

Back in 2007 the average was currently 3 weeks salary (according to the Daily Hate, so take it with a pinch of salt). Given economic climate changes you'd guess that has gone down now.

I'd agree with others here that in the UK it is much more about getting something that she will love rather than getting something with a big enough price ticket.

The US tends to be totally different. If you look at the forums dedicated to fashion and jewellery there is a real trend for "upgrading" your wedding set as and when you can afford it (seems every 5 years is desirable) with many looking at 10k+ items from Tiffanies or Cartier. Thankfully it isnt a trend thats taken off here.

lostinrates

Errata wrote: »

For people who genuinely want to know: rule of thumb is three month's wages. If people can afford that, fine, if they can't then they spend less, but at least they know what the ballpark looks like.

I've just realised what we ' should' have spend on my ring. :eek:

No way Jose! Hahahahahahaha. Nope, nope,nope.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Nothing to do with 'afford' more with priorities. our wealth on my worriyingly forgetful finger from which I have lost a trio of weeding rings seems a very silly idea to me for us. .

Do got me a kitten. Much nicer.

Georgiegirl256

lostinrates wrote: »

I've just realised what we ' should' have spend on my ring. :eek:

No way Jose! Hahahahahahaha. Nope, nope,nope.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Nothing to do with 'afford' more with priorities. our wealth on my worriyingly forgetful finger from which I have lost a trio of weeding rings seems a very silly idea to me for us. .

Do got me a kitten. Much nicer.

Agreed, I'd much rather have a kitten! :rotfl:

As I said earlier, I don't really like wearing jewellery much, and therefore don't really wear my Engagement ring much at all....my fear now is that with me being so clumsy and forgetful, I'll end up losing my Wedding Ring!

If the OH spent the so called "recommended" I wouldn't have been happy, to have a ring worth thousands to me personally is :eek:

Person_one

Errata wrote: »

For people who genuinely want to know: rule of thumb is three month's wages. If people can afford that, fine, if they can't then they spend less, but at least they know what the ballpark looks like.

Who invented that rule then? Didn't it used to be a month's wage? Why the inflation?

Something like this is much cheaper and has basically the same function:

InsideInsurance

Person_one wrote: »

Who invented that rule then? Didn't it used to be a month's wage? Why the inflation?

See my previous post:

De Beers invented the rule

The industry overtime increased the multiplier without it being attributed to any one company.

Why the inflation? Because it was a remarkably successful advertising campaign. In the space of 30 years they managed to go from diamonds being relatively rare to over 80% of women having diamond engagement rings

lostinrates

Person_one wrote: »

Who invented that rule then? Didn't it used to be a month's wage? Why the inflation?

Something like this is much cheaper and has basically the same function:

I'd do it, but dh says no. As he's the boss......

heartbreak_star

I'd just be happy with an engagement ring full stop. *lip wobble*

HBS x