Money Moral Dilemma: Should I buy a cheaper engagement ring?

System

I would go for something aesthetically pleasing over something that cost a lot of money. Especially if I were going to be wearing it every day for the rest of my life!

Winterwolf

If she's dictating what you should spend this early on, I would consider what your future will be like!
I surprise proposed to my wife with a haribo ring ... I didnt know her ring size, and am useless at choosing jewellery. The next few days after we went shopping together for her to choose a ring, and I just told her what her budget was.

Probably not the most romantic, but she got a ring she loves and wears every day.
And she still has the haribo ring tucked safely away 8 years later .. Though its now rock solid!

JimmyTheWig

Glosjools wrote: »

the sentiment behind it made it the ring the one of her dreams.

Hit the nail on the head!

Medway_Gal

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Optimistic life expectancy! (Or very early first engagement ring.)

A bit of both, first engagement at 16, next one at 46, and I expect (hope) to live to 100.

gayleygoo

I'd be upset if my OH spent a month's wages on any piece of jewellery. I'd be terrified of losing it whenever i was wearing it! it's not like engagement rings keep their value either, you'd be lucky to get half the price you paid if you ever wanted to sell it.

I think the diamond thing is a con too. they're not particularly rare and i don't think they're interesting either. Sure, they might be the hardest form of carbon on the planet, but that makes them suitable for industry, not romance! There are dozens of gems that I'd prefer over a diamond, and I'd be thrilled with a £50 ring (or being proposed to at all, come to think of it...)

But the OP hasn't specified how much he is expected to spend on the ring. If it were a few hundred pounds, then that's more reasonable than the several months wages that was invented by an advertising genius.

tinkerbel*79

I would expect a ring that cost a bit, few hundred or thousand cos if the man left or died then I could !!!!!! it to pay the bills for a bit. Especially if we had kids. This has happened but the ring was so cheap it broke and I couldn't get a £5 for it, turns out it was 2nd hand from his previous fianc!. My good friend knew and didn't tell me Oh the drama!!! Glad that's over and I with new OH and I'm happy being together 6 years and not engaged. A ring is a promise to love the OH for the rest of your life but if I don't here is a ring you can !!!!!! in compensation for your trouble. I think previous ex's have killed the romance for me of ever being engaged or married. I would prefer it if we bought a house together.

julie777

My son got a beautiful ring for his fiancee and she loves it.
I am certain it is cubic zirconia rather than diamond but it looks fab.

Pollycat

julie777 wrote: »

My son got a beautiful ring for his fiancee and she loves it.
I am certain it is cubic zirconia rather than diamond but it looks fab.

I think that's the whole point.

It's not about how much you paid but how it's perceived by the recipient.

DUTR

Jacko_amz wrote: »

you should spend whatever you can afford on an engagement ring, its the sentiment behind it that holds the value. I recently said to my OH if he is planning to propose i would be happy with a ring from pandora at £50!

it really shouldn't matter about the price and it says something about her if shes going to scrutinizing it! x

It'd be an instant red card from my seat.

Fatchilli

Have one made by a local jeweller it will probably be much better quality. It will be unique if you ask for something specific. And you never know it may cost less. High street jewellers are very good on adding extra costs "added value" i.e. the name of the jeweller, fancy packaging.
If it's made for her and unique she may value it more.
If she asks how much it costs then.... run