What's the price expected to spend on an engagement ring?

sarahbomser · January 2012

This may sound awful but I was curious isn't there some sort of rule of thumb by a man's salary of around how much is appropriate to spend?

Let me know.

I love my man no matter what was just curious

achiduck · January 2012

There's a very old school suggestion that two months salary should be spent. Personally think that's a load of bull. Spend that is affordable - which in a lot of cases is not two months salary.

HobokensFury · January 2012

No magic number. It's whatever he decides to spend.

Cinderella30 · January 2012

Whatever fits your budget.

blgrout · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_just-engaged-proposals_whats-price-expected-spend-engagement-ring?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:683Discussion:d8065768-c9f3-4141-89e4-93f486a887baPost:433d04c7-9b1d-4603-929c-e5932a58dedd">Re: What's the price expected to spend on an engagement ring?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to What's the price expected to spend on an engagement ring? : I think it should be whatever he is comfortable spending, and I also believe in paying cash for it, but that's just my opinion. <strong>I think it's silly to go into debt/start your marriage out with debt for a piece of jewelry.
</strong>Posted by edielaura[/QUOTE]

Exactly. That's our main rule, for our wedding rings and it was the rule for my e-ring. My sister and her husband are STILL paying for her e-ring, and they've been married for almost 3 years (and they were engaged for about a year before they got married). While she loves her ring, she said if they did it over, they wouldn't have taken out a Texas sized loan for a piece of jewelry. The idea that a man is supposed to spend xx dollars on your ring is old school.

sarahbomser · January 2012

That's what I figured but I am still so new to this!

Thanks

desertmomnm · January 2012

What you can afford.

freebread03 · January 2012

You should really spend at least $15-20K. Anything less implies to others that he isn't really serious.

No, in all seriousness, spend what you can afford.

mandi921vh · January 2012

Spend what fits within your budget and pay cash.

Danny&Mel2003 · January 2012

That "rule of thumb" is funny to me ... Fi saved for 2 yrs for my ring ... He had an idea what he wanted an how big the diamond he wanted so he planned accordingly. I love my ring I do not know how much he spent all I know is the appraisal value and I didn't want to know. The way I see it Fi picked my ring its absolutely perfect it's not the size of the diamond or if the band had diamonds it's the thought that when he proposed this was the ring he sees me wearing

DiLynn83 · January 2012

One meeeeeeelion dollars.

prettyfacegal · January 2012

Please do not go into debt over a ring. Especially if he is just starting out in his career. You can always look for sales especially around the holidays. Also, most jewelry stores offer a lay-away plans. Usually 10 month same as cash.

FYI- my FI and I were pasing by a jewelry store during the Christmas holidays and found a 1 carat diamond ring for $600.00. The value of the ring is $2500.00. Shop wisely.

Zimsgirl · January 2012

I've always heard 3 months salary. My FI did and I love my ring but I'd love it no matter what since I'll get to marry him

[Deleted User] · January 2012

I have always heard 3 months salary or 5% percent of the annual salary. Like everyone else I dont care how much my FH spent I totally love my ring and everytime I look at it I think of how much he loves me. I do know that he had been saving and he paid for it in full.

naomikb · January 2012

One million dollahs.

The 3 months salary thing is an old-school thing carried over, likely initiated by the diamond/jewellery industry to make men spend lots of money on their product.

Like PPs said, he/she/you guys together should spend what suits your budget. It's not worth going into debt for. You can always upgrade later or add an anniversary band if you are on a tight budget now.

NewBride59 · January 2012

While three months salary is a pretty good rule of thumb, no one is going to know what you spent on a ring in the end, and you have to live with the payments. Save up what you can and pay cash, it's the only way to go in this economy. It would be better to spend a single months salary on your ring, and put the other two months toward a downpayment on a house.

Remember too, your wedding will last one day - or at most a weekend, if you go all out - but your ring will last you at least as long as your marriage. Don't spend less on your ring to get more for you wedding day.

jemmini6 · January 2012

The '3 months salary' thing was started by the diamond companies to pressure guys into spending more than they could afford, and to make girls expect it. It's stupid, but was obviously a brilliant marketing technique on their part since so many people, even today, buy into it.

Your e-ring should cost only as much as he can afford, and sometimes, not even that much. H had a budget in mind for my ring, but when we went shopping, the ring that I fell in love with was much lower than his planned budget, so he spent less than he could afford.

Beverly8 · January 2012

Spend what can be afforded. Don't break the bank over a piece of jewelry

sarahbomser · January 2012

I am very fortunate that he has a wonderful job that will provide a beautiful ring no matter the cost. Definitely don't plan on going over the top and would rather put mroe toward the wedding or a house.

Thanks!

What's the price expected to spend on an engagement ring?

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