Maybe I'm one of the oddballs, but why does it have to have a set price?

It's an engagement ring for heaven's sake. It should be more about the lifetime commitment you are asking her to make then about a piece of jewelry.

Sure I am

I'd ask the girl first, or get some sort of feel, as to what kind of stone interests her before I started thinking too far ahead about cost.

I would be a little irritated if someone spent more than a few hundred dollars, let alone three months of hard earned income, on a ring for me that I would undoubtedly lose or drop down a drain.

If the three month salary thing is a must, spend a couple hundred on the ring. With the difference, buy "engagement" mud tires, and his and hers new "engagement" four wheelers, and, depending on how much that three months salary is, perhaps a new "engagement" boat and more fishing tackle too.

an Engagement Ring?

Ive heard varying amounts, one was up to 3 months salary.

Im thinking 3 months is pretty excessive. Maybe if you work in the third world and earn a dollar a week..

Elsewhere i read a months salary. What do you think, is that too much or not enough?





(And Lisa, dont get your hopes up! im just wondering! haha!!)

Do some women want a ring worth 3 months of their mans salary even if it puts him in major debt?

Would that cash not be better invested, or just sitting in your bank to provide a little financial security for you both? Or maybe be put into the actual wedding fund?

The ring is suppose to show how much you value her and how much you want her to be your wife. So to some women I suppose that would mean alot of cash to show.

In this age of equality what does the women have to do to show how much she values her husband?

It is probably more important to figure out what you can afford to pay before the marriage. (Because if it is not paid for before she in effect helps pay for it.)

How much to spend depends on your means. If you buy a really expensive ring and are wiping out your savings so that you can not have something to fall back on if you loose your job or some other unexpected emergency that would not be a good idea.

Because it is a symbol of your affection for her it should represent at least some sacrifice on your part. If a months pay is going to put you in financial distress it is not reasonable.

If you talk to your future partner and find out what style of ring you can come closer to pleaseing her. You also might want to factor in what her personality type is. A gal who likes to play out doors and wear it as she raises a family she is probably going to want a setting that is stronger. If she works in an office setting maybe something more delicate. Taking note if she wears gold or silver jewlery will help you to pick a setting metal she is going to like. Might want to find out if she has any metal allergies because if she does you defintely want to buy a setting of higher quality. Sometimes "bargain" rings are
lower quality and will break down faster with dailey wear.

Solitair rings always give you the option of adding a wrap around later but if she is the sentimental type she may want to always retain the ring as is.

Also a lower grade and clarity of the diamond can allow a larger diamond. If you have a relationship with and established jeweler you can order the band and diamond seperately and get a better deal.

What you do not want to do is not know general prices because you can really get taken and sold a highly over priced ring. If you find a ring you like comparison shop. If you walk in with your fiance I can pretty much assure you they are only going to offer you the most expensive or low quality rings they have because they know you are not walking out the door without a ring..

Whilst i believe the ring is a symbol of your feelings, it shouldnt really take cash to show how you value someone, that does make it sound very shallow. In this age of equality what does the women have to do to show how much she values her husband?