so how much do people actually spend on engagement rings?

[ElFenix]

inquiring minds want to know

and if it wasn't a diamond please say so

 

[calvinbiss]

Well, I spent a little over 5 grand. Diamond alone is worth 8. (Have a family friend who is a diamond trader/jewler)

 

[dullard]

I paid 2 week's salary just about exactly. I didn't do that on purpose, but that is how things worked out. She found the ring that she fell in love with, I picked the center diamond to match the budget that I wanted to spend. I did go 10% over my budget, but I think it was worth it.

Of course, with most things I purchase, people think I spent far above what I really spent. I drove a hard bargain at the cheapest wholeseller in the area. I got a quality diamond that looks bigger and sparklier than it really is (very well cut and polished, no color visible to the human eye, almost no inclusions). And I got a diamond with only one flaw that they filled then put under a prong. It was a bad flaw, but it was located in a small area on the very side. But once it was filled, no one can tell with the naked eye and the prong makes it impossible to see.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

ex-fiance was something like $500 that she picked out.... granted I got it for cheaper then that, but retail was 5-600....

Current gf if we get that far wants an expensive ring....

 

[ivan2]

about those who said paid with however many week/months of salary, are those pretax or post tax?

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Originally posted by: calvinbiss
Well, I spent a little over 5 grand. Diamond alone is worth 8. (Have a family friend who is a diamond trader/jewler)

are you sure? seems like it is worth a little over 5 grand

 

[DrPizza]

My wife picked out her own ring. It was well under $1000. I love how practical she can be sometimes - she doesn't believe in spending that much money just for jewelry.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: ivan2
about those who said paid with however many week/months of salary, are those pretax or post tax?

When I said 2 weeks, I used pretax money.

 

[Ns1]

the wifey wants ~4-6k ring.

i said

"ok, we're getting married when I can afford the ring then"

 

[nakedfrog]

Maybe $70? No diamond, duh

 

[ivan2]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: ivan2
about those who said paid with however many week/months of salary, are those pretax or post tax?

When I said 2 weeks, I used pretax money.

shit, that's gonna hurt a bit...

 

[TwiceOver]

~$125. I'm cheap and it isn't important to either of us.

 

[Gunslinger08]

About 2 months gross salary. Appraisal is around 3 months gross.

 

[Dirigible]

I got engaged with a Funyun. I think the bag was 99 cents, so maybe 7 cents for the ring I used.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: ivan2
shit, that's gonna hurt a bit...

Then don't pay that much. There is no rule that you have to follow. By the way, the diamond companies commercials state 2-3 months of pretax money. These commercials are trying to become mainstream "wisdom". But again, you don't have to obey those commercials either.

I ring is a symbol of commitment. For some women it is also a signal of sacrifice and of potential. For those women, you have to show that you have earning potential and that you are willing to sacrifice a bit for them. But that isn't all women. If your GF doesn't care, then there is no reason that you need to spend much at all on a ring.

 

[queenrobot]

We spent about 300 on an emerald ring with diamond accents. My wedding ring was free from my husband's uncle, it is stainless steel.

 

[MikeyLSU]

spent about 1800, but the owner is a family friend so he sold it to me at cost, ring would have normally sold for 2500 or so.

 

[buck]

<----2-4k

Plat diamond ring from the early 1900's. She wanted one with history or something like that. Its all about what she wants IMO.

 

[ponyo]

$7000 up.

 

[darkxshade]

How much does a key ring cost again?

 

[Specop 007]

$30 or so. The wedding bands were 2 silver rings. Nice and cheap. A fancy ring does not a good marriage make. Granted a few years after the wedding she ended up with a very nice ring on her finger, and no its not a diamond as I hate diamonds.

 

[silverpig]

$1500.

 

[PingSpike]

The correct answer is always "too much".

 

[pnad]

$600ish simple 1/2ct solitare.

She did not pick it out. I 'popped the question' the old fashioned way.

 

[finite automaton]

I plan on spending ~3k next yearish