2/4. Engagement rings are so ridiculously priced, though. My BF asked me with a 300 dollar ring I loved. But, we want to do a "re-engagement" at a better time, when life has settled down -- and he is totally committed to a Tiffany's ring. He goes by the whole "3 months pay" as the budget for an engagement ring. Why waste so much money on a diamond that you can get for pretty much nothing in other countries. They are over-rated.

My boyfriend was talking about engagement rings and I told him I wouldn' accept one if it wasn't Kimberly Certified (stone that doesn't come from conflict). I couldn't bear to look at it knowing some little kid had his arm amputated so i could get a pretty shiny thing.
Besides, I never was one for traditional rings.

I want an amethyst ring I saw at Macy's for $200

We decided on a sapphire engagement ring. Sapphires are beautiful, conflict-free, and actually more rare than diamonds (DeBeers just keeps diamonds stored in a warehouse to keep the prices artificially inflated).

Engagement ring shopping was so hilarious for me and my uber-cheap husband. We went looking for rings together and I knew what I wanted...something basic and classic and not too huge. Every SINGLE FREAKIN' PLACE we shopped tried to "upsell" us on the diamond. They were also telling us that we could upgrade the diamond later on, but I told them that I wanted to keep the diamond that my husband proposed with. When my husband did propose, he'd picked out a ring that I really loved...1/2 carat, which was the size I really liked. He told me that he almost got a 1 carat stone, but when he saw it, he thought it was "cheap-looking". I just wish that jewelry salespeople weren't so annoying. I know they're paid on commission, but it still makes shopping a big royal pain in the butt.

I would love a sapphire or emerald ring. I think they're so much more beautiful than a diamond.

In total with my engagement ring and two wedding bands my ring is 2 1/2 carats, fiance brought a bunch of print out of rings home circled a few that he really loved and we decided together. Very beautiful ring very elegant and very unique looking.

I missed all the questions. I guess I am completely out of touch when it comes to the average engagement ring. LOL

I own my dream engagement ring (and it's matching wedding band). It's high-end designer. The diamonds are exceptionally well-cut, so they're sparkling and lively. Because of this, my diamonds seem bigger than they are because they throw a lot of white and colorful flashes. I've had women come across the room to look at my ring, as they noticed its flashes from where they were. I've been married for several years, and I still get compliments on my ring.

Personally, my husband and I opted out of many marriage traditions (no wedding, no honeymoon, no children, etc.). But when it came to my bling (and I'm a self-described jewelry lover), we upheld THAT tradition.

My husband proposed with my (late) grandmother's engagement ring

Saying "average" with something like this is probably a bit deceptive. Price can go up and up and up forever, but can only go down to zero. Likewise, the carat weight starts at barely anything and goes up to enormous.
"Most commonly purchased" would be a better measure, I think.

Smacks83 - I told my boyfriend that if the time comes that I would want a Kimberly Certified ring as well. It just means a lot to me and he understands and appreciates that now that I explained the conflict that surrounds it to him.

I can't believe the average spent is only $3,200. That seems like it's way less than two times the average monthly salary in the U.S.

lilkimbo - Most people don't have two months salary to spare. That "guideline" is a myth made up by DeBeers. Clealry it worked.

Anon, most people have it, they just choose to spend it elsewhere, which is perfectly fine. And clearly it didn't work if people are only spending $3,200.

And I know that the industry kind of "invented" the 2 months salary standard. I don't see how that makes it a myth.

Starting July 24, the federal minimum is $7.25/hr. 40hr/week over 4 weeks comes to $1160. Over three months comes to $3480, before taxes and stuff. How much should a middle/upper class citizen pay for an engagement ring?

I disagree lilkimbo.... I don't think it's a choice when it's between eating and paying rent and buying a ring that expensive. All things considered, I think $3200 is a pretty huge amount.

I disagree, anon. A lot of people choose to spend their money and extravagant weddings and forgo the expensive ring. Most people could easily afford the monthly payment on a ring that's worth two month's salary; they just choose to get what they can pay for with cash instead of financing it. It's rarely the difference between eating and having a ring that's worth two months salary.

I think $3200 isn't a large amount at all. I guess it's all dependent on the cost of living in the area in which you live.

lilkimbo, not everybody who gets married is middle or upper class. Your stereotypes of the average couple that gets married doesn't actually reflect the majority of Americans.

Actually, if you're going with upper or middle, that would be the top 2/3, so it does reflect the majority.

I'm not stereotyping those who get married.

Anon, not everyone who gets married is in the lower class. Your stereotype of the average couple that gets married doesn't actually reflect the majority of Americans.

I don't know if this is what you're suggesting, lilkimbo, but the upper class certainly isn't 1/3 of all Americans.

and I think this: they just choose to get what they can pay for with cash instead of financing it is not a smart statement. ... it's much better to pay cash for something than to charge / finance it !

That's not what I'm saying, running. I'm saying those who are at least middle class comprise about 2/3 of all Americans, and that's a conservative estimate.

And of course it's better to pay with cash. But, unless your credit bars you from financing it, financing it is still a choice! I'm not saying it's the best choice, just that it's an option that's available.

And I've studied this pretty extensively. The majority of Americans have enough disposable income to be able to afford the minimum monthly payment on a ring that is equal to 2 months salary. Like I said, lots of people don't want to finance the ring, which is fine. Other people would rather have a larger wedding or a nicer home. But to say that they can't afford the ring is untrue. A lot of people may not be able to afford a ring that expensive, all the meals they eat out, their dream house, a nice honeymoon, and a big wedding. That doesn't mean that they can't afford any one of those things, just not all of those things.

And running, thanks for making it personal.

And I don't see how that's "not a smart statement." It's not smart to say something's an option? It wouldn't be smart to say that financing it is desirable. I was simply saying it's available.

I see how you could have misinterpreted what lilkimbo is saying, runningesq. But, what I've always learned about our population is in accordance with what she's stated. Actually, I always learned that the "middle class" is about 2/3 of our population on its own and the "upper class" is about 5%. So, the middle and upper classes would comprise even more than 2/3 of our population when combined.

And again, why make it personal? I have said multiple times that it's each person's choice; I don't care what others do. But, to act like no one can afford two months' salary is silly.

And yeah, I've made all of 13 comments, at about what, a minute a comment? Even when you factor in the time to read the e-mails with the new comments, I've spent at most 20 minutes on this thread. And that's a liberal estimate. I feel sorry for you if your job doesn't afford you 20 minutes of down time throughout the entire day. (I work long days and don't take a lunch break.)

Could you TODAY spend two months' salary on a ring?

Yes. I live very frugally, so I have a ton of money in savings.

Again, sounds like the dream job.

Actually, not at all. I work really long hours for what I make. And I also work a second job. Like I said, I live frugally. I don't see what that has to do with my job.

Then you of all people should know how insane it is to spend that much hard earned income on a ring.

Actually, it would figure out to about 53 cents per wear (based on my current salary, getting engaged at 30, and living until 80). And that's assuming that the ring wouldn't be passed on as a family heirloom. I think that's a great value.

I am glad your fiance feels the same way as you about this "investment".

I didn't get many right which is a shame since my boyfriends family is in the jewelry business. haha. Honestly, I don't care how much is spent on a ring as long as it's something I like. I don't think $3000 is a crazy amount, when you figure how much the average wedding costs, that's nothing haha I would much rather spend the money on something I'm going to wear everyday for the rest of my life than on one day things like crazy expensive cakes or favors.

Here's something to think about...what about people that fall in love in college and decide to get engaged while they are still broke-a$$ college students who don't have hardly any money because they aren't really earning full-time incomes yet? My husband saved up the money for my ring by working part-time at a mechanic shop while he was still in school and my ring was probably like, 3 months worth of salary. Had he waited until after he had a job to propose, the ring would have been something like 1/2 months salary or something. Just a thought. Not everyone waits to get married until they're financially well off.

Remember lilkimbo, not everyone has the credit to finance a ring. Some people (I know a lot of them) are literally living paycheck to paycheck. They have student loan debt, car payments, insurance bills, apartment rent, medical insurance, credit card bills, child car, etc, even $75 a month can be the difference between food and no food. My sister called me last week asking to borrow $20 for groceries because her account was empty and she wasn't getting paid for another 5 days. They also turned off her electricity (true story, I swear I'm not making this up). This recession is really hitting people.

I'm lucky that my boyfriend makes a decent living, so he can pay off the one I want within a few months of saving (it's about $3,200 actually). I don't want the 2 month rule, I think that's such a waste of money. While my bf makes good money, I don't. I'm disabled and cannot work more than part time at my job, I feel like I'd be taking advantage of him. I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to buy his ring.

Oh, and some people don't pay for their wedding, their parents do (like in my case), it's not like my boyfriend or myself would take money from my parents to buy the rings.

I wish people would stop trying to put words in my mouth. I never said that EVERYONE has the credit to finance a ring. In fact, I specifically said that NOT EVERYONE has the credit!

In fact, I have repeatedly said that whatever people want to do is fine by me; I don't really care.

And I'm well aware that some people's parents pay for the wedding. What does that have to do with anything?

And dana, if people are truly living paycheck to paycheck, it's likely that two times their monthly salary could result in a $5 minimum monthly payment on a ring. I actually helped compile a huge research project on this not too long ago, and the vast majority (about 95%) of people in the U.S. have at least $20 in disposable income each month. (Most people have much more, of course.)

I'm not saying that you should spend the money on a ring if you truly can't afford it; I'm saying it's not impossible to get one, dana. And I get that you truly don't like me, but I don't appreciate your condescending tone. Apparently you think I don't live in the real world or something, but I do and I'm well aware of what bills people have.

And anon, I'm glad you're happy for me! Although, I don't understand why you put investment in quotation marks...

Whhhhat? I don't dislike you at all.

My comment was off this comment of yours "But to say that they can't afford the ring is untrue. A lot of people may not be able to afford a ring that expensive, all the meals they eat out, their dream house, a nice honeymoon, and a big wedding."

Just because of this recession, I think a lot of people can't afford much of anything. I didn't say that you said everyone had the credit, it's just something to keep in mind about financing, not everyone qualifies.

I don't see the $5 a month thing being possible unless the rate eventually went up, that would mean paying for literally 60-70 years. I think a lot of people see an expensive ring these days as optional.

And never once did I have a condescending tone, you're reading my comment completely wrong. I never said you didn't live in the real world. Completely neutral comment.

Whatever

What is up with the beating up on lilkimbo? Can't she have an opinion without people attacking her?

Going off topic a little bit -- Let's not forget about the 10-year marriage anniversary! Per tradition, that's the diamond anniversary (when it comes to diamonds, I'm stickler on tradition!)!

I wonder what the pricing guidelines are for the 10-year diamond anniversary gift? Conceivably, the couple should be better off financially (hopefully, after ten years of marriage).

Incidentally, I received my 10-year anniversary gift early. My husband ADVANCED me my diamond gift. He presumed we would still be together for 10 years of marriage, so he got me my diamond gift early so I could enjoy it sooner. I love that man!

10-year anniversary is not diamond, it's tin. 60-year anniversary is diamond.

oy people it was an opinion!

And about the financing you dont have to finance a ring in order for it to be 3 months salary....you can save it on the side and then when you have the $$ go shopping then. And then that way if it does take you longer to save it because of financial diff. then no one would ever have to know.

Sending Kim some love...

I didnt get any right

marriage,dresses ,engagement rings all seems like a load of crap just to make jewelers and everyone in the business of weddings rich.