How much should a man spend on an engagement ring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Then buy what you can afford and trade up later if the 4 Cs are important to you.

For a lot of people in this thread, the four Cs are apparently:

Covetousness
Cupidity
Craziness
Carelessness

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I proposed to my fiancé on valentines day. The ring was around $22,000. It's a 3 carat Asscher cut ring.

I believe it's two months salary. I own a very lucrative business and wanted to buy her the best ring I knew she would love. I would be much more practical if I did not have a high-earning income.

If $22,000 is two months salary, your definition of very lucrative is very different than mine.

You are misreading what I wrote. I reiterated that I believe it is 2 months salary. I bought my fiance a $22,000 ring because it was perfect for her, not based on my salary. My annual income exceeds $1mil, making my business very lucrative.

So she DESERVED a $167,000 ring. Does she know she married a cheapskate?

[Anonymous]

Whatever the people in the DeBeers marketing arm get paid, it's not nearly enough. The success of their parasitic attachment to the institution of marriage is beyond imagining. They have convinced generation after generation of young women that the love of their suitor is directly related to how much the guy pays in tribute to DeBeers.

This February 1982 Atlantic article on the diamond industry entitled "Have you ever tried to sell a diamond" is an oldie but a goodie: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1982/02/have-you-ever-tried-to-sell-a-diamond/304575/

[Anonymous]

God, this thread is so retro. I had no idea so many women were still living in the 50s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A man should spend an amount that is about equal to the amount his woman spends on her engagement gift to him.

In marriage, both partners are 100% equal, right?

The woman should give birth to as many babies as she does. The man should pay as much for the wedding as the bride and bride's family does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A man should spend an amount that is about equal to the amount his woman spends on her engagement gift to him.

In marriage, both partners are 100% equal, right?

The woman should give birth to as many babies as she does. The man should pay as much for the wedding as the bride and bride's family does.

so the fact a woman can give birth (but man can't) earns her a ring? Also I've yet to see any woman make her own baby without a man's help so his sperm contribution isn't worth a gift for him too?

As for wedding costs: basically i agree costs should be shared and in many cases this does occur when husbands family pays for things like reversal dinner and honeymoon. But regardless the ceremony itself is far more another gift for the bride versus anything the man would (independently) care much about

In other words your examples do not equalize things in the least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God, this thread is so retro. I had no idea so many women were still living in the 50s.

How old are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate to admit this, but at first, I was offended that my husband spent $5k on my ring, which is ~ 1 mo. salary. Sorta like... why wasn't I worth more to him?

BUT now I know that he's just practical with his money and the size of the ring and how much he spent was NOT a reflection of how he feels about me.

Your husband makes 60k year and spent 5 months on a flipping ring?? Do you guys have money problems now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever the people in the DeBeers marketing arm get paid, it's not nearly enough. The success of their parasitic attachment to the institution of marriage is beyond imagining. They have convinced generation after generation of young women that the love of their suitor is directly related to how much the guy pays in tribute to DeBeers.

This February 1982 Atlantic article on the diamond industry entitled "Have you ever tried to sell a diamond" is an oldie but a goodie: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1982/02/have-you-ever-tried-to-sell-a-diamond/304575/

I applaud these people. Stupidity should be exploited. That's what it's for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A man should spend an amount that is about equal to the amount his woman spends on her engagement gift to him.

In marriage, both partners are 100% equal, right?

The woman should give birth to as many babies as she does. The man should pay as much for the wedding as the bride and bride's family does.

so the fact a woman can give birth (but man can't) earns her a ring? Also I've yet to see any woman make her own baby without a man's help so his sperm contribution isn't worth a gift for him too?

As for wedding costs: basically i agree costs should be shared and in many cases this does occur when husbands family pays for things like reversal dinner and honeymoon. But regardless the ceremony itself is far more another gift for the bride versus anything the man would (independently) care much about

In other words your examples do not equalize things in the least.

So glad I'm not married to you. Not everything in life is about things being equal or keeping tabs. I have a beautiful ring, enjoyed our lovely wedding paid for by my parents and might even stay home one day with kids (gasp!).

Maybe you'll meet someone special and enjoy purchasing something just for her that brings her joy and maybe you don't understand. Crazier things could happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A man should spend an amount that is about equal to the amount his woman spends on her engagement gift to him.

In marriage, both partners are 100% equal, right?

The woman should give birth to as many babies as she does. The man should pay as much for the wedding as the bride and bride's family does.

so the fact a woman can give birth (but man can't) earns her a ring? Also I've yet to see any woman make her own baby without a man's help so his sperm contribution isn't worth a gift for him too?

As for wedding costs: basically i agree costs should be shared and in many cases this does occur when husbands family pays for things like reversal dinner and honeymoon. But regardless the ceremony itself is far more another gift for the bride versus anything the man would (independently) care much about

In other words your examples do not equalize things in the least.

Also for the record the bride's dress is often the same cost as a rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal dinner and a honeymoon does not add up to the cost of the wedding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God, this thread is so retro. I had no idea so many women were still living in the 50s.

I sure am. I have a huge rock on my finger. I enjoy giving my husband blow jobs and cooking him dinner. He is one happy man.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is ludicrous. There is no "rule" on what to spend, other than the one made up by DeBeers to artificially inflate the prices of their diamonds. For some reason, gullible people think it is actually a rule.

Quite right. And NEVER think of it as an investment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Borrowed from 401k; and repaying without interest. Really helpful option when not wanting to do traditional payment plan through a jeweler or put it on a credit card. Had the savings but wanted to keep that nest egg. Ring was $20K.

Ok, op, do NOT borrow from a 401k to buy a 20,000 dollar ring!

Seriously. This person that borrowed from a 401k to buy a 20k ring is smoking crack. Whgat the hell is up with people. Buy what you can afford. That means with money in your pocket!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A man should spend an amount that is about equal to the amount his woman spends on her engagement gift to him.

In marriage, both partners are 100% equal, right?

The woman should give birth to as many babies as she does. The man should pay as much for the wedding as the bride and bride's family does.

so the fact a woman can give birth (but man can't) earns her a ring? Also I've yet to see any woman make her own baby without a man's help so his sperm contribution isn't worth a gift for him too?

As for wedding costs: basically i agree costs should be shared and in many cases this does occur when husbands family pays for things like reversal dinner and honeymoon. But regardless the ceremony itself is far more another gift for the bride versus anything the man would (independently) care much about

In other words your examples do not equalize things in the least.

So glad I'm not married to you. Not everything in life is about things being equal or keeping tabs. I have a beautiful ring, enjoyed our lovely wedding paid for by my parents and might even stay home one day with kids (gasp!).

Maybe you'll meet someone special and enjoy purchasing something just for her that brings her joy and maybe you don't understand. Crazier things could happen.

NP. Unless your parents are wealthy, I feel sorry for them. Hopefully, you are their only daughter.