How much should a man spend on an engagement ring?

Question

Should it go be salary or what looks good?

Answer 1

Well, I'm a jeweler and i think the ultimate engagement ring is one that you design yourself, one of a kind. It need not be elaborate, but at least she will know that you put some thought and effort into it. Even if you don't do the whole design yourself, get some help, and of course try to stay with what you can afford.
Personally, i wouldn't spend more than 50k on the diamond/s and the metal. But, as i say, go with what your pocket says.

Congrats and all the best of luck to you and your lady.

Answer 2

You have to look real hard at your finances and figure out what you can afford. Then shop around and find what looks really good in that price range. You can often bargain the price down at jewelers. Usually the independents, not always the chain stores.

The "two months salary" rule was established by DeBeers, which happens to be the world's largest diamond distributor, so I don't think that idea is worth spit.

Also realize that DeBeers is responsible for making everyone think that an engagement ring has to be diamond. Look at the engagement rings given by British royalty. They may have diamond accents, but the main stones are NOT diamonds. A lady's birthstone was often used until 100 or years ago when DeBeers really started pushing it. And after all, natural emeralds, rubies, and sapphires are actually rarer than diamonds.

Answer 3

Here's what I think. DON"T go spending boatloads of cash if you can't afford it. A lot of people will say "it is usually 3months salary" but who cares. You need to do you and if you can afford something nice, great, if not, don't sweat it. I will tell you that the more precious the stone, the more expensive but most women would liket o have a GREAT/excellent cut diamond than some big thing taht looks gaudy and isn't even good quality. My e ring is a carat, and brilliant cut so it sparkles insanely. I would much rather have this than some huge thing that isn't even a good diamond. :) Find out what cut/size wedding bad she likes and go from there :) (I have a round one...love it)

Answer 4

I don't think an engagement ring should depend on the amount of money you spend. Why not save all that extra and use it tword the wedding or honeymoon.
An old boyfriend of mine was going to propose to me, we ended up breaking up before that but he told me what the ring looked like and it was just a couple small diamonds with a blue saphiarre in white gold setting. I am not a big diamond fan so I would have loved it. Except it would have been perfect if it was ruby instead of saphiarre cuz ruby was his birthstone and diamond is mine. Im a sentimental person.

Answer 5

Traditionally, the amount should be equal to 2-3 months' salary.

I would definitely go to a reputable jewelry store and speak with a diamond expert. You can choose a diamond that is large with an average quality, or smaller with a better quality. Keep her taste in mind when choosing the ring.

But, I'm old-fashioned though. I would have loved the engagement ring my husband bought me even if it came out of a Cracker Jack box, because I knew he chose it with love.

You choose the ring that you love, that you believe will look beautiful on her hand, and that you believe she will love. Lots of "love" there, but we ARE talking about getting engaged.

Congratulations and best of luck to you both.

Answer 6

The cost of the ring should not matter. You should get a ring you can afford. Why would you go into debt to buy a ring. If you love her and she loves you, you should be worrying about your future life together and not how bog and or how expensive a piece of jewelry is. Start your future together on solid ground and not in debt for a ring that will never be worth the amount you paid for it in the first place. Buy something pretty that you can afford today. If you truly love each other you will have the rest of your lives to SHOW each other that you love one another. Same thing goes for the wedding. Get married to show each other you love each other and are committed. That shouldn't envolve credit card debt just to impress other people. You two know what your feelings are and other people should be secondary when you are planning a wedding. How impressed should somebody be with a credit card bill that is thousands of dollars? Real love lasts forever. Fake love starts with lots of bills.

Answer 7

The old rule of thumb was 2 months salary, personally I think it should depend on the couple and their priorities. Personally I'd rather spend that money for a really great vacation than put 10k into a ring.

Answer 8

It's really not by salary, other that what you can comfortably afford. Don't believe the marketing hype that says to spend two or three months' salary - that is bunk.
Remember that it is the symbolism that is important, and hopefully you have a mature woman that believes that as well. Just choose something you think she might like.

Answer 9

Well both. You want your fiance to have a nice ring but if you can' t afford it, then you may just want to scale back until you can. Traditionally speaking the engagement ring should costs as much as two months salaries, but due to finances your fiance may not expect you to pay that. Just be budget conscious.

Answer 10

It should be what you can afford - you do not want to go into debt over an engagement ring... you can always go bigger later when you are making more money. If she loves you and says yes for the right reason it will have nothing to do with the ring anyway.