Question for women: Why is jewelry such a great gift?

Question

I can understand something that has sentimental value like a family heirloom or something with the birth stones of your children. But it seems like women just love to receive jewelry period and some women seem the measure the love behind the gift by the number of karats.

And how do you feel about the idea of 3 months salary as a guideline for engagement rings? For me that would be and $11,000 ring. I wouldn't be cheap about a ring, but I don't know that I would want to marry a woman who would want or expect an $11,000 engagement ring.

Answer 1

Very timely question for me - the guy I've been dating for six years is "stalling" on an engagement ring. HE says - not I say - that HE wants something on my finger that HE'LL be proud of. He sees it as in investment.

I see it this way: I don't want to be in debt from the get go. It's too late to impress me b/c I already love him and want to be married to him. I believe that 2 mo's salary is the new guage but I could be wrong.

A few years a go he gave me a solitaire diamond "chip" of a ring - I was thrilled...until. I asked him what this ring represented and he said it represented a "promise" that one day he'll decide to marry me (?! WTF?!). The ring was beautiful to me until he strung me along - again - year after year...

This woman believes that unless the proper intent and the commitment of love comes with that ring - that the ring has no value. 3 carats or the classic diamond chip. In my - ahem...wilder days, I've pawned gold and diamonds that meant nothing to me (I didn't see it as an investment, but a broken dream at the time).

Maybe for some women, those big carats represent a visual "thank you" and speaks of the worth of their role as a wife... Woman who see women wearing big rocks view her as being valued, or as having more money than sense! I'm bad to lose jewelry - oddly, the cheaper the piece the less likely I am to lose it - how odd is that? LOL.

Justin, any gift you give with a heart that isn't willing isn't a great gift to give. So for you probably jewelry isn't something you should give until you find yourself HAPPY to give jewelry for no other reason than to make someone ELSE happy, and until you can afford it without copping a resentment.

Answer 2

$11,000?! Wow...
I had my husband buy me a ring off of ice.com that I loved - I didn't want a diamond, I wanted an amethyst with diamonds around it. It cost him about $200, and I ADORE it.
It's not the size of the ring that matters. It's not the amount spent that matters. It's about the person you love.

I personally like jewelry because I'm almost crow-like... if it's shiny and sparkly, then cool. It makes women feel special to get something that other women will coo at and tell them is beautiful. Other gifts don't do this as much. Women tend to be very social in nature...

Answer 3

Not all women want jewelry as a gift.
And some women may even want to pick out their engagement ring.
Also, not all engagement rings are diamonds. I know a woman with a ruby engagement ring.
There are women who do not mind a modest costing ring, because what matters to them is that they love you and want to marry you regardless of how much money you have or do not have.
Can you ask this woman some leading questions to feel her out on this ring issue? Or, do you feel that if you really are soul mates, that you should know her well enough to know what she would like? Tough call.

Answer 4

Well then. You said it all. There is no question then. On to buying something else, for someone else. You have no real desire to please a woman and a cheap woman with NO expectations wouldn't measure up in your eyes either. Most men expect to pay good money for a ring. If your gal is a budgeteer like you, go to a pawn shop and get a nice diamond from someone who hawked their wive's ring. It's worth a try.

If you love someone, you will pay for a decent ring. How long do you intend to work, only 6 mos? You have years with this person. Have a bit more faith, my friend. And love for the woman who wants you to show her "you are special". Money grubbing (gold digging) women want far more than a ring. That should come out in a little while. Women who use you will let you know pretty quickly so run. The good girl, isn't she now worth a lousy 3 mos in salary? Rethink yr attitude, bro.

Answer 5

Hey, I don't think there needs to be a rule about buying the ring. But I do think as the buyer, you need to be focused more on what she wants than what you "should" pay. Cuz afterall you said it's not about the money. I'm not trying to fish for the best of the best, but I want to know that I got the nicest ring I coulda got. Cheap or expensive...I just wanna like it.

Answer 6

I think women like the "ooooh shiny" factor.

The diamond ring was forced into the standard by DeBeers after WWII with the whole "A diamond is forever" campaign. The two month rule, I believe was made up by DeBeers as well at that time.

Lately, I believe think they are trying to push three month salary as the new "rule." So it is not so much show how much you love her as DeBeers trying to increase its bottom line.

Answer 7

I guess women just like bobbles. I agree about the engagement ring and you can heap an extravagant wedding that you'll be paying for for several months in the "why?" catagory. I really don't see what either has to do with true love.

Answer 8

i personally like homemade gifts better. but thats just me. maybe some girls feel special because they know that their bf would spend a lot for them and it makes them feel like a queen.

Answer 9

cuz a lot of women are materialistic. they think it makes them beautiful.. i hate jewelery. besides my tounge ring :)

Answer 10

Because it increases in value over time.