How much is customary to spend on an engagement ring?

Question

How much is customary to spend on an engagement ring?

Answer 1

There is no set amount; don't believe the stuff about it being a certain number of months' salary.

Only spend what you can comfortably afford - only you know your own finances. Remember you still will have a wedding band to buy - or you can buy a set, which is sometimes best because then you know the engagement ring and wedding band match and will fit together. Plus, you two need money to pay for the wedding, and the start of your life together.

There are rings available for 100 and up - it seems that most people buy in the 400-1000 range.

Answer 2

www.amoissanite.com (Leland & Co.)

My husband bought my ring here.  It is actually moissanite and it tests as a diamond but with a double refractive- more sparkling.  Mine is now four years old and looks great.  The ring is weighted and you can also have the stone set in platinum.  Mine cost about $1800 but it is a carat and half in middle with two half carats on side.

The secret is not to buy a ring with a stone that would appear to be more than you can afford.  For instance, do not buy a 3 carat solid stone since likely out of the budget of ordinary people.  You would be safe with a carat or a little larger.  

Read the reviews.  20/20 did a special on them years ago and many pawn shops were taken by these stones.  Everyone thinks mine is a diamond.  We could have afforded a diamond this size- but why waste the money???  Mine is the oval and round antique style ring- not an engagement ring per say but that is what we purchased it for.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

everyone is different...make a budget and stick to it.  don't let some jewelry salesman talk you into something you can't afford.  personally i want a simple ring and couldn't care less how much it cost as long as it was the style i wanted.

Answer 4

Holy Craaaap! Are People Serious About $20,000 Being The Minimum?

I Don't Know A Single Person Who Could Spare That Kind Of Money For A Ring.

My Fiance & I Got My Ring Today & It Cost $1750. I Thought That Was Pushing It A Bit & I Felt Like A Spoiled Cow Telling People It Cost That Much.

It All Depends On How Much Your Willing To Spend, & Preferably Her Taste In Jewelry.

It Doesn't Necessarily Have To Be Diamonds Either.. These Days Couples Are Getting To Be Less Traditional & Use Whatever They Want As An Engagement Ring.

=)

Good Luck.

Answer 5

I THINK ITS 3 MONTHS WORTH OF UR SALARY

Answer 6

As much as it always gets a million thumbs down on the boards, the average guy does spent 2 months salary.  If you think that that, it is a big purchase and that is a sliding scale based on what you can afford.

For some, that's 1,000.  For some that's 10,000.  I know my friend really wants 1/10 carat ring.  Her boyfriend is really against getting a $300 ring.  It looks cheap.  Just like I know some people say they love their CZ ring.  No one loves a $10 walmart ring.  This ring is a symbol of commitment.  It should be a big step.  A $10 walmart ring is an impulse buy.  That is a big difference.

Now OF COURSE there are guys out there who make 120K a year and their bride simply doesn't want a 20,000 ring.  Just like they have people who shop for a ring asking "Can it get any bigger if it gets more yellow?"  Though you are getting a worse diamond, this doesn't reflect your love.  Neither ring/relationship is better or worse--just depends on your taste.

But on average, men figure the budget that they can save up within a year as being 2 months salary.  Often in the jewelry store I worked, guys would take a calculator and use the after taxes amount to figure what 2 months is before telling us their budget.

For all the thumbs down that the answer always seems to get on this board, when the question is What is customary or what is average--the average cost of a diamond engagement ring is 3,500-4,000 dollars.

Answer 7

Well, the diamond cartel DeBeers started that diamond ring thing back in the 20s or 30s. Before that, most people didn't have engagement rings at all, and those who did had rubies, sapphires, emeralds, etc. It was the DeBeers cartel that started the tradition of an engagement ring costing 2 times the man's monthly salary. They had very good advertising people because that campaign started the tradition of a man spending 2x his salary on a ring.

So the answer is it depends on if you want to go by DeBeers tradition or not. If you do, spend twice your monthly salary. For instance, if you make $36,000 a year that breaks down into $3000 a month. Multiplied by 2 = $6000.

1 day ago

Answer 8

My fiance proposed without a ring and said I can spend up to $3,000 and I got a ring that cost $1,400. Its beautiful and I love it. You don't have to propose with a ring. It did not ruin the proposal at all by him not having a ring. We were watching the fireworks July 4th 07 and he was sitting behind me holding onto me and whispered in my ear during our song will you marry me and I turned around and said yes of course and then he quickly said well go friday to pick out the ring. of course it was a lot more lovey dovey than what I can type but you get the point. lol. After that we talked about a price range and the rest is history.

Answer 9

I have heard that its three months worth of your salary.   Most jewelers can finance rings.  If you are on a budget you can still find beautiful rings.  You can always add to a ring as your time progresses.  A friend of mine got a simple band, and every year's anniversary, her husband added a diamond to it. It's been four seven years and she has a special stone to remember each precious year....

Answer 10

well for the average joe approx $20,000.00 is cheap and from around $50,000.00 is average but it depends on taste and lifestyle

Answer 11

No more than 3000.

Answer 12

Only as much as you (him) can afford!

You do not go into debt for a piece of jewelry (or a wedding, either, for that matter) and no one should be silly enough to be tricked into spending more than they can with that "If you love her, you'll spend at least two/three month's salary" bulls#!t.

That's just plain ridiculous. You save, and only spend what you can afford to spend.

Love is not measured by the size and quality of a piece of jewelry, but by the moments of happiness shared with each other in the absensce of material gifts.

If you are a guy, show her you love her with actions, and save the extra money for the wedding...

I'm not saying don't get a ring (and definitely not saying get a cheap, crappy ring) but get the best you can afford, and put your love into picking it. That is the most romantic thing of all...

Good luck, and Congrats (?)

Answer 13

My engagement ring cost about 1,000 dollars and the wedding band cost another 1,000. But its up to the bride and groom on how much they want to spend.