How Much Are Young Guys Spending On Engagement Rings?

J.C.

J.C.

Volunteer
Moderator
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Location
Greensboro, NC
Just wondering how much $ the young set is spending on engagement rings nowadays and how big the rock is. Also, tips on where to shop?
 
I've had a couple of girls tell me that $5,000 isn't unheard of...actually expected. Those girls are ex's.
 
Too damn much.
 
The "rule of thumb" is three months salary
 
I went with a guy(him and his wife) I have known for years that builds jewelry on the side and i got to pick out the stone,bands,and setup exactly like I wanted it and the center stone was a clear 3/4 carat diamond with no blemishes(which retail stores will not explain or try to show you especially if you dont ask). I paid quite a bit less than what you guys are talking about and man when you walk into places like kays and jareds the workers there always notice and just have to know where we got her ring because its so unique......plus we have had several jewelers tell us it would go for over 5 grand easy from them. Just do your research( like you do on your jeep parts lol) there are good ppl out there.
 
depends on who and what they are " expecting "

I've seen guys spend a lot of loot on a ring ( $5000+ ) only to be walking the cheese line months after the ceremony and still paying it off AND without the ring and the girl.

If they are young, $2000-2500 is about the most, if she's about the bling and not the reason for it, they are in for a tough time anyway. .5 karot or smaller is a nice starter set, it can only get better from there !!

Does it really matter if he goes to Jared or the local 5 & Dime ?
 
find someone to make it for you. Any of the places in the mall, Jared, Leo, etc. are over priced and overrated...

rule of thumb, 3 months salary...

But, I think the jewelry stores set that standard because if I spent 3 months salary on the ring, well, I'd be an idiot.

Spend what you can afford. If she doesn't like it, she isn't worth it
 
Save the cash, get a cheaper ring. Spend the cash on a nice trip & make memories that will last a lifetime.
 
If you have to buy her a ring to make her happy run like your pants are on fire. Whatever you get them with is what you have to keep them with. We have been married for a year now and she didn't even want an engagement ring.
 
I've always heard 2 months salary, and even then, thats probably too much depending on what you do.

I went to all the stores, looked at all the junk at the trendy mall stores, then went to Carlyle and Co, found a very nice diamond already in the perfect setting. Spend what is in your budget, and if thats not good enough for her, then IMHO shes not good enough for you. 3 years later, my wife still loves her ring, and still loves me, and would still love me if she didn't have a ring.

A matter of personal opinion, but something I used to put it in perspective: If she were comparing rings with her friends, I did not want to have to worry about her diamond looking of inferior quality. Also, being an engineer, I wanted to get platinum because it is stronger and more durable. The jewelry store people may tell you otherwise, but it just isn't true.
 
This whole thing is crazy! I paid $2000 several years ago, broke up with her & got the ring back. I had it sitting around for a long time & my wife decided to cash it last year as she didn't want it. The ring was a competitive price for what it was when I bought it. The best we could do was $25 for the stone, $75 for the gold!

Find someone getting rid of one & you'll do great! These stones are constantly resold & we're all suckers for paying the cost! I know that store resold it for 10X what they paid me for it!
 
tell her like i tell mine, its not the cost or size of the ring that should matter its all the thought behind it haha might get you a little cheaper way out....and just to kinda throw this out there too, how long were most of yall together before you actually decided on buying one, ive been with mine for a little over a year and a half and its nowhere close to being in the future for me
 
Ha! What a crock.
I, too, agree that if the "price" of the ring itself is so important to her, keep shopping... for a new girl.

My story...
I also hit all the mall stores. Knew the whole thing was ridiculous, and my to-be wife would agree.
She openly states she thinks diamonds are a stupid waste of money, plus we both know damn well she's the kind of person that will NEVER remove the ring, even when cleaning with harsh chemicals, doing woodwork, etc.
Plus, she's allergic to gold ;-).

And we were just graduating college, heading into grad school, she was going to be a teacher, so it's not like we had any money coming soon.
So I wen to a small local guy (Morgan's Jewelry, for you Boone guys). Talked to him for awhile. Instead of a diamond center stone, he set me up with a beautiful green sapphire that's probably 3x the size for waaaay less $$. He custom set it ringed deep-set in a band that was custom modified for me, with a few known-imperfect tiny diamonds on the side just for extra flare. I think I paid like $600.
I told my wife-to-be that instead of spending the $$ on a ring, I'd buy her a down-payment on a Saturn to match it. We had that Saturn 10 years and she still loves the ring more.
It matches her eyes perfectly, and people ask about it all the time. She'd rather tell the story about me getting it custom made for her (and the Saturn) than have something flashy and expensive.

Best part of going to a small-time local guy - i knew she was allergic to gold, but Morgan was suspicious it was just the zinc in yellow gold. So, prior to making "the ring" for me, he loaned me a simple one had (no stone) that was flawed... free... it was white gold...I used THAT to propose... she wore it 2 weeks, no reaction... I then had him make the "real" one w/ white gold.
She didn't want to give that one back, he sold it to me really cheap (like $25).

Good luck getting that kind of service at the Mall!

so the answer - $600 for the ring, $2400 towards a car.
 
Check out Diamonds Direct in Charlotte. I got a nice Tacori with a 1.5 carat rock...but I ain't telling ho much!:fuck-you::D
 
My fiance couldve cared less what she got, but being the traditionalist I am I insisted on getting her a real diamond. I spent about 1 paycheck (not three months worth, who in the hell came up with that??) on a 1/4 carat solitare that she loves and since shes 4'11" and maybe 110 lbs it looks great on her finger.

Duane
 
i did a little shopping my self a few months ago and bought one... got a steal on it... i think the total i got off was around 60% or so on a one carat though it wasnt a solitare she loved it...the ring listed for just over the two grand mark walked away for just under 600 bucks
 
JC said:
Just wondering how much $ the young set is spending on engagement rings nowadays and how big the rock is. Also, tips on where to shop?
Click to expand...

Hey Old Man... you got something going on that I haven't heard about yet???? :flipoff2:
 
Been engaged once didn't work out, got married didn't work out, now getting remarried. I've bought three of the damn things, but all where good experiences when I dealed with a local Kay's branch. Buy quality rather than size and get the insurance (trust me). They all have grown in size too, go figure. But I bought what I was comfortable paying and none let the girl down. The relationship is what matters. On the last since we've both been previously married we both sat down and looked them over and that seemed to work best of all, and putting her on the spot seemed to make sure her priorities were on par. Going a little over her expectations was icing on the cake. But still the decision isn't about the ring, if it is she's a gold digger. The standard rule of thumb is bullshit, I'd base it on how you've spoiled her thus far cause if you cheap out now she'll see straight throught it.

Dude I just read your profile seems you've been happily married for years, think you could give us younger dudes some advice! Especially ones who seem to have thr ring purchase thing down pat. BTW I didn't get down to URE in time to meet up with the CTB but I enjoyed meeting Steve and hanging out at the camp with RJ and Robert and Granny (Don).
 
Back
Top