Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
August 28, 2010
I love my fiancé and all but I wouldn't trust him to pick out his own tie let alone my diamond engagement ring! But a lot of my friends disagree with me. Has any research been done on who most often selects the engagement ring?
September 4, 2010
The answer to your question used to be very clear cut – the grooms-to-be would select the engagement rings on their own. However, today, many women agree with you. In fact, according to recent research done by a site dedicated to nuptials called The Knot, which surveyed nine thousand couples, the outcome showed that just under 70% of brides took part in the engagement ring selection and purchasing process. That's 5% higher than it was only a number of years ago. In addition, the site found that brides were also often active in the actual purchasing of their engagement rings. According to the survey, in modern-day society, the average amount of money spent on a diamond engagement ring is just under $6000. This is a vast change from the way things used to be done. Think about it, it was not so long ago when women became more active in deciding their own fates in marriage at all, let alone choosing their own engagement rings. In most cases, men would choose the engagement rings themselves and pop the question by surprise. Feminism may be part of the reason for change, but I'm sure the major expansion of the diamond jewelry industry over the years has also led to many more engagement ring styles, diamond cuts, diamond shapes, side stones, and settings to choose from. There's also always the option of having an engagement ring custom designed by a professional jeweler or designing the engagement ring yourself (many jewelry websites offer this option too). So from the groom's perspective, not only is there the pressure of popping the question itself, but there's such a wide array of choices available that he could easily end up choosing an engagement ring that falls short of his girlfriend's expectations. The men out there are probably breathing a sigh of relief now that they have the input of their brides-to-be, the women that will be wearing these diamond engagement rings for many years to come!
