How many carats is the average engagement ring?

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#91
gingerfarm said:
The "2-month salary" is such a marketing scheme...If you consider someone who has to pay a mortgage/rent, food, gas, etc, taking a 2 month gross salary for the ring is pretty harsh.

The boyfriend should just get whatever he's comfortable with, it's not really about how much he spends it on.

Back to the original topic...most people I know in the 20's are getting 1 carat.
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ITA!

In fact, I read that personal finance experts advise no more than 3 weeks salary:

"Financial experts recommend that couples spend not more than three weeks' salary, or roughly 6 percent of annual income. On the other hand, the jewelry experts recommend Couples with limited finances at the time of their engagement can certainly reset the stone or add extra stones at a later date."

Engagement Ring Advice: free help for choosing your engagement ring

And hey, if 6% seems to low, bump it up a bit...but 3 months salary is a quarter of a year of income! I'd much rather put that money toward a down payment on a house. :yes:

Oh, and about the carats...I live and work in SF, and I would say that somewhere between .75-1.5 is the norm.
 
#92
Welcome, Weehoo :yes:

Just remember, we wait all of our lives for it to be perfect. Not the image in our head perfect, but absolutely and undeniably perfect because he chose it for you, agonizing over every detail and wanting you to love it.

It is one of the most amazing gestures a man can make in his whole life, and letting him know you think so will only make him proud, and want to do more things for you.

Trust me. ;)
 
#94
Porkchopz said:
ITA!

In fact, I read that personal finance experts advise no more than 3 weeks salary:

"Financial experts recommend that couples spend not more than three weeks' salary, or roughly 6 percent of annual income. On the other hand, the jewelry experts recommend Couples with limited finances at the time of their engagement can certainly reset the stone or add extra stones at a later date."

Engagement Ring Advice: free help for choosing your engagement ring

And hey, if 6% seems to low, bump it up a bit...but 3 months salary is a quarter of a year of income! I'd much rather put that money toward a down payment on a house. :yes:

Oh, and about the carats...I live and work in SF, and I would say that somewhere between .75-1.5 is the norm.
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I totally agree. No need to stress out financially when starting out.
 
#95
My engagement ring waaaay back in 1981 was a perfect 1.25 carat solitaire. It got caught on everything and I rarely wore it after I got married. Its appraised for a buttload of $ when we divorced and I sold it for more than Jon paid for it.

Yep, I sold it and he still had 2 years more of payments on it. hahahahaha!

I still chuckle when I think of that!

(and no, he was NOT happy when he found out, aww, gee, shucks, darn)
 
#98
Oh Donna! said:
My engagement ring waaaay back in 1981 was a perfect 1.25 carat solitaire. It got caught on everything and I rarely wore it after I got married. Its appraised for a buttload of $ when we divorced and I sold it for more than Jon paid for it.

Yep, I sold it and he still had 2 years more of payments on it. hahahahaha!

I still chuckle when I think of that!

(and no, he was NOT happy when he found out, aww, gee, shucks, darn)
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That's hilarious! :roflmfao:
 
#99
That said.. I'm lucky in that what I would actually want I could get at 6% of his current salary... (I wanted an ideal cut 1/2ct G/VS2 in platinum)...

...my dilemma is he actually has a ring trade in from a former engagement (nothing to do with me!) which actually doubles end amount... so now I'll wind up with more bang for his bucks! :roflmfao: I'm almost sad I have get something bigger...lol!
 
#100
Porkchopz said:
ITA!

In fact, I read that personal finance experts advise no more than 3 weeks salary:
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I agree with this. My husband and I are married - about eight months now. He bought my engagement ring and paid it off (1/2 carat, VVS, colour H, ideal cut, white gold setting) within a month. We like to keep as little debt as possible. I know some people can afford larger rings, and that's fine - I've got no grudge against someone who can afford big honkin' diamonds. ;) It's not the cost, but the meaning to me. :) We laughed when we bought our wedding bands - mine is a thin white gold band and it cost a mere $25.
 
#104
I think it depends on what age you're in when you get engaged. For 20s, I think the average is 1 carat. 30s, I think it's 1.5-2 carat. I don't know of anyone that got married in their 40s, so I don't know.
 
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