I grew up in Europe and moved to the US in my early 20's which was a couple decades ago and from what I can see engagement rings and the size of the diamond is a much bigger thing here in America than it ever was in Germany where my parents and married sister still live. I didn't even know of the concept of engagement rings until moving and my sister never had one. Neither did my mom or my grandmother and I didn't know a single woman who had an engagement ring. They all wore plain gold bands. I do like my e-ring but if we were ever in need of cash and couldn't generate it any other way that ring would be the first to go! I find myself wearing it less and less and instead just sporting my eternity band which I received for our 15th anniversary a few years ago. I am not sentimental about jewelry. To me it's just another "thing" that can be replaced or changed. And if somebody has the financial means to get the ring of their dreams more power to them. It's not how I would spend my money but what a boring world if we all did the same!