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Nov 08, 2024

Man Calls Off Engagement After Fiancée Demands $20K Ring

She was disappointed in the value of the bauble, telling her fiancé she wanted one that "reflected her worth." Catherine McQueen / Getty Images Engagement rings are symbolic pieces of jewelry that

She was disappointed in the value of the bauble, telling her fiancé she wanted one that "reflected her worth."

Catherine McQueen / Getty Images

Engagement rings are symbolic pieces of jewelry that represent a couple’s commitment to one another and their lifelong future together—but, some believe that the value of said bauble is a testament to their connection. Such was the case with one woman, who was upset when her fiancé proposed with a lab-grown diamond ring that cost $2,400. Because she thought the price tag was a measure of her worth, she demanded that he upgrade it with one that cost at least $20,000—which led to the ultimate demise of their relationship.

On October 23, 2024, the woman’s fiancé discussed the disagreement on Reddit’s “True Off My Chest” subreddit. In his post, the man explained that he proposed to his girlfriend with a lab-grown diamond ring that cost him $2,400. A few days after saying “yes,” she found out what the bauble was worth, and in her eyes, the value wasn’t enough. “She told me she felt hurt that I would spend so little on her, claiming it reflected her worth and the seriousness of our future marriage,” the original poster wrote on Reddit. “When I asked what she had expected, she said the ring should have been at least $20,000.”

Since her fiancé had a completely different outlook on the meaning of an engagement ring, he explained his rationale to her: “I sat her down and explained that, while I could certainly afford a more expensive ring, we needed to manage expectations,” he recalled of their conversation. “There’s also a wedding to plan, and we might be covering most of the costs ourselves since neither of our parents has the means to help.”

He also expressed that there are more practical ways to spend those tens of thousands of dollars, like putting it toward a down payment on their future home or helping her launch her business idea. From his perspective, a diamond ring doesn’t measure “the quality of your marriage,” and investing in their future is more worthwhile to him. “As someone who didn’t grow up with financial stability, becoming financially secure and literate is a major priority for me,” he told the internet. “But despite the conversation, she insisted she would still feel bothered if I didn’t upgrade the ring.”

Tetiana Shyshkina / Getty Images

Because his fiancée still didn’t understand where he was coming from, he decided to call off their engagement. “Her response shocked me, and after a lot of reflection, I ultimately decided to end our relationship,” he revealed. “These past few days have been rough, full of emotions and reactions from loved ones and friends, but I chose to trust my gut on this one. We clearly have different values, and I realized this isn’t the kind of marriage I want. It hurts—I won’t lie—but a price tag on a shiny mineral shouldn’t define the foundation of a partnership.”

The internet applauded the man for making this tough decision. “You dodged a bullet,” one Redditor reassured him. “Some people do value the material goods and price tag above everything else. If that is their jam, then cool. Just something they everyone needs to be on the same page about. I’m sorry that you found out so late in the relationship.”

Many people agreed that the woman’s expectation on the cost of her engagement ring was unreasonable, especially since the average cost of an engagement ring in the United States is about $6,500 to $7,000 and since she could easily lose or damage it. “I can’t believe people actually have THAT high of a price point in mind for what is bare minimum acceptable,” a Reddit user shared. Others noted that if it’s the right relationship, the price of the sparkler shouldn’t matter. “My wedding ring cost maybe $50,” someone admitted. “It means the world to me because he gave it to me.” Another said, “I proposed to my wife with a $100 swarovski ring, it was during the pandemic and I didn't have a job. She was the happiest as can be.”