Income · buyer-reported prices · updated September 2026
Three Months' Salary? What 408 Buyers Really Spent Against Their Income
The median engagement ring cost 4.5% of a year's income among 408 buyers who gave both figures, about two weeks' pay. Only nine of them spent more than three months' income, the rule of thumb that diamond advertising made famous. The share falls as income rises: buyers earning under $50,000 put a median 4.6% of a year's income into the ring ($1,750), buyers earning $250,000 and up 1.6% ($6,000).
4.5%median ring as a share of a year's income (408 buyers)
Two weeks' paywhat the median ring cost in pay
9of 408 spent more than three months' income
How much of a year's income the ring took
43% of these buyers spent under 4% of a year's income, and 2% spent more than three months' worth.
Ring price by income
Each row takes the buyers who stated a yearly income in that range (their own or the household's) and the price of the ring they bought.
| Yearly income | Buyers | Median ring | Middle half | Median share of income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50,000 | 8 | $1,750 | $1,500 to $4,000 | 4.6% |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 22 | $4,000 | $2,500 to $7,000 | 5.1% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 21 | $5,000 | $3,000 to $8,000 | 4.2% |
| $150,000 to $249,999 | 27 | $8,700 | $4,200 to $10,000 | 4.4% |
| $250,000 and up | 56 | $6,000 | $3,000 to $17,000 | 1.6% |
Questions about salary and ring budgets
Do people really spend three months' salary on an engagement ring?
Almost nobody here did: nine of 408 buyers who gave both their income and the ring's price spent more than three months' income. The median ring cost 4.5% of a year's income, about two weeks' pay.
How much should I spend on an engagement ring based on salary?
No rule fits the buyers here. Half spent under 4.5% of a year's income, and 11% spent more than two months' income. Buyers on higher incomes spent more in dollars but a smaller share.
Every buyer who put the ring against their income
Each row is one buyer's ring with what they said about their income and the decision.
| Ring | Stone | Carat | Shape | Metal | Year | What the buyer reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Lab-grown diamond | 1.52 ct | – | rose gold | 2025 | Three-stone lab set plus pave band, 5x her suggested $500; later $584 figure seems to be the center stone; income from 3k biweekly take-home |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | 5 ct | – | – | 2025 | Fiance's gift of a 5-carat lab diamond ring; his income stated as $600K; no purchase price given |
| – | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Emerald engagement ring bought through a jeweller he knew; cost about 3 weeks' wages |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2012 | Debt-free couple earning about $90k combined; chose and budgeted for the set together online |
| – | Other gemstone | – | – | white gold | – | Labradorite stone on white gold from a small maker's shop; couple chose it together, both feeling diamonds are overpriced |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance spent two weeks of his own income on the ring |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Spent about 27% of one month's take-home income on all rings combined, including insurance policies |
| – | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Engagement ring cost about two weeks of his income (one week of their combined income); has a sapphire instead of a diamond; wedding bands not yet bought |
| – | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Ring cost about 3 months of his salary because of the diamond; chose the simplest possible setting to let the stone stand out |
| – | Natural diamond | 0.5 ct | – | platinum | – | About one month's salary; antique Victorian-cut diamond reset into a refurbished secondhand band bought from an ethical dealer |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | About 2 months' salary; vintage ring from an antique jewellers, hoping it appreciates in value |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | About 3% of household income; kept lower while buying a house |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Spent about 1% of combined income; chose a lab diamond over mined, ending up cheaper than budgeted |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2022 | Fiance earns over 3x the asker's salary and spent 8% of his salary on the ring; exact amount not given |
| – | Natural diamond | 2 ct | – | – | 2022 | Insisted on at least a 2ct natural diamond; combined household income over $300k, she paid half |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Husband spent 1.5% of their combined income on the ring (2.5% of his income alone); the couple kept their whole wedding under $20,000 |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Bought duty-free while overseas and got a discount for buying the wedding bands at the same time; felt it was probably too much |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Described as costing about two months' salary; a decade later his wife said it was too much and wished they'd taken a holiday instead |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Husband's ring cost described as just under two weeks of his take-home pay; no dollar figure given |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Ring cost three months of his salary; now divorced and he still hasn't let the money go |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Engagement and wedding ring bought as a set for about $3.5k, roughly two weeks' gross pay at the time |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2013 | Matching ring and band bought together about 10 years before the comment; household income ~500k, rings weren't a priority |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Engagement and wedding ring together cost about 1.5 months' salary; salary higher than the asker's |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Cost about one month's salary when young; ring no longer fits after 15 years and two kids |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Bought five years after the first ring, for their anniversary; cost about seven times the first ring's price |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Combined engagement and wedding ring set on a 57k salary; a financial pinch but workable |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Spent one week's income on his wife's ring, well under the old '3 months salary' marketing rule of thumb |
| – | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | 2023 | Ring cost about one week of her fiance's pay; no dollar figure given |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Spent about 60% of one net month's salary on a design-your-own ring |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Husband spent only 15% of what 3 months' salary would be; no dollar figure given |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Partner spent maybe two weeks' salary on the ring; no dollar amount given |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2004 | Husband's ring cost worked out to roughly two to three weeks of his wages; married almost 19 years |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2007 | Married at 18; household made only 20k that first year; celebrating 16th anniversary in 2023 |
| – | Moissanite | – | – | – | – | Ring plus wedding band together cost about two weeks of salary; moissanite kept the cost down |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Spent about a third of one month's combined salary on both of their wedding bands, worn as engagement rings too; no dollar figure given |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance spent about 2.5 weeks of his salary on the ring, not stated as a goal, just what fit |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | About 1-2 weeks of fiance's salary (less than a week counting her own income too); asked him to spend less on a small lab diamond |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Spent about 3-4 months of salary, following the traditional guideline deliberately as a sign of commitment |
| C$0 | No stone (plain band) | – | – | – | – | Skipped buying a ring entirely and invested the roughly $80,000 (3 months' salary) with his wife instead; grew past $200k a decade later |
| – | – | – | – | – | 1998 | Engagement and wedding ring set cost about 5% of his annual salary; his own band was the cheapest gold option available |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | After-tax price for her ring plus both wedding bands during a 25% off sale; lab stones beat pricier natural ones seen; chose a down payment instead |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Spent 16% of income; agreed with partner to spend less now and possibly upgrade to something bigger later |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Paid about two weeks' wages for the ring |
| – | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | 1999 | Paid about a quarter of a month's salary for a ring similar to her grandmother's, found and negotiated at the Diamond District in Manhattan; married 25 years as of the comment |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | 1.5 months' salary in total; views jewellery as a sunk cost, not an investment |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | 20% of monthly salary at the time; chose a beach honeymoon over a flashier ring |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | About 75% of one month's net salary |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | About 1 month's post-tax salary; bought online from an Australian retailer and picked it up on holiday there to reclaim about 10% GST |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | About 2 months' post-tax pay |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Covers two rings bought in total; originally stated as 20-25% of one month's salary |
| – | – | 2.5 ct | – | platinum | – | About 4-5x monthly income, no absolute figure given; chose a stone between 2 and 3ct on a classic solitaire platinum setting; married 15+ years, no regrets |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | No absolute price given; about 40% of monthly salary; writer is a scientist and liked the lab-grown production process |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | About 3 months' salary; no absolute figure given |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | One month's salary reckoned, not three; no absolute figure given |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Writer wrote "2m salary", read here as about 2 months' salary; no absolute figure given |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | One month's salary, no absolute figure given |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2024 | Capped spend at 10% of partner's after-tax income instead of a salary-months rule; saved for a year to avoid debt |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Says he spent about 45 days' worth of his own pre-tax pay on the ring |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Used two months' salary as the spending guide, notes it looks high next to other buyers here |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Partner spent about a month's salary; writer felt it was too extravagant |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Partner spent a month's salary on the ring |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | 1.7 ct | – | – | – | Half his monthly salary went to a 1.7ct lab-grown stone; wanted to avoid an outrageous ring |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | A little over half his monthly income; picked something modest to save money for other things |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Simple gold ring costing about a tenth of his monthly salary |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Joking answer, roughly one to two days of salary |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance's one month salary; more than she expected him to spend |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | About a month's post-deduction salary for the ring; separate spending on a destination proposal trip |
| – | – | – | – | gold | – | Simple gold engagement rings for both partners together in India, about half a month's combined salary; prefers gold to diamonds |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Actual ring cost about half a month's salary, more than the 20 percent guideline they had heard |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance spent a little over a month's salary on her ring in India |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | About a quarter of his monthly salary; plans to upgrade once more financially stable |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Ring cost about a third of fiance's salary by writer's own estimate; income referenced is his |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Engaged in India; her ring cost about one month of her own salary |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Husband's ring cost about two months of her salary; she felt the expense wasn't justified |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Husband's ring cost about 2 months of his net salary, more than what some higher earners among friends spent |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Husband spent about half a month's salary on the ring |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Husband spent about one month's salary on the ring; writer says she'd have been happy with a $50 Etsy ring |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2007 | Husband spent about 2 months' salary almost 18 years before the comment; chose big ring over big wedding ($300 wedding) |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Partner spent roughly a third of one month's salary at a local jeweler; writer didn't want overspending or debt |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Writer says he paid 30% of salary on the ring, calling the 3-month-salary rule insane; time period for the 30% unclear |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | 3 ct | – | – | – | Fiance spent about 2 months of his salary; 3-carat lab-grown stone; writer prefers lab over mined diamonds |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2004 | Paid one month's salary in 2004; bank flagged the purchase as unusual |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2016 | Husband spent about 1.5 months' salary on the ring in 2016, when lab diamond prices were less favorable than today |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Cost about half a month's salary; later damaged and repaired, replaced over time, now on ring number four after 30 years |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Spouse spent 50% of one month's salary on the ring, calls it a solid financial move |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Paid $800 for a diamond listed at $1,700 on rarecarat after price-matching; wedding+ring combined spend was about $3.5k |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Two rings combined; writer's income is over £100k a year |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | No dollar figure given, only described as about one third of husband's monthly salary |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2005 | Ring cost about 2 days of husband's salary, married almost 20 years before the comment; still loves it |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | No dollar figure given, described as about one-fifth of one month's salary |
| – | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Husband spent three months' salary because she specifically wanted a natural diamond and they could afford to save for it |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Husband spent about one month's salary (exact income not given); he works in the medical field |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Spent three months' full salary |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Spent about one month's salary |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2018 | Spent three months' salary on his wife's ring, about seven years before the comment |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Spent three months of pre-tax salary on the ring |
| – | Diamond, lab or natural not said | 3.2 ct | – | – | 2025 | Bought a 3.2ct+ diamond wholesale himself for $1k; local shop designing ring and band around it for $3k total, still in progress |
| – | Natural diamond | 2.5 ct | – | – | – | Personally designed ring and wedding band with a mined, custom-cut center stone and supporting diamonds and aquamarines |
| – | No stone (plain band) | – | – | – | – | No engagement ring at all; both wedding bands cost about the same |
| – | No stone (plain band) | – | – | – | – | No engagement ring or diamond by choice; wanted bands practical enough to travel with often |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Cost one month's after-tax salary; picked it out on a trip to Antwerp, which they counted separately as vacation spending |
| – | Natural diamond | – | oval | – | – | Fiance spent about a month's salary; stone is just under 1 carat, sourced from India |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Vintage unique men's band; had budgeted 1-2k; combined household income over $300k |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance's comfort-fit band with breathable ridged interior; cost more than expected, about 1.3 months of salary |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | 2 ct | – | – | – | Outside the US; ring budget was a third of his monthly pay; chose lab to get a 2 ct stone within it |
| – | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Household income over 400k; engagement ring and wedding band together cost $2,500 |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Custom engagement ring plus wedding band together; she sourced her own diamond; husband earns about $12k/month |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Ring cost about 30% of her fiance's one month's pre-tax income; no absolute price given |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Ring cost described as half her fiance's yearly salary; custom made over about 6 months; he also paid for the Switzerland proposal trip |
| – | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Fiancé spent about one month's after-tax salary on the ring; writer felt three months would be excessive and is happy with it |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Budgeted and spent one month of gross income on the ring |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Writer says her ring and her husband's ring together cost about one week of his paycheck |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Paid between 7.5% and 10% of annual salary on the ring, exact dollar amount not given |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Ring cost less than half a month's salary; exact dollar amount not given, wife never asked about price |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Spent about 10% of his salary (same $80-120k bracket as the person asking); felt it was overkill and suggests capping the diamond around $5k |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Ring and band together cost about 13% of his salary; they went ring shopping together first |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2001 | Spent about this much on both rings together 25 years before the comment; was earning about $120k then |
| – | – | – | – | – | 1999 | Engaged in 1999 when the going rate was said to be a month's salary; paid about a month's take-home pay, absolute figure not given |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | 6.5 ct | – | – | – | Paid slightly over one month's salary for a 6.5-carat lab-grown stone; absolute price not given |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Writer told her husband a lab diamond costing three months' salary would end him; he still spent about 70% of one month's salary, whose income this percent is |
| – | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | No amount given; ring for her first marriage cost about one week's salary (whose not said); second time only a sparkly band |
| – | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | No amount given; ring cost about a fifth of her now-husband's salary; they may upgrade it later |
| – | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | 2018 | No amount given; ring cost about three days' salary (3 of 365); they saved for a house and are mortgage free eight years on |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Her ring cost about half of her partner's monthly salary, which she says makes her uneasy |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | The ring he bought was just under one month's salary; her mother agreed the 3-month rule is outdated |
| – | – | – | – | – | 2001 | Bought at an antiques market 25 years before the comment for about one-sixth of a month's salary, which felt like a lot then |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | Ring cost about one-fifth of her then-husband's monthly salary at the time; married 25 years |
| $1 | No stone (plain band) | – | – | – | – | Used a pack of cheap latex rings despite a high household income |
| A$15 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | A symbolic ring bought in the city where the couple met; the location and memory mattered more than the ring itself, wedding bands similarly cheap |
| $40 | – | – | – | – | – | Planned ring was delayed, so he bought a 40-dollar ring at a local tourist shop to propose on a trip; household earns over 200k |
| $43 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | 2024 | Fiancé (unfamiliar with US ring-spending norms) proposed with a $43 ring, about 1/100th of his monthly salary; the person asking considering a $2-3k ring for herself |
| A$129 | – | – | – | – | – | Matching engagement rings for both partners; combined household income about $200k, no regrets |
| £150 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Simulated 'fake diamond' stone made to look large, bought with a 15% discount voucher; writer earned about £35k and partner about £19k at proposal |
| £180 | – | – | – | – | 1986 | Wife picked it herself and still has it 35+ years on |
| $200 | Moissanite | – | – | – | – | Husband spent $200 at her request; income is his (three months of his pay put at about $30k); she wears a moissanite |
| $250 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | 2020 | Chose a large cubic zirconia over a diamond or moissanite; combined household income about $300k; spent savings on the honeymoon instead; married 5 years. |
| A$300 | – | – | – | – | – | Was earning about $80k a year when he bought the ring |
| £350 | – | – | – | – | – | Fiancé is a USAF E5 earning about $5k/month; she doesn't want an expensive ring |
| A$350 | Natural diamond | – | – | gold | – | Tiny diamond in 18-karat gold from an antique store; earning about $120k at the time |
| $400 | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance earned about $40k; raw-diamond ring from an Etsy jeweler the writer had followed for years |
| $450 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | 0.2 ct | – | – | 2023 | Combined household income about $110k; ring included custom engraving reading 'I love you this much', from a well-known chain store |
| £450 | – | – | – | – | – | Income was about £90k at the time; a temporary ring since partner said she wouldn't wear it after the wedding |
| £450 | – | – | – | – | – | Monthly take-home was about £3-3.5k pre-COVID; wedding itself separately cost about £8k |
| £500 | – | – | – | – | – | 23-year-old, income about £2400/month; kept the ring modest while saving for a house deposit |
| €500 | – | – | – | – | – | About 15% of one month's net salary; anything beyond seemed ridiculous to both of them |
| $500 | Moissanite | – | – | – | – | Couple made $300k salary at the time |
| 500 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | 2017 | ORRO lab-grown diamond, about a third of one month's take-home pay; friends' comments about its worth upset his partner |
| £550 | – | – | – | – | 2017 | About a third of one month's take-home pay at the time; says no need to overspend unless you have cash to spare |
| $600 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband earns over 100k; she picked out the ring herself |
| A$600 | – | – | – | – | – | Found the identical ring secondhand on Facebook for a fraction of the ~6k retail price, insurance transferred over |
| $600 | – | – | – | – | – | Household income about $400k; deliberately kept ring spending low, under $1000, closer to $600. |
| $600 | Natural diamond | 1 ct | pear | – | 1976 | 1976 purchase, said to equal about $3,500 today; earned $15,000/year at the time, a strong starting salary then |
| 640 | – | – | – | – | – | Writer isn't from the US; ring was about a quarter of her fiance's one month's salary and felt average for her (unnamed) country |
| A$700 | – | – | – | – | – | Combined household income $220k; spent $300 on his band and $700 on her ring, kept minimal since it's just a symbol |
| C$700 | – | – | – | – | – | Earns the same as the asker's stated salary; says the price doesn't matter |
| $700 | Moissanite | – | – | – | – | Moissanite ring from Etsy; wedding band originally 600 at JCPenney, bought on sale; partner earns 90k+/year |
| $800 | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Custom teal sapphire from Etsy; just under 2% of his salary; couple aged 19 and 22 saving for a house; he paid alone |
| 800 | No stone (plain band) | – | – | gold | – | CHF 800 artisanal locally-made gold ring, no diamond; CHF 2200 each for their wedding rings; about CHF 100k/year salary at the time |
| £800 | – | – | – | – | – | Income was about £1800/month at the time |
| $800 | – | – | – | – | – | Kept the whole wedding cheap too, just a lunch with friends |
| £900 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought on sale, reduced from £1300; monthly salary then was about £2000 |
| $1,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband netted about 7k a month in a high-cost area; both wedding bands together came close to 3k |
| £1,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Style mattered more than price to the writer |
| C$1,000 | Moissanite | – | – | – | 2024 | Household income about $250k at proposal; moissanite solitaire cost $1k after tax; would've been devastated losing something pricier |
| $1,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Total for both partners' engagement rings combined; they wear cheap replicas day-to-day since they're careless with jewelry |
| $1,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Engagement ring cost 1k; husband now earns 120k a year; year not given |
| $1,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 2 ct | – | – | – | Insisted on a $1k lab-grown 2-carat D-color ring despite a personal income of $200k |
| £1,100 | – | – | – | – | 2013 | Equal to a month's wages at the time; she still wears it and loves it |
| £1,200 | – | – | – | – | – | Earns £50k/year; ring cost about 3 months of disposable income by his own estimate; also bought a necklace and earrings |
| £1,200 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Lab-grown diamond ring; writer says he and his wife can't tell it apart from natural; cost half a month of his wage |
| £1,250 | – | – | – | – | 2016 | Ring about a third of one month's take-home pay; her band and his titanium band both bought online; all three still look great 7 years on |
| $1,250 | – | – | – | – | – | Original engagement ring 1250; she and husband each out-earn the person asking; says at 24 she made the equivalent of 117k in today's money |
| 1,350 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | CHF 1200-1500 for a Celtic-style engagement ring; gross salary was about CHF 5500/month at the time |
| £1,400 | – | – | – | – | 2021 | Shipped from Australia; plus a £42 balance-transfer fee; writer was furloughed and on about £27.5k at the time |
| $1,400 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband earns 600k a year; she picked her own 1400 ring and they put savings into a home |
| $1,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Felt like a spendthrift compared to a cheaper lab diamond of similar look; three months' salary would have been about $9000 |
| $1,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Writer says his partner loved it and warns to be wary of anyone expecting a ring over $10k |
| £1,500 | – | – | – | – | – | About a month's salary; suggests looking one size increment below a round carat number to save money |
| $1,500 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | Upgrade bought late last year; declined a 7k ring he offered; household income about 250k/year |
| $1,500 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Husband earned 120k and she 80k at the time; they now own two properties and investments |
| $1,500 | Lab-grown diamond | 1 ct | emerald | gold | – | Flawless emerald-cut synthetic diamond in a 14k gold setting; fiancee picked the style and capped size at 1ct; income about $90k |
| $1,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought on sale, cost about half of a fortnightly paycheck |
| £1,600 | – | – | – | – | – | A specific type of diamond ring with personal significance, which explains the price |
| £1,600 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Fiancee wanted lab grown, a pleasant surprise; roughly 40% of writer's take-home pay at the time |
| £1,600 | – | – | – | – | – | Paid over 6 months interest-free; monthly take-home was £2,100 at the time |
| £1,700 | – | – | – | – | – | Picked out mostly by his wife; three months' salary would have been about £7,500 for him, which he calls insane |
| $1,700 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband's annual income mentioned to show the ring was a small fraction of it; she picked the ring herself |
| £1,800 | – | – | – | – | – | Researched table, cut and clarity carefully to get good value |
| £1,800 | – | – | – | – | – | Partner planned to spend £2,000-£3,000 but found the perfect ring for £1,800, less than one month of his take-home pay |
| $1,800 | Moissanite | – | – | – | 2014 | Chose moissanite over family pressure for a diamond; put the savings toward a duplex purchase instead |
| $2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought on clearance; writer says pricier designs above about $4k looked tackier and wife preferred the cheaper ones |
| A$2,000 | Lab-created coloured stone | – | – | – | – | Lab-grown emeralds and diamonds, designed to the couple's own taste; household income just over $400k, wanted to avoid mined stones |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | 2014 | Bought via Blue Nile at wholesale-style pricing; certificate valued it at $8k though only $2k was paid; earned $55k that year |
| £2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | About one month's salary at the time; picked the ring based on the diamond rather than worrying about price |
| £2,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.1 ct | – | platinum | – | Platinum band with a 1.1ct lab-grown solitaire |
| C$2,000 | Moissanite | – | – | – | 2024 | Custom moissanite ring for about $2k while earning $150k+; savings went to a nicer wedding and house renovations |
| C$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought a pre-owned ring originally valued at $4k for $2k, still under the store's warranty; earns about $95k/year |
| C$2,000 | Other gemstone | – | – | rose gold | 2020 | Morganite gemstone on a rose gold band; chosen after agreeing pricey jewelry felt unnecessary |
| A$2,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | 0.2 ct | – | – | 2024 | A single small diamond; no regrets but says he'd buy a rare opal instead if doing it again |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Suggests shopping around since near-identical looking rings can be found for half the price elsewhere |
| $2,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.25 ct | – | – | – | 1.25ct lab-grown ring cost roughly a couple grand; household income over $400k |
| $2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Cost covered only the setting and mounting a diamond the couple already owned; fiance earns about $14k/month pretax |
| $2,000 | – | 3 ct | – | yellow gold | – | 10k yellow gold; diamond bought separately, bands custom made by a local jeweler |
| $2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Upgraded a few years after the original $800 ring; husband now makes $18-20k a month |
| $2,100 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | 2026 | Writer just proposed with a lab diamond ring on about $75k annual income |
| $2,100 | Lab-created coloured stone | – | – | yellow gold | 2025 | Lab alexandrite center stone with a lab diamond halo and side stones in 14k yellow gold, price includes insurance; household income about $450k a year |
| £2,300 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | 2026 | Lab grown trilogy-style ring bought as a surprise a couple months before the comment; fiancé's monthly income is £4,000 |
| A$2,400 | – | – | – | – | – | A stretch purchase for a new graduate in the late 1990s; chosen together after the proposal |
| £2,400 | – | – | – | – | – | Income was £135k pre-tax at the time |
| $2,500 | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Chose a dainty sapphire ring over something pricier; put the savings toward an engagement trip instead |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | About to propose the following weekend |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | 1988 | Equivalent to about A$6,000 today; was half a month's salary at the time |
| $2,500 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.6 ct | – | – | – | Fiance earns $50k a year; she worried $2,500 was too much to ask for |
| £2,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Proposed at home with candles and champagne; partner would have been happy with a cheaper ring too |
| 2,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent his one-month bonus on the ring; monthly salary was about $2.5k then |
| £2,600 | Lab-grown diamond | 1 ct | – | platinum | – | Haggled down from a £3,000 asking price at a national chain store; lab grown reportedly saved about £5k versus natural, funding a trip to Italy |
| $2,600 | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance spent $2,600 on the ring, about half of one month's salary for him |
| $2,700 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | About two weeks of husband's salary; she was fine with moissanite or lab, he picked lab |
| $3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband earned about $70k and paid from savings rather than go into debt |
| $3,000 | Sapphire | 1.5 ct | – | – | 2022 | Writer earns just over $100k, partner a bit more; initial $2,500 budget grew to about $3,000 for a 1.5 ct sapphire with a diamond halo |
| $3,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.56 ct | – | – | – | Lab solitaire at about two weeks of his wages; arrived two weeks late with poor updates, quality pleased him |
| $3,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Writer's own ring; cost about 2% of her husband's yearly income; she knew exactly which ring she wanted before meeting him |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent about $3k, roughly three weeks' salary at the time |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Paid about £1,700 (about $3,000 AUD); earns $130k AUD; whole wedding plus rings totalled about $5,000 |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance's after-tax base pay stated; writer picked between two design options he offered |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | 2011 | Bought the diamond separately, had a jeweller design and make the ring; no kids or mortgage then |
| £3,000 | – | – | – | – | 2018 | Picked stone online then viewed and collected at their London boutique; about 25% cheaper than typical retail |
| $3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Designed the ring together with her partner; the couple earns about $1M a year combined |
| C$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Similar salary to the asker's stated figure |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Married with just wedding bands first, then bought a single diamond ring on the European honeymoon; was 26 at the time |
| £3,000 | – | – | – | – | 2013 | Over a decade before the comment; about 1.5 months' salary; picked the stone/setting and vendor made the ring |
| £3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Found the exact ring wife would love; would buy the same again even earning more now |
| £3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Income was about £13k/month before tax |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | Deliberately kept the ring cheap, feels money is better spent elsewhere |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | Recently engaged |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband's income at proposal, finances not yet combined; says they'd likely have only gone to about 5k even after combining income, since returns are marginal |
| $3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Wife only wanted a cheap ring; low cost of living area |
| $3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Neither partner thought a larger ring would look better |
| $3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Household income about four times the asker's 105k, with a kid; ring was 3k and she still feels guilty about it |
| $3,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | 2026 | About $3k; she asked for lab to save for a bigger house; income is the fiancé's (three months of his pay put at about $25k) |
| $3,200 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Natural solitaire, price after tax; writer lived on a grad stipend of about 1600 USD a month at the time |
| £3,200 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | 2020 | 0.7ct sapphire centre with two small diamond side stones |
| £3,200 | – | – | – | – | – | Described as about two months' salary at the time |
| C$3,200 | – | – | – | – | – | Custom design with a diamond center and emerald leaf-shaped accents; got a slight discount knowing the jeweller |
| $3,250 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.5 ct | oval | yellow gold | – | Three-stone oval lab diamond ring (3.5 tcw total, 1.5ct center plus two 1ct sides) on sale from $7,000; combined household income around $600k |
| £3,250 | – | 1 ct | – | yellow gold | – | Pre-owned ring with pear-shaped diamond shoulder stones on a 24 carat gold band, found at a local jeweller rather than a chain; monthly income after tax was about £1,800 |
| $3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | 3% figure is of his annual income; custom infinity band design with 20 small diamonds of varying colors, white gold, no rhodium plating |
| £3,500 | Sapphire | – | – | – | 2022 | Chose a sapphire over a diamond; partner's salary is £80k |
| A$3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Custom Celtic-knot design; prioritised design over stone size on a combined 200k income |
| A$3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought during a sale planned six months ahead |
| C$3,500 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | Bought during a sale last month; price stated after tax |
| £3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Custom design based on a style partner had sent him; about 1 week's gross pay rather than the touted 3 months |
| £3,500 | Lab-grown diamond | 3 ct | – | – | 2023 | Proposed the year before the comment; earns about £12k/month after tax; 3ct already looks borderline obnoxious per writer, a natural equivalent would run about £40k more |
| $3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband's income is at least this much per year |
| $3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Got a deal through a sister-in-law who owns a jewelry store; ring appraised over $6k but paid $3500; band appraised $2500, paid $1000 |
| $3,500 | – | – | – | – | 2022 | Bought about four years before the comment; household income over $10k a month used to show how absurd a 3-month-salary rule would scale |
| A$3,700 | – | 0.5 ct | – | – | 2016 | Bought from a US retailer since local Australian stores felt overpriced; half-carat solitaire |
| $3,700 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | platinum | 2026 | Writer earns just over $100k a year; recent wife's ring, platinum with a lab diamond |
| $3,750 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | HENRY couple; each partner's lab-grown ring cost about $3.5-4k |
| $3,800 | Lab-created coloured stone | 2 ct | – | gold | – | 2ct lab-grown sapphire with lab sapphire/diamond halo on an 18k gold band; wedding band bought separately; cites about $340k household income |
| A$4,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | gold | – | A 0.8k lab diamond set in a gold band cost $4k total; earning $50k a year at the time |
| £4,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Followed a one-month-salary guideline; says he would not do it again |
| $4,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband earns roughly $600-700k a year; writer is a stay-at-home mom |
| C$4,000 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | Earns the same $120k salary as the person asking and spent $4k; fiancée was thrilled, felt even that was pushing it |
| £4,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Paid trade price for the diamond; about a month's salary at the time |
| £4,000 | – | – | – | – | 2017 | About a month's salary at the time; had to be resized later; recent insurance valuation came out far higher than the price paid |
| A$4,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Household income around 250k plus his 100k, varies with her RSUs and his overtime; whole wedding came to about 9k |
| A$4,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.5 ct | – | – | – | Partner didn't care about carat size so they focused more on the ring's design; put extra effort into the proposal itself instead |
| $4,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Household income over $600k; savings vs a natural stone covered about half a house down payment |
| $4,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance takes home about $4k a month (~$48k a year) and spent $4k on the ring; it appraised for $14k |
| $4,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Combined the two rings came to about three months' income; about 4 carats of lab-grown diamond total between both rings; felt devastated by the total cost but says it was worth it |
| $4,000 | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Grad student on minimum wage and a partner earning $60k in a VHCOL area |
| $4,000 | – | – | – | – | – | An enormous sum for him at the time on a $40k salary; feels like pocket change now given how much his income and savings have grown |
| $4,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.5 ct | – | – | – | About 1 month of his salary; center stone with small side diamonds |
| 4,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Used a 4K wedding band as the proposal ring; husband earned about 250K/year then; SGD amount |
| $4,000 | Sapphire | 2.6 ct | – | gold | – | Husband earned $90k/year and had roughly 3x this amount saved; bought the exact ring wanted, a 2.6ct sapphire with a diamond halo on 18kt gold |
| $4,200 | – | – | – | – | – | 4,200 ring set against a 500k household income; finds paying many times more for a natural stone wild |
| $4,200 | – | 3 ct | oval | – | 2026 | Upgrade with an oval diamond band bought at a local jeweler; combined household income about $200k/year |
| $4,220 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.38 ct | round | two tone | – | 220k/year household; chose lab deliberately over natural for cost and personal reasons, not out of necessity |
| A$4,300 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Quoted RRP of 8.3k for the same lab diamond, which he thinks is just an inflated retail figure |
| £4,500 | – | – | – | – | 2017 | Bought on 0% finance |
| $4,500 | – | – | – | – | 2020 | Joint income over $15k a month; she'd capped his budget at $5k; coming up on their 5th anniversary. |
| $4,500 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Both rings bought vintage from joint savings; his ring about 1.5k; household cleared nearly 500k that year; first marriage for both |
| $4,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Started around $4k, ended a bit higher after customizations, within a stated $4-5k range; partner's income about $85k a year |
| $4,500 | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Natural pink sapphire she picked to replace her earlier lab diamond ring; about two-thirds of one month's salary (whose not said) |
| £4,999 | – | – | – | – | – | Take-home was just under £2,000/month then; wife made him return this ring for being too expensive |
| $5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | His monthly salary is over 6k; she would not want more than a month's pay spent |
| C$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Double wedding band 2000; ring about 4% of husband's annual income |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Melted down treasured family jewelry to reclaim gold and diamonds for the ring and both wedding rings; whole wedding ran about $20k |
| $5,000 | – | – | – | platinum | – | Earns about the same as the person asking (150-180k); chose platinum |
| C$5,000 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | Earns more than double the asker's $120k salary and spent $5k; says it's not a huge deal to replace, mostly sentimental |
| C$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Custom design using a Canadian-mined diamond and the number eight, reflecting his partner's Chinese heritage; setting cost about $1,000 of the total |
| C$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Boyfriend earns over $250k/year but they spent about $5k, well below the 3-months rule; cites $70k as an average Vancouver salary |
| £5,000 | – | – | – | – | 2013 | About 2 months' salary at the time; would still spend about the same today but choose lab grown |
| A$5,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.5 ct | – | – | 2024 | Upgraded from a 1.5ct moissanite gift (price not given, received when combined income was about 200k) to a 1.5ct lab diamond now that household income is 500k |
| $5,000 | Moissanite | – | – | – | 2018 | Husband's income was about 100k/year at the time, 7 years before this comment |
| $5,000 | – | – | – | – | 2014 | Borrowed cash from his boss to afford it; in hindsight wishes he'd gone lab grown |
| $5,000 | – | – | – | – | 2022 | Designed together; combined salary about $250k at the time; spent to get exactly what they wanted rather than aim for a set figure. |
| $5,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 2 ct | round | – | – | Husband earns about $12k/month; ring cost far under the outdated '3 months' salary' rule, which would have been about $36k, roughly their wedding budget |
| $5,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Ring described as about 1/4 of husband's monthly after-tax salary; lab diamonds cost more back when bought than they do now |
| $5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Household income was about $700k a year at the time; would have been upset if he had spent three months' salary (~$40k) |
| 5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Picked her own ring; cost about one month of husband's salary then |
| A$5,500 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.2 ct | oval | white gold | 2024 | Designed together: oval lab diamond with a halo of smaller diamonds under white gold prongs; recommends the Melbourne jeweller by name |
| $5,500 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.4 ct | – | – | – | Center stone plus two side stones and about 30 small stones on the band |
| $5,500 | Lab-grown diamond | 3 ct | – | – | – | She chose a 3 ct lab stone; partner never asked the price and it came to 5.5k on about 80k combined income; no plan to upgrade |
| $5,600 | Lab-grown diamond | 4 ct | oval | – | – | Upgraded after a career change; household income now 700-800k/year, just paid off a 228k student loan |
| $5,700 | – | – | – | – | – | 3% of the writer's own income, about 1.5% of household income |
| A$5,900 | – | – | – | – | – | Listed around $6.5k, paid $5.9k; husband earns about $80k as a truck driver |
| A$6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Had dependants and a mortgage at the time of purchase |
| £6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | About a month's income at the time |
| $6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought when income was much lower; a follow-up reply says it now equals about 2% of their far higher current income |
| C$6,000 | – | 0.75 ct | princess | white gold | 2024 | $6k princess cut diamond, about 3/4 carat, on 18k white gold; earned $110k at the time of purchase |
| C$6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Ring was modest; the rest of a roughly $30k wedding budget was partly covered by family |
| A$6,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 2 ct | – | – | – | Earns about $100k a year; chose lab grown over mined |
| $6,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | 2024 | Budget set before shopping; engaged 2 months before comment; ring drew 20+ compliments from strangers |
| $6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Household income stated as a $400k-500k range; chose a non-classic style since they married later in life |
| $6,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 0.8 ct | – | – | – | Sunburst-style setting with a 0.8 ct lab-grown center stone; skipped a big wedding so could spend more on rings; about 1.5 months of his salary. |
| $6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Half a month's salary for him; they're older and established in their careers |
| $6,000 | Sapphire | 3 ct | – | – | – | 3 ct sapphire instead of a diamond; the husband earned $100k at the time |
| $6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Both partners individually earn about $100k; called it extravagant for their income |
| C$6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Roughly 2 months' salary at the time of purchase; whose income not specified beyond 'my wife's ring' |
| $6,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Combined ring and band cost was around one month's salary for husband at the time |
| $7,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Chose lab after trying natural rings at 10-13k; about 4% of his income (175-200k), under 2% of household (about 400k) |
| $7,000 | – | – | – | – | – | 3% of household income |
| $7,000 | – | – | – | – | – | About a month of his engineer pay; she spent 2k on his ring |
| C$7,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband's annual income about $100k; she kept the paperwork and receipts for warranty purposes |
| C$7,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Considers the 3-months-salary rule excessive; bought what felt beautiful and reasonable for the budget |
| £7,000 | – | – | – | – | – | About 1.5x net monthly pay; prioritised colour over clarity and stayed under 1ct |
| £7,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Stone not huge but good quality; her family is very into jewellery so it had to be right |
| $7,000 | – | 1 ct | – | platinum | 2018 | About 7 years before the comment; roughly 10% of his salary at the time, from before lab diamonds were common |
| $7,000 | Natural diamond | 1.5 ct | – | – | – | Bought diamond and setting at wholesale through her job at a high-end retail store; now considering a simpler re-setting since losing weight changed the fit |
| $7,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Household gross income about $200k; separately spent about $3k combined on wedding bands and a watch for himself |
| $7,500 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.02 ct | oval | – | 2022 | 7-8k, still being made; about two weeks gross income; stayed under 2.5 ct as she has small hands |
| $7,600 | – | 4.23 ct | – | – | – | About 1.25 months' net household salary |
| $7,750 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Found rings loved in the $7.5k-8k range with a natural diamond; boyfriend earns about $14k a month, ~$168k a year |
| $8,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.8 ct | – | platinum | 2022 | Two-stone lab ring, total carat weight 2.8, cost a bit over $8k; husband makes about $120k, chose platinum |
| A$8,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | 1 ct | – | – | – | Earning about $120k; bought a 1ct diamond and designed the ring with a jeweller; small diamonds down the band, pear detail |
| C$8,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent on wife's ring while earning about half of the asker's stated salary; she rarely wears it, works as a nurse |
| C$8,000 | – | – | – | – | – | 3-month take-home pay was about $20k (~80k/yr take-home); says diamond prices had dropped and were creeping back up |
| C$8,000 | – | – | – | – | 2020 | Bought in 2020 while earning $300k/year, nowhere near 3 months' salary |
| £8,000 | Natural diamond | 1.8 ct | – | – | – | Fancy light yellow diamond; close to a gross month's base salary at the time |
| $8,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Second marriage; combined household income was $500k; first marriage's ring cost not given |
| $8,000 | Natural diamond | 1 ct | – | other | – | 1ct+ real diamond in an original palladium setting; setting later broke and was replaced under warranty |
| $8,700 | – | – | – | – | 2026 | Combined household income at time of engagement was about $200k |
| C$8,900 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband earns the same as the person asking; all-in price for the ring |
| $8,950 | Natural diamond | 1.27 ct | round | – | 2013 | Star129 (129-facet) natural round diamond with diamond halo, bought from husband's jeweler friend for their 26th anniversary; has a side-visible carbon inclusion |
| £9,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband spent £8-10k; 2.5 months' take-home pay each; lived in a low-tax jurisdiction at the time |
| £9,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Designed from scratch; coincidentally three months' salary at the time though writer didn't know the rule beforehand |
| A$9,100 | – | – | – | – | – | Followed old salary-percentage advice and regrets it; ring later listed secondhand unsold for years |
| $9,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband spent roughly 9k-10k, said to equal about one month of his salary |
| $9,500 | Natural diamond | 1.25 ct | – | – | 2009 | 1.25ct diamond with channel-set diamonds in the band, made by a local jeweler before lab diamonds were considered good quality |
| $9,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband, a surgeon, earns about 400k a year; she still felt guilty about the ring's cost |
| $10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent on the ring while earning about $150k that year |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Budget was $20k (one month's salary, implying ~$240k income) but partner chose $10k, feeling a big diamond wasn't practical |
| C$10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Earns the same as the person asking; regrets the purchase and would rather have spent less on the ring and more on travel |
| £10,000 | – | – | – | – | 2012 | Was 28 years old, 12 years before the comment; had cash reserves and expected higher future earnings |
| $10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Boyfriend's annual income; wanted an expensive ring since it's her only fine jewelry |
| $10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | One of three engagement rings she has owned; household set a $20k comfortable cap and ended up spending half that |
| $10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Cost split between partners, $7k and $3k; ring has no center stone, by her choice |
| $10,000 | – | – | – | – | 2017 | Put an entire $10k signing bonus into the ring on a $60k/yr salary so they wouldn't need to upgrade later |
| $10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband's salary was about $175k a year at the time. |
| $10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | About 2.5 months of his take-home pay at the time. |
| $10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Combined household income of 350000 |
| $10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance is 25 and works in the mines; writer didn't want a ring near three months' wages (about $30k) |
| $10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Custom upgrade after nearly 20 years married; husband earns $190k/year |
| $10,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.66 ct | pear | – | – | Fiance earns $225k/year; couple set a $10k budget and picked a 2.66ct pear lab diamond together |
| $10,000 | – | – | – | – | 2026 | Just engaged; fiance spent about 10k; he works two jobs and earns over 200k |
| $10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance earning $250k spent $10k on her ring; she still felt it was pricey |
| A$11,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Had budgeted 15-20k; income given as 250k or more |
| $11,000 | – | – | – | – | 2026 | Fiance's income is about this amount a year; even this felt like a financial stretch for him |
| $12,000 | Sapphire | – | – | platinum | – | Late-20s buyer earning about $110k; financed interest-free over 12 months at $1k a month; says he doesn't regret it |
| $12,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Paid this after trade-in credit from a series of ring upgrades; household take-home is about $10k a month, partly from a VA payout |
| A$12,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought more than six years before the comment; insurer revalues it yearly for the premium, now about $13.5k |
| A$12,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.5 ct | round | platinum | 2024 | 2.5ct lab-grown in a French pave halo, half the setting in platinum with diamonds; writer earned 400k plus about 300k in investment gains last year, partner earned 135k before mat leave |
| $12,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Wishes they'd spent more on the engagement ring itself |
| $12,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.2 ct | – | platinum | – | His pay was $25/hr while her salary was $130k; chose a larger stone anticipating higher future household income |
| £12,500 | – | 1.25 ct | oval | platinum | – | Income was about £250k/year; describes the stone as extremely good quality |
| C$13,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Earns about $170k/year; considers $30k too high |
| $14,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Recreated Edwardian design with emerald halo; setting and labor 8k; ex-partner earned nearly 500k; bought before lab prices dipped |
| A$14,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent 14k on a 70k salary at the time of proposal; feels in hindsight it was too much |
| $14,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Boyfriend earning around 200k spent about 14-15k by her guess; she had said a later upgrade would be fine |
| C$14,600 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought through a wholesale distributor rather than retail, estimates about 60% off retail-equivalent price |
| A$15,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Describes self as a good saver; no regrets |
| C$15,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Saved part of the total over four years while building a house before buying the ring |
| A$15,000 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Was 26 and earning 71k when he proposed |
| $15,000 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Wanted a lab stone but her family's objections pushed them toward natural; more than she originally wanted to spend |
| $15,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Husband earns $550k a year and capped the ring at $15k to put money toward a house and retirement |
| $15,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Writer felt her ring was too much even with a $400k a year household income |
| $15,000 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Ten-year upgrade on a 600k household income; went natural only because the trade-in program required it |
| $16,000 | – | – | – | – | – | About one month's wage for the couple; ring not finished at the time of the comment |
| 16,000 | – | – | – | – | – | She wanted at least two months of his salary |
| $16,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance's net income runs $16-17k a month; he spent about that same amount, roughly one month's income, on the ring |
| $17,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance spent between $16k-$18k on the ring; combined household income was about $300k at the time |
| $18,000 | – | – | – | – | – | About 8% of her fiance's salary |
| A$18,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Went big at $18k while earning $95k a year; calls it a splurge for an heirloom-quality piece |
| $18,000 | Natural diamond | 2 ct | princess | platinum | 2011 | Husband earned 150k then; 1 ct total of side stones; she now wishes for a bigger lab stone and wears a silicone band daily |
| $19,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Agreed budget was $30k but the ring they chose came in well under that |
| $20,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Upgrade gift after a baby and a house; about 20k in total, roughly 6% of household income |
| $20,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Price before insurance and a protection plan; medium cost-of-living area |
| $20,000 | – | 2 ct | – | – | – | In school/residency at the time on about $80k HHI, jumping to $500k the next year; partner insisted on at least a 2ct stone |
| $20,000 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | 2011 | Husband earned about $400k and she about $150k when engaged in 2011; writer now estimates the ring is worth about $15k |
| $22,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Income at the time of purchase |
| $23,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Income given as about $10k a month after tax; felt the ring mattered more than his own comfort with the price |
| $23,000 | – | – | – | – | 2016 | Originally wrote $18k but corrected to $23k in an edit; bought her own ring after some drinking |
| A$25,000 | – | – | – | – | 2023 | Income_pct is of his own after-tax salary; called it a once-in-a-lifetime purchase despite being an outlier here |
| $25,000 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | Just spent this on the ring; household income 300k, fiance needed convincing to feel okay about it |
| 25,000 | Natural diamond | 2.2 ct | – | – | – | Central European country; writer estimates about $31,000 USD; combined household income above $500k a year, mostly his |
| $28,000 | – | – | – | – | – | 15% figure is of his after-tax annual income the year they got engaged |
| $30,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Three months' salary would have been about $80k, implying roughly $320k a year income; chose the first ring she tried on |
| $33,000 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Exactly what his wife wanted; he'd also just bought himself a sports car around the same time |
| $35,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Stone bought wholesale and appraised well above cost; custom ring still being made |
| $35,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent at age 30 earning $500k with $1.5m net worth; in hindsight would have spent more |
| 36,000 | – | 1 ct | – | white gold | – | PHP; boyfriend's customized proposal ring, white gold, 1ct diamond; about a quarter of his monthly salary, whose income this is |
| $36,000 | Natural diamond | 3 ct | – | – | – | 3 ct natural stone (~$30k) plus $6k Tacori setting; writer earns about $150k/year; wife rarely wears it now due to work gloves |
| A$37,500 | – | 1.5 ct | – | – | – | 1.5ct ring worn daily; described as three months' salary then, about 35-40k in today's terms; friends who went bigger later upsized |
| 45,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Big splurge relative to his 6k monthly salary; still worn proudly a decade later |
| $50,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Spouse chose a big-name brand ring despite writer seeing no value in diamonds; ring is rarely worn now |
| $50,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband bought an upgrade ring after early retirement; writer's income once reached $500k/year during her career, timing versus this purchase unclear |
| 50,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Roughly one month's salary; felt further upgrades past this price weren't worth it |
| $60,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Expensive but she wears it daily and loves it |
| $95,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Husband gave her a $95k ring for their 20th anniversary; household income described as over $1 million a year, he's a physician |
| $200,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Wife wanted six months' salary spent on the ring; she rarely wears it, saying it's too heavy |
Sources and method
Price reports on this page come from 72 public discussions where buyers answered in their own words. Each comment that stated what someone paid became one row; notes are paraphrased, never quoted.
The largest discussions used here (60)
- 2026-01: Update on 30k ring. See last post for more details (1100 comments)
- 2023-06: Husbands, how much did you spend on the engagement ring? (1083 comments)
- 2026-01: Ring will be around 23k-35k. NEED ADVICE (1050 comments)
- 2024-05: How much do should I spend on an engagement ring? (912 comments)
- 2023-01: How much would you spend on an engagement ring? (909 comments)
- 2026-04: my girlfriend told me she wants a 2 carat natural diamond or she'll say no. i already bought this lab diamond ring. am i crazy for thinking shes a red flag (898 comments)
- 2026-08: Mom says I need to spend three months of my salary on an engagement ring. I found one for way less. Is that wrong? (792 comments)
- 2023-08: $20 Amazon ring? (740 comments)
- 2025-12: How do all my friends have such huge engagement rings? (573 comments)
- 2025-03: Do people actually spend 3 months salary on a ring? (539 comments)
- 2023-04: The ring is absolutely nothing like we discussed. It's everything I didn't want and I secretly feel like he bought it to insult me, maybe? (536 comments)
- 2026-01: I don’t mean this rudely at all but is everyone posting here marrying rich guys or are my standards just not attuned to what the norm is these days? (533 comments)
- 2026-08: I want to propose. She wants a natural diamond. I want to buy her a ring that doesn't destroy our finances (526 comments)
- 2024-08: How much would you spend on an engagement ring? (517 comments)
- 2024-10: How much spent on engagement ring? (446 comments)
- 2025-04: GF said not to spend more than $500 on a ring. I spent $2500 on the set. Did I do well at least? (400 comments)
- 2022-10: How much y’all paying for your engagement rings? (399 comments)
- 2023-09: What do you consider expensive for a wedding ring? (355 comments)
- 2022-10: Is everyone here super rich? 😅 (336 comments)
- 2024-12: Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Rings? (335 comments)
- 2026-05: MEN of SG, how much did you spend on your engagement ring? (333 comments)
- 2023-06: Am I the Ass hole for not listening to my wife “3 years salary ring rule” (333 comments)
- 2024-01: Ring size/income (304 comments)
- 2026-05: How much should a man spend on an engagement ring? (300 comments)
- 2025-04: What are people spending on engagement rings? 💍 (265 comments)
- 2021-11: How did people go about budgeting for an engagement ring? (259 comments)
- 2022-12: Is it just me or is everyone rich on here? (256 comments)
- 2025-05: With the caveat that the actual answer is “however much you’re both comfortable spending”, how much did you spend on an engagement ring? (242 comments)
- 2025-09: Average cost of an engagement ring (229 comments)
- 2022-12: Engagement Ring (219 comments)
- 2019-05: How much to spend on an engagement ring? (210 comments)
- 2022-09: Question for the already engaged (202 comments)
- 2022-10: How much did you spend on your SO’s ring? (180 comments)
- 2026-04: How much do you think you should spend on an engagement ring? (169 comments)
- 2025-07: How much did you spend on an engagement ring ? (165 comments)
- 2025-05: For ladies who rock big rocks… 💎💍 Help my social anxiety! (163 comments)
- 2022-12: Manage expectations (146 comments)
- 2026-08: What are your honest thoughts on the “three months’ salary” rule for engagement rings? (137 comments)
- 2023-02: Diamond vs Gold Jewellery as an investment? (132 comments)
- 2024-12: Engagement rings (127 comments)
- 2026-05: How much are people generally paying for engagement rings in UK? (125 comments)
- 2023-01: How much should an engagement ring cost? (121 comments)
- 2023-08: Acceptable $$ for an engagement ring (117 comments)
- 2025-01: How much of your yearly income did you spend on your engagement ring? (116 comments)
- 2025-07: Question, what does an average American Man spend on an Engagement Ring? (114 comments)
- 2024-09: Engagement Ring price. How much did you pay? (108 comments)
- 2026-02: Wedding Ring Cost - How much did you actually spend? (105 comments)
- 2025-05: How Much Do People Usually Spend on an Engagement Ring? Asking for a Friend (103 comments)
- 2024-11: How much is appropriate or the average to spend on an engagement ring? (100 comments)
- 2026-06: Engagement ring costs? (92 comments)
- 2026-03: What’s the average cost of an engagement ring? (89 comments)
- 2026-04: How expensive are engagement rings these days (84 comments)
- 2020-07: Do people really spend about two months of income on just rings? (81 comments)
- 2025-03: How to work out what my budget should be for an engagement ring? (78 comments)
- 2026-09: How much does the average engagement ring cost? (77 comments)
- 2024-09: How much should I spend on an engagement ring? Considering lab diamonds. What suggestions are there? (74 comments)
- 2023-08: What’s the average price for an engagement ring in the US? (73 comments)
- 2026-03: How much should you spend on engagement ring? Help a brother out (73 comments)
- 2024-05: How much did your ring cost? (65 comments)
- 2022-11: Did anyone get a ring that’s much cheaper than what your SO could afford or had a budget for? Or something much cheaper than your social circle/standard of living/income? (65 comments)
- and 12 more, all in the dataset
The share is the ring's price over the yearly income the buyer stated, or the share they named themselves ("two weeks' pay" is 3.8%, "two months' salary" 16.7%). A monthly income was counted as twelve months. Couples who named a household income are counted on that income.