How much should an engagement ring cost? Should an engagement ring cost 3 months of the groom’s salary?
Weddings are full of traditions. One of them has to do with the value of the engagement ring.
Called “the three-month salary rule,” it implies that the groom must allocate three months of his salary to buy the engagement ring.
So… The more expensive the ring, the more the groom earns? Is this how it all started?
Why should the ring cost three months’ salary?
This rule dates back to the 1930s, during the Great Depression. The diamond industry was struggling to sell products due to the financial pressure American citizens faced.
Jewelry store De Beers launched a marketing campaign that aimed to increase sales of diamond engagement rings.
Until then, diamond rings were not the norm for engagement jewelry.
To change this narrative (and improve its bottom line), De Beers’ campaign claimed that diamond engagement rings were a true symbol of love and that buyers should commit a month of their salary toward the purchase.
According to the American Gem Society, this advertising campaign increased diamond sales by 50%.
At the end of the 20th century, about 80% of engagement rings included diamonds. This marketing campaign continued over the years, and in the 1980s, the number increased by two months, which eventually became three months’ worth of salary.
“A diamond is forever” was the legendary phrase De Beers successfully linked engagement rings to diamonds, and its price guide was accepted as the appropriate amount of money to spend on a gemstone.
But does this still ring true today?
How much should an engagement ring cost?
If you know how much to spend on your partner’s dream ring, the three-month salary rule can certainly be used as a general guide. but it doesn’t have to be taken so literally.
An engagement ring is a piece that will be worn every day for the rest of your life, so it is important to invest in a quality design that matches the couple’s taste.
The price of an engagement ring is personal, although it may be a surprise (or not), it is something that should be discussed as a couple.
Not everyone agrees to spend fortunes or dreams of a specific engagement ring, both boyfriends and girlfriends.
If you spend thousands of pesos on an expensive ring It’s not realistic for you or your lifestyle.it is perfectly fine to reduce your price no matter what your groom’s salary is, that money can be used to cover many other needs.
In Mexico, a diamond engagement ring starts at $3,800 pesos at online jewelry stores like Infiniti. The price will depend on the size, quality and number of diamonds.
According to reports, the Mexican bride prefers gems between 25 and 55 points (taking into account that 100 points are equivalent to 1 carat), which range between $17 thousand and $70 thousand pesos.
After thinking about the material (gold, silver, titanium or platinum), the stone (diamond, zirconia or some other precious stone) and the budget.
Lastly, find out the size. In this other article we tell you how to know a ring size.