Dating a woman that wants $10k engagement ring. Red flag? Drop her?

$10,000 is NOTHING in 2025/26. Rule has always been "2-3 months salary!" 10 K is nothing, unless you have no college degree! Prince Harry went so cheap on Meghan's engagement ring! Center stone is like 1.7 carat. The 2 side diamonds are 2 small crap diamonds from one of Diana's old things. The band was ugly! Meghan haf to re-do it 2 more times her ring so ugly! Hairy had access to crown jewels, crown jeweler ,ans Diana's collection. The ring was a dud!

This is America and we are all materialist on some lever. Don't judge. I would buy her the ring.

This is America and we are all materialist on some level. Don't judge.

Buy her the ring.

You know the “rule” was established by the diamond industry, right? It’s one of the most successful marketing campaigns in history—a self-promoting guideline so simple that it’s literally passed down generation to generation and looked at as some sort of cultural norm.

I proposed to my wife with my grandmother’s engagement ring—an antique hand-me-down that cost me nothing. A couple of years later when we were in slightly better financial shape I got her a ~$9,800 ring, because I knew she wanted it and I wanted to give it to her. That was almost twenty years ago though—not sure what $10k would get you today.

If your money is funny, I get where you are coming from, but that is about what I paid over 20 years ago. $10K does sound like a lot, but I suspect working adults with professional jobs it's about average. When you are young, spending lots of money on jewelry can seem impractical, but plain and simple, your woman has to show that ring to everyone she knows and wear it the rest of her life (full stop) The choice between being frugal and making someone you love happy is a no brainer. My suggestion is to bite the bullet and save up, sell some stuff, work overtime, use credit or whatever it takes to buy her the best ring you can. - Sage advice from an OG.

So, are you transactional in all aspects of life? How's that workin' for ya?

Try being present in the moment. See what happens.

Interesting update on this topic from CNBC. I think it speaks to sharing the burden and women having money too.

I don’t know much about cost, but I do notice when I ring is tiny and/or cloudy. Like the small ring Sean McGorty gave Hannah Stealman. Yikes that thing.

cnbc.com

Nearly 71% of women would help pay for their engagement ring: They may see a ring as 'proof of worthiness and desirability,' says expert

https://www.facebook.com/CNBC

Though historically men have bought engagement rings, most women are now willing to contribute to the cost of the coveted piece of jewelry.

Open link

It's a bit of a red flag. If it's a one off, then you might be okay. But if the behavior/requests continue, I'd get the hell out of Dodge. But on the other hand, you don't appear to be a prize yourself.

She shouldn’t have to ask for it or lay down a price (heh), but you also should try your best not to have a “dead bedroom.”

The guys who put the ring on credit are the saddest.

huge red flag. any person that puts a certain price on an engagement ring needs to be thrown to the curb. a sure sign of trouble ahead.

I assume if you've reached the engagement ring discussion stage, you have known her for a while. So, her attitude should not be new by now. Is she materialistic in general?

Read the book "Stoned" by Aja Raden, You will never think about jewelry and engagement rings the same again.