In this thread, gatorman seeks advice on how much to spend on an engagement ring. Basically, his SO wants a Tiffany diamond, and he has a $30K bonus soon that he’s willing to spend on it. I’m not pitting gatorman or his SO, but seriously, WTF?
$30K is 20% of a house in some places.
I hate diamonds. I think they’re ugly, and can’t understand the reasoning behind buying one. Maybe a rare yellow diamond, at least it has some color. But just a regular diamond? They’re ridiculously overpriced and look like cut glass. OK, sure, I haven’t seen a $30K diamond, and maybe they are really pretty, but that’s just it. They’re pretty, they serve no other purpose.
I’m not against jewelry, I have a few pretty rings I really like. But they all cost less than $50, and though I could see spending more on engagement or wedding rings, I couldn’t stomach spending more than a few hundred dollars.
If a guy proposed with a $30K ring, I probably wouldn’t dump him, but I would at least smack him and make him take the ring back. I’d be flattered that a guy was willing to spend that much on me, but that could be money that we spent on a house or car, things much more important to me than pretty jewelry. Shit, even if he wanted to spend it on something frivolous because he thinks it’s romantic or thinks I’m worth it, take me to fucking Paris for a month! I’d appreciate that a hell of a lot more than some ugly ring.
I also hate that, because it’s the norm, someone who doesn’t spend 2 months’ income or some other ridiulous amount on an engagement ring is seen as cheap, or doesn’t love you as much as some other wahoo who might be willing to drop 5 figures on a fucking rock. I’ll be thrilled with an emerald or sapphire in a nice setting that still leaves enough money for a honeymoon. Or the wedding itself, for that matter. Even if a guy had more than enough to spend, and $30K was a drop in the bucket, I’d appreciate him, instead of"showing his love for me" with one stupid piece of jewelry, surprising me with a weekend in Rome or Athens or London 10 or 20 times. Or buying a summer house on the shore.
Or by, I dunno, actually enjoying my company and actively making time to spend with me.
Fuck consumer culture. Fuck conspicuous consumption. Fuck Tiffany’s.