When it comes to your engagement ring, you likely have a crystal-clear picture of exactly what you want. But would you be willing to pay to see that sparkling bling on your finger? Or is it more important your partner pop the question with something he or she purchased solo? We asked our readers to weigh in on whether they'd ever be willing to split the cost of their engagement rings—to get the perfect diamond or to relieve their partners of financial stress—and here's what they had to say.
Women who would (or did ) split the cost say
"I would definitely consider splitting the cost of the engagement ring with my partner. We already share the bulk of expenses—so it would just seem right to me to share this investment too. I would hate to feel that my partner has absorbed any pressure or financial burden to get me a piece of jewelry." —Vanessa
"My husband and I are just starting out, and given our student debt and the less-than-ideal economy, I don't think it's smart to go into debt over a ring. [Before we got engaged] I told him I didn't need a ring and I would be willing to split the cost if he really wanted to get me one." —Lia
Women who would have split the cost—but didn't—say
"I offered to buy my own ring before we got engaged, because I knew he was cash-strapped and I'm doing pretty well financially—but he was not OK with that. He wound up getting help from his family members, so it all worked out in the end, and it's even more special that everyone came together in that way for us. But, honestly, if you really want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you should at least be willing to step in and help, especially if you have specific requests that might be difficult for him to fulfill on his own." —Rebecca
"I would have considered splitting the cost of the engagement ring, but my husband decided he wanted to buy the ring himself. There's something about the engagement ring that feels more traditional and more of a reflection on the man, which is why he wanted to buy the best ring he could afford and that I liked. However, because the wedding ring is usually a little more casual—less bling!—than an engagement ring, and I want a specific type, we have decided we will split the cost on it." —Melissa
Women who would not split the cost say
"I would never ever consider splitting the cost of an engagement ring. If a guy isn't willing to invest in you or your future at the very beginning, what will he ever bring to the table? I think if he allows you to split the cost of the engagement ring, you need to run in the other direction and quickly. He's probably a mama's boy who will be looking for you to take care of him the same way she did." —Chantay
"I wouldn't give this a second thought: If he can't buy the ring himself, he needs to keep saving, get an extra job, or do something else so that he can." —Michelle
"I'm not saying it's cheap or easy, but if you want to ask someone to spend the rest of her life with you, I think you should be willing and able to buy the ring or you should wait to ask. I mean, think about it: No one says, 'I'd like to buy you this Christmas present, but to make that happen, I need you to give me $1,000.' That's not how gift-giving works. You don't ask someone to contribute to something you want to give her." —Anna
"I want to be surprised, so it wouldn't occur to me to offer to split the cost of a ring. And if he asked me to give him money toward it, I would feel offended. I would feel as if asking me to marry him wasn't important enough—that I wasn't important enough—for him to save even just a few hundred dollars. That could be a deal breaker." —Jane
In a rush for a ring? Watch Glamour’s Engagement Chicken Story: How One Roasted Chicken Recipe Got 70+ Single Women Engaged.