Would you go this far for your dream engagement ring?

By NATALIA HAWK

I have this trick I use sometimes at parties when I get stuck talking to… how do I put this diplomatically… the person nobody else wants to talk to.

Just when they’re sounding off about the diarrhea they’ve had for days, or the holiday they took to Zimbabwe five years ago, I pull out my phone and bring up the Tiffany Ring Finder app. And then I start showing them my dream engagement ring, and talking about how it costs about $14,000.

And suddenly, I am the person at the party who nobody else wants to talk to.

It works perfectly. Because everyone seems to get really freaked out about the fact that I am 22 and nowhere near engaged, yet have still:

a) downloaded the Ring Finder app, and

b) actually picked out my future engagement ring, and

c) picked a bloody expensive one .

To them, I say the following things:

a) It’s a really fun app okay, and

b) I’ve just picked a guideline ring, and let my best friends know, so I don’t find myself in a Sex-and-the-City-type of situation where Carrie got that GOLD ring from Aidan, and

c) You have to (hopefully) wear that thing every day for the rest of your life – I personally think it’s worth forking out the cash for a good one.

And no, I’m not insane. I’m just like a whole lot of other women out there who would like a really nice engagement ring.

According to a new poll, a third of women would do actually do ANYTHING to get their dream engagement ring. Including – get this – chipping in for the ring with their own money.

One in five women are apparently even promising to have a smaller wedding if they can get a bigger ring – forgoing the ice sculptures and swans for the Tiffany diamonds.

And the men’s perspective? This from the Daily Mail:

The poll, conducted by jewellery brand Taylor and Co, also found that 23% of women believe that a man’s love can be judged by the amount of money he spends on the ring. Which is terrible news for all those in traditionally low-paid careers, really.

Sorry men.

So. How far would you go to get your dream engagement ring?

I’d like to take the time now to establish that – despite all the judgements you may have already formed about me while reading this article – I am not a crazy person. Despite my planning, I’d be happy with just about any ring my significant other chose for me – after all, it’s the gesture that counts, not the exact price tag.

Plus I don’t want to bargain away the giant chocolate fountain I’m planning for the wedding reception.

Over to you – do engagement rings matter?