What's the Three-Month Rule for Engagement Rings, And Does It Still Even Matter?
At some point, we all decided that diamond engagement rings mattered. It was the standard in the West and we followed it wholeheartedly. In a world of high-class etiquette, the big expensive engagement ring became small monuments to such ideas. So much so that we even decided to create a three-month rule for it, too.
While its relevance may have dwindled over the years, the three-month rule remains part of the zeitgeist simply because of its historical origins. It sort of was a standard for a certain kind of exchange that equated love to consumerism. Does it still matter? You be the judge of that.
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How the Three-Month Rule for Diamond Engagement Rings Started
The "etiquette," if we can call it that, was said to have begun during The Great Depression. This was when diamond sales plummeted with most people's focus being, well, survival. De Beers, the diamond company that started this whole diamond engagement ring thing, would go on to launch a marketing campaign that would elevate diamond rings to the ultimate symbol of a man's love and loyalty, arguably the most successful of all time.
We have to understand that in those days, diamond engagement rings weren't exactly the norm for those who wanted to marry. What De Beers did was nothing short of propaganda, really. In the '30s, the concept of buying partners an expensive rock came out of thin air. By the latter half of the century, everybody seemed to jump on the craze. It was a tradition at that point.
Part of the campaign was the talking point that men should spend at least one month's worth of their salary to buy their partner a ring. Over time, one month turned into three. With that, diamond engagement ring sales would soar, with more and more men believing in the made-up rule. Look how far we've come.
How Affordable Is Affordable?
According to this report from Cosmo, Filipino men can get an 18-carat diamond with a 14K gold band at roughly P20,000. A .21 carat with the same band could cost P5,000 more. But the sweet spot is more or less P40,000 to P90,000, according to most reports. This is reserved for your standard rings with no added special features or designs. A recent guide by Sateur Official, on the other hand, says that the average amount Filipino men spend is around P150,000 to P400,000.
Note: Always look at the difference in carats. A 1.8-carat diamond is much more affordable than a 2-carat one. Plus, the difference isn't noticeable. This is one of the rare times that downsizing seems to be a better option (if you're on a tight budget).
Remember: it was never about the price point, alright? In the end, things like someone's income and lifestyle should be considered carefully when choosing that rock. Debt, too. The fact of the matter is that diamond engagement rings were once just a fad that grew into something more. That three-month rule is there simply because De Beers willed it to be there. It's a matter of personal preference and you can always upgrade when need be. Hope this can squash your diamond-crusted anxieties.
