How much does one spend for the engagement ring? Ask yourself what your budget is and how much you and your fiancée value the purchase itself.

The engagement ring is a very important symbol of a couples upcoming marriage. But many think it is an investment in the property of the family.. One item of wealth that regardless of outcome will be hers and for some is an investment in the future of the bride. For still others, it is an annoying or even dangerous bit of jewelry that only stuffy tradition requires. Clearly every couple considered above has a very different idea of what an engagement ring should cost.

De Beer's company has long been active in making diamond rings the required ring for engagements and initiated a media blitz that the amount of money spent on a ring should be equal to "two months of the buyer's income." Engagement rings were not required before De Beers increased the value of mined diamonds.

Knowing that, you are in a much better position to make choices together about what you want in an engagement ring. If the first point for both is a combination of investment for the family and security for women, may be a more appropriate value in a ring that De Beers' two months' salary.

Something worthy of investment may be quite expensive. If the ring is primarily a symbol, though, of loving intentions and faith, then as small an amount as a hundred dollars or so on a semi-precious stone or a good simulated diamond may be completely satisfying to all involved.

If you know what you want to purchase, and are comfortable with the amount you wanna spend, what you should do is check the current prices on stones and gold. A quick Internet search will turn up at least one of these.

Rings are often much more expensive than solely the materials used to make the ring. Once you are aware of the component expenses, you will understand the amount of markup for other services such as layout, handwork and advertising.

The point is that an engagement ring is an open choice, with many possible options to suit each couple. The cost is not as important as the goal of your purchase. There is no "right" or "wrong" amount, unless you pay more than the actual value of the ring.

Instead there is a right amount for you, and a wrong amount for you, and any ring, no matter how beautiful, is the wrong ring at the wrong price if it fails to provide the value you are seeking.