Does Engagement Ring Needs To be Diamond?

In no way does an engagement ring need to be a diamond. An engagement does not even need a ring -- a symbol of fidelity and eternal love -- because the ring is a symbol ; it is not the commitment itself. However, if one is considering an engagement ring, the personality, style and preference of the recipient all play a role as well as any meaning or significance for the couple.

I certainly don't think that it has to be a diamond. I know it's tradition, but I think that the biggest thing about an engagement ring is that the person who will be wearing it has to like it (and not just because it's an engagement ring). If that means it is something less traditional, that's great. I think that having some originality on your style never hurts. And maybe there will be fewer blood diamonds in the mix.

"In the 1930s, De Beers set out to establish social status for large diamonds through giving a number of starlets hefty stones, arranging for glamorous photo shoots, and script-doctoring Hollywood movies to include scenes of jewelry shopping. The tradition began to be manipulated more closely in one particular aspect–the act of giving. Those starlets told tales of being surprised by their large stones. Movie scenes featured a hero giving his gal a big rock and watching her eyes grow wide with joy. The diamond began to be injected into relationships between men and women as a reproducible act–a script for life, not just film–and an inseparable part of courtship and marriage. In 1947, De Beers’ ad agency came up with the massively successful slogan "A diamond is forever," which implied that diamonds don’t crack, break, or lose value. (They do.) The slogan became so entrenched that the only proper way to "dispose" of diamonds was to hand them down to a female descendant."

This really depends on the person. Tradition says the engagement ring should cost the amount you earn in a month, and be diamond. It's best to get an idea of what she wants by asking her somehow, without indicating that you're going to buy her one.

I think most girls would like a diamond, but you can always add smaller stones either side, that perhaps have sentimental value (her birthstone for example), or that she likes. You should communicate with her and ask what is important to her. A surprise seems like a great idea but remember, she will be wearing it for years to come, possibly her whole life! Imagine if she picked out a hat that you had to wear everyday, from now on. You would want some input right? You could also consider asking her mother or sister if she has one of those still around.

To most people, the engagement ring stands for your commitment and love for each other. Whether diamond, gemstone, or a simple band, it's your promise of eternal devotion that should be seen by your fiance' every time she looks at the ring on her finger. My personal opinion is that people should move away from the "materialistic" tradition of ring giving and move toward the true meaning behind engagement and marriage. I think the whole thing is bogus. It seems unreasonable to expect men to pay 2 to 3 times your monthly salary on a ring! If you want to buy into that BS, go right ahead. With the divorce rate as high as it is, you can always find wedding rings and engagement rings at pawn shops much cheaper than at retail jewelers. Then take the rings to the jeweler for sizing and cleaning. She will never know unless you tell her.