They say you can’t put a price on love—but one woman was left feeling underwhelmed by her engagement ring, proving that isn’t always the case.
Racking up 8,400 upvotes, the Reddit post shared by u/znxncb explained that her 29-year-old boyfriend recently got down on one knee and she said yes. However, the 27-year-old soon had a change of heart when she found out how much the ring cost.
“I really liked the ring when I first saw it and my friends and family all think it is stunning,” she wrote. However, when she asked if it was diamonds or moissanite, he said he didn’t know and would have to find out by looking at the description. She then noticed he went on the Temu website, an online store that is best known for its budget-friendly deals.
“I asked him if he got it from there and he didn’t respond. So I asked again and he responded with something like ‘Does it matter?’ and left the room and ended up sleeping on the couch,” she wrote.
A stock image of a woman looking at an engagement ring. Reddit users are unimpressed with one man’s decision to propose with a ring costing less than $40.
dragana991/iStock / Getty Images Plus
The woman went on to download the shopping app and found an “identical” ring listed for $38. She points out that her partner makes “good money,” raking in $200,000 per year.
“I feel like he could’ve shelled out some money for a ring,” she said before asking if it would be wrong to say she doesn’t want it.
Since sharing the post on September 13, she has updated the post to explain that she has spoken to her partner about the ring.
“He doesn’t see eye to eye with me on my concerns about the ring and says he did research and that it was highly rated,” she wrote. “He says if the ring breaks he will replace it (but didn’t say it’d be higher quality).”
In 2023, the average cost of an engagement ring was $5,500, according to the wedding planner website The Knot. The woman states that she has lost sleep over the situation.
“I asked him what was going on if there was anything he needed to tell me, if he was ‘testing me’ by doing this,” she wrote. “Well, that really set him off. ‘What kind of person do you think I am? [Do you] think I’m a cheapskate? A liar? You obviously think really poorly of me’… but STILL he never gave me a reason.”
The conversation ended with the man suggesting she choose her ring and use her own money.
“I don’t need a 10K ring. Just preferably [not] one from a place that is like the bottom of the barrel,” she said in the comments.
A Temu representative spoke to Newsweek via email about quality control.
They said: “Temu requires sellers to ensure their products meet the applicable standards and requirements of the markets where they are sold. We conduct spot checks to ensure adherence to these rules and consistently monitor the platform for non-compliant products. We also closely review public feedback on issues, including product quality, so that we can take prompt action to address them.
“We take product quality and customer satisfaction very seriously and urge any customer with concerns about their purchase to contact our customer service team so we can look into the matter.”
Do Engagement Rings Need to Be Expensive?
Newsweek discussed the price of rings with wedding event planner, Aurelija Gintaliene, to find out if the cost really matters.
She said: “In society, there are stigmas attached to spending less money on an engagement ring. But honestly, in my opinion, it depends entirely on the couple who are in a loving relationship with each other to make the call.
“In Western societies, men are encouraged to buy rings that are expensive. For example, it should be worth three months of their salary. Some cultures even claim that if the engagement ring is expensive, then the greater the love will be between the couple.
“Ideally, the only time expense should factor in is regarding the quality of the ring. These rings signify commitment and are worn for a long time, so they should be a high-quality and long-lasting piece of jewelry. There are also some cultures where a ring isn’t even a part of the engagement proceedings.”
Gintaliene, the chief operating officer and co-founder of Breezit, a wedding planner website, explained that people have been urged to “select rings more thoughtfully,” these days.
She explained that some couples prioritize using funds for a home or shared experiences over expensive rings. Others prefer understated jewelry or family heirlooms that reflect their personality. Additionally, ethical concerns about diamond sourcing have become increasingly important for many.
Reddit Reacts
The post seems to have caused a stir online amassing almost 6,000 comments.
“Engagement rings don’t have to be expensive but they should be good quality since you’re expecting to wear it the rest of your life,” said one user.
Another wrote: “38.00$$$$. Here’s the thing. If this guy thought there was nothing wrong with this he would’ve told you where he got it. The fact that he wouldn’t tell you tells me that he knows it’s effed up.”
Newsweek reached out to u/znxncb for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
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