It’s not the size of the bling but the thought of the ring that counts

Men seem to feel pressure to propose with a really expensive ring, thinking that it will signal thoughtfulness.

Men seem to feel pressure to propose with a really expensive ring, thinking that it will signal thoughtfulness, when in reality their future fiancées don’t differentiate between more and less expensive diamonds. This isn’t simply a gender difference – it highlights the differences in how givers and receivers perceive the costs of gifts.

Through surveying engaged couples online our study Money can’t buy love: Asymmetric beliefs about gift price and feelings of appreciation found that men thought the more they spent on their rings, the more their fiancées appreciated them.  Fiancées, on the other hand, did not feel any more appreciative if the rings were more costly.

This shows that men shouldn’t feel bad if they can’t afford to buy the ring they really want. It is more important for people to realise that 'it's the thought that counts', especially in these challenging economic times when people are really strapped for cash.