Are Engagement Rings More Expensive That Wedding Rings?

Last updated on April 24, 2023

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Wedding traditions vary around the world but one very common set of traditions includes an initial gifting of an engagement ring by proposing marriage and then at a later date the exchanging of wedding bands as part of the marriage ceremony.

Now many people take both these ring giving practices seriously and some big money can get dropped on these meaningful pieces of jewelry. The question we are looking at today is, do we spend more money on the engagement ring or the wedding ring?

Engagement Ring History

To fully answer this question it is probably best to get a little background established regarding both types of rings.

According to anthropologists the first engagement rings may date back to Roman times. In a rather archaic tradition by today's standards Roman men would give their prospective brides an engagement ring when they accepted the proposal. Upon this ring was a small key which was an indication that the man now owned his future wife.

I know, not a great start but it gets better folks times have changed. This tradition obviously has evolved over the years. Our next big notable milestone was the introduction of diamond engagement rings. It was Archduke Maximillian of Austria who in 1477 commissioned the first diamond engagement ring for his intended Mary of Burgundy.

This would spark a tradition of using diamond engagement rings by European nobility and the aristocracy. For several hundred years it remained the practice of the upper classes but around the Victorian period the trend really took off and became more widespread.

When the DeBeer mines opened, diamonds became more accessible to a wider audience which the company quickly capitalized on. Their ad campaigns during the 1930s featured stars of Hollywood adorned in their diamonds which despite the great recession caused their sales to increase by 50% over 3 years.

It was DeBeers again with another now iconic ad campaign that cemented diamonds as the go to gem for engagement rings with their “Diamonds are Forever” slogan. This was in 1947 and ever since diamond engagement rings have become the norm.

History of Wedding Bands

The history of wedding rings or bands dates back to Rome and Greece where the sharing of rings was initially considered part of the dowry. It would later become more of a symbol for fidelity. There are a number of differing traditions surrounding wedding bands.

Some traditions saw gimmel rings whereby each person had two bands, the first they wore after engagement but before the marriage. The second was then added to the first after the wedding took place.

It is very common today for both bride and groom to receive a ring during the ceremony and to then wear them from that point onwards. This is going to be pertinent because it speaks to the type of ring a wedding band will be.

How Are Engagement Rings Different from Wedding Rings?

We will start with an important distinction between engagement rings and wedding rings. When we get engaged the person who accepts the proposal will tend to wear that ring up until the point they actually wed. They may wear it beyond that but they also may equally store the ring away safely and just wear the wedding band.

Essentially the point I am trying to make is that often engagement rings are not designed to be worn everyday for the rest of our lives, wedding rings are different. The tradition is that once we accept the wedding ring it is the sign of fidelity and will remain on the ring finger from that point on.

It should be obvious then that a wedding band should be designed to be durable as well as attractive. Often it may be a simple precious metal ring with perhaps an inscription or just some understated gemstones. The engagement ring however is often far more ornate and not built with longevity of wear in mind.

Why Are Engagement Rings More Expensive Than Wedding Bands?

As we have established more theatre goes into the engagement ring than into the wedding band. The engagement ring is intended to be showy and impressive while the wedding ring should be comfortable to wear and solid so as to avoid becoming damaged.

The Engagement Ring Usually Gets a Diamond

As mentioned, the now accepted traditions mean that many people will choose to get a diamond engagement ring. Diamond is a very sought after gemstone prized for its amazing ability to produce sparkle and brilliance as well as its reputation as the hardest natural material on the planet.

Quality diamonds are rare so they cost a lot of money to buy and also fit into an engagement ring setting. The more expensive the diamond in the ring the more the whole piece costs. Wedding bands do not have diamonds traditionally but this does not mean that they can not.

Design

A wedding band will tend to be simpler in design with not a great deal of adornment and intricate design. As such its simplicity will tend to keep costs down. Engagement rings are meant to be ornate and beautiful and because they have diamonds set into them they also need to be more intricate.

The more design goes into an engagement ring the more it will likely cost. In contrast wedding rings may just be a simple precious metal ring with engraving and perhaps a small gemstone but nothing too flashy.

The Engagement Ring Needs Wow Factor

I don’t necessarily love this concept as it feels hugely superficial but the truth is the truth and the facts are the facts. It is expected societally that the proposing party will spend big money on the engagement ring to make sure it is stunning and wows their potential marriage partner.

The point is to impress your intended fiancé with a beautiful ring that will make them thrilled at the concept of spending the rest of their lives with you. It will involve trying to determine your partner's tastes and what they find beautiful when it comes to jewelry.

When it comes to going overboard and flashy I admit I am not a fan. The idea that not getting an impressive enough ring to get a person who says they love you to want to marry is a little distasteful. In my opinion if someone turns down a proposal because the ring is not flashy enough then perhaps it isn’t the best match.

Can You Save Money on Engagement Rings?

Engagement rings I feel will always cost more money than the wedding rings they just will because they do have to be more special. They do not however have to break the bank.

Diamonds Are Not the Only Choice

I know we said diamonds are the tradition but look around at the world today we are all born rebels and we can live our lives our own way. Some people are not huge fans of the diamond industry for some very good reasons so they would be horrified to wear a diamond.

Realistically if the person you are planning to ask to marry you hates diamonds but has shown favor for a different gemstone then you are proving you understand them to say not today to the diamond and including a different stone instead.

These alternatives could be gems they have expressed interest in or perhaps their birth stone. Below you will find birthstones for each month.

• January: Garnet
• February: Amethyst
• March: Aquamarine
• April: Diamond
• May: Emerald
• June: Pearl
• July: Ruby
• August: Peridot
• September: Sapphire
• October: Opal
• November: Citrine
• December: Blue Topaz

If your intended was born in April I know, you're kind of out of luck but if they don’t like diamonds hopefully they have a gemstone they do love and that means something to them.

Try Lab-Grown Diamonds

Those who perhaps have an issue with the diamond industry's history of human rights abuses but who still want a diamond may consider getting a lab-grown diamond. Now these are not like cubic zirconia or moissanite which are diamond substitutes, these are real diamonds.

Despite the fact they were grown in the lab and not in the ground over billions of years, man-made diamonds are chemically speaking 100% the same as natural diamonds. They are legally speaking real diamonds but as they are less desirable because of their origin they are much cheaper to buy.

Lovers Knot Rings

Some people are just not the type to be distracted by shiny and flashy and there is the possibility that your intended partner in life would rather have something simple but meaningful. You may not need any gemstones if they feel that a simple lovers knot engagement ring is more their style.

Final Thoughts

Keeping all things traditional, engagement rings will usually be much more expensive than wedding rings. They serve two different purposes in the traditions of marriage and there are certain expectations regarding engagement rings.

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