[runawaybottle]

I guess I was being a little tongue in cheek, but I’m mostly implying the discussion is not as simple as ‘hey this is really expensive, what about this cheaper alternative’. It’s a delicate thing because for many people it’s one of four things they probably dreamt about their whole life - marriage, ring, baby, house. There’s a lot of emotion behind all of it.

I’d love to be able to convince her that the ring money would do great in a Vanguard fund instead :p.

Edit: Looks like I have to put this disclaimer, for many people the things I listed above are milestones (not for all).

[GaryNumanVevo]

It's pretty offensive to assume that women just want "marriage, ring, baby, house"

[cambalache]

Yes! There is money too

[macintux]

Let’s leave the misogyny somewhere else. Ideally nowhere, but definitely not here.

[Cerium]

Well, you don't put emphasis on the price. I recently got my wife some diamond earrings. I would have bought her mined diamonds, but was considering lab produced stones. What is the difference? The difference is that lab stones are essentially "organic" diamonds - they cut out the suffering and corruption (pesticides) from the production of something nice. She liked the idea of getting a product that is part of an ethical supply chain. I enjoyed getting a nicer stones for half the price.