Ring facts & stats

Question 1

A famous De Beers ad campaign helped grow U.S. diamond sales from about $23 million in 1939 to how much by 1979?

Accepted Answer

$2.1 billion. That 40-year campaign is widely credited with making diamonds the default engagement-ring stone.

Question 2

In a 2015 academic study of engagement spending, about what share of couples reported buying no ring at all?

Accepted Answer

nearly 25%. That runs counter to the assumption that a ring is an essential part of every engagement.

Question 3

In that same 2015 study, about what share of couples spent less than $2,000 on their ring?

Accepted Answer

about one-third. Ring spending in that study skewed much lower than popular assumptions about 'a month's salary.'

Question 4

In that same 2015 study, what share of couples spent MORE than $4,000 on a ring?

Accepted Answer

fewer than 15%. Big-ticket rings were actually the exception rather than the rule among couples surveyed.

Expert level