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When it comes to dating and relationships, I’m an old-fashioned guy. If my doctor tested my blood pressure whenever a girl insisted on paying for herself, which I should have considered a godsend, I probably would have been hot-shotted to the ICU. Obviously, relationships are give and take, but the man is traditionally the provider (or, at least, the primary provider). But social evolution has changed things. Now, more women than men are attending college, and a man is more likely than ever to marry a woman who is college educated, independent, and has a good job. It creates an interesting dynamic.
All that said, I’m definitely comfortable with ladies dishing out some serious dough is when it comes to the engagement watch. Let’s break down the numbers. The old-fashioned rule of thumb for buying a woman’s engagement ring is spending about three months’ gross salary. Depending on your current job that can be anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 or even more if you’re really raking it in. What does a man’s plain wedding band cost? The average selling price of a man’s wedding band is around $600. Platinum, the most expensive, yet still boring, probably runs about $2000 max. If I’m dishing out well over $10,000 already, I’ll buy my own wedding band. What I want is an engagement watch.
If you look at the commitments being made during a proposal, a man is dropping five figures on a diamond ring while the woman is likely laying out $600 to $1000 for his band. That risk balance is way off. If she calls off the engagement and keeps the ring, he’s out enough money to buy a decent used car. If he can drop that kind of money to show his commitment, the least she can do is buy him the most popular item of jewelry among men—a nice watch.
It doesn’t have to be a ridiculously expensive watch. It doesn’t even need to cost as much as the ring. In fact, it probably shouldn’t be THAT close to the cost of the ring, since her parents are likely paying the lion’s share, if not all, of the wedding expenses…traditionally, that is. A low-end Rolex Datejust costs $3,000 to $5,000. And guys will love it. It shows your commitment and he’s literally going to look at it every day. His friends and coworkers likely won’t comment on his wedding band like they do when they see a woman’s diamond, but you better believe they’ll comment on him wearing a Rolex or another luxury brand watch. And if the trade off for the watch is buying my own wedding band, so be it. Or, ladies, you can pull a power move and buy both.
The battle between traditional gender roles and women wanting to be independent will continue through eternity. This dives deep into the power couple rabbit hole, and that’s another topic for another column, probably written by another person if we’re being completely honest. However, I do believe that among all the squabbles over who pays for drinks, who pays for dinner, and who is spending too much damn money on shoes, the engagement watch is the best way for a woman to stake her claim and show her commitment to what will be, God willing, a lifelong relationship..
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@5OClockShadow_
Bought myself an engagement watch last year. Still single, no girlfriend in sight
You’ve committed yourself to a life-long relationship to engaging in the chase.
Good luck with the CFAs on top of that, chief.
In exchange for the engagement ring I bought for my wife, she bought me NHL season tickets.
You married a saint, good sir.
I would happily make that trade
Better than an engagement watch.
Does the woman normally get the guy something after they get an engaged?
She damn well better.
“Depending on your current job that can be anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 or even more if you’re really raking it in.” Forgot to say “even less if you aren’t raking it in at all.”
My now wife gave me an Omega Speedmaster not 10 literal minutes after I proposed. Apparently she had it for months waiting for my dumb ass to pull the trigger.
The three months’ salary rule is “no more than three months’ salary”, not that exact amount. Don’t spend $10,000 on a ring. If your girlfriend wants you to spend that much on a ring, you should not be marrying her.
Yeah, and that “rule” (started by an advertising agency) used to be 1-2 months salary.
I’m still team Engagement Vacation so you can both enjoy it. I’d rather have memories and experiences than an expensive ring
Sup?
Preach
Got married recently and my (now) wife got me a used Breitling Bentley. Significantly more affordable than her ring but god damn if it is not my favorite gift of all time (after my Ghostbusters playhouse when I was 5). I wear it pretty much daily and consistently get compliments on it.
I’m sorry for the downvote, i now realize Bently is also a watch company and your wife didn’t buy you a 6 figure car.
If my wife could afford a Bentley believe me I wouldn’t be working this shitty job
Breitling* is the company
Got into a debate with a few of my buddies girlfriends at a pregame over this. Let’s just say it didn’t go very well. They of course said they don’t care if their rings cost $100 or $10,000 (lies). They ended with guys should be happy a girl is marrying them and it’s ridiculous that a girl should buy their husband a watch.
That logic, or lack thereof, does not bode well for your friends
They are pretending they have platinum vagines like Corrine.
Should pay a friend to test that theory, preferably one whose girlfriend you can’t stand.
You should’ve segued that conversation with those same girlfriends into a discussion on equal pay for bonus hilarity.
Think we need a column on here debunking that myth, and by myth I mean the commonly cited difference.
They all want to be stay at home moms, even though they all have massive student loan debts (not that being a stay at home mom isn’t commendable, it is).
Approximately 33% of millennial women want to be a stay at home mom. True statistic.
Damn. Good for them, but I’m hoping my future wife is a baller.
I don’t like the statistic either. I would want my wife (assuming I can get a girl to like me, LOL) to have a job.
The idea of being a stay at home mom actually makes my skin crawl. Any guy that tried to get me to not work after we got married is a guy I want very very far away from me.
Sup?
Perhaps the women should be happy they’re marrying a person that traditionally should take care of them for their entire lives. Must suck to be them.
*checks time piece* “Babe our reservation is in 7 minutes and the uber is here, you almost ready?”
“Where’s the closest pawn shop”
This is a great idea. However, if I’d still be waiting for my wife to save up for a Rolex on her teacher’s salary instead of celebrating our third wedding anniversary…..Aww I get it now … brilliant idea.