Put a ring on it: 1 in 3 women think their partner is ‘the one’

NEW YORK — Spending so much time in isolation due to COVID-19 isn’t always a bad thing. For many women in the United States, it’s given them the time they need to realize their partner is “the one.” A survey of 2,000 American women finds one in three are ready to go engagement ring shopping.

The OnePoll survey adds that even more women agree they should have a say in the engagement ring that will eventually go on their finger. Six in 10 respondents say they should be giving input on what the ring looks like.

Among the women already engaged or married in the poll, 51 percent say they had some say in picking out the ring their partner purchased. Thirty-six percent picked their engagement ring with their fiancé and 10 percent actually picked it out by themselves. Another five percent got their friends to give their partner a hint on what they wanted.

For men preparing to pop the question, the survey finds 41 percent of women who didn’t have a say in the ring selection admit they wished they had been consulted. The poll, commissioned by Angara.com, adds 32 percent think the “ideal” engagement ring includes white gold. Just over half (52%) think it should have a diamond center and 44 percent want a diamond halo.

Although the coronavirus pandemic is causing a lot of stress, many women find it’s helping them get to know their partner much faster than ever before. Nearly half (46%) say one month in quarantine feels the same as spending one year in a relationship.

That engagement ring had better be special

No matter what kind of ring a couple settles on, women know one thing — theirs has to be completely unique. Six in 10 say their ideal engagement ring would be different from what other women are wearing. Four in 10 say they won’t be caught dead wearing “the same diamond engagement ring that everyone else seems to have right now.” Nearly half the poll adds they believe their fiancé should being wearing some sort of engagement ring as well.

While diamonds are the traditional stone of choice, many couples are opting for other colored gems and precious stones in their perfect rings. Blue sapphires, emeralds, and moonstones made the list of the top gem choices.

“The majority of buyers on Angara.com are buying colored gemstone engagement rings instead of the traditional diamond engagement ring,” Angara CEO Ankur Daga says in a statement. “The choice of gemstone selected is often based on the birth month or favorite color of the partner, making it more personal and unique.”

Who’s paying?

Although it may seem like the man who’s asking the big question is the one buying the ring, the poll finds this burden is often shared these days. Three in 10 respondents believe the woman wearing the ring should pay some part of the bill.

Among married and engaged Americans, 17 percent split the cost of their engagement ring with their partner and 22 percent actually paid the entire bill. As for what that special rock is costing, respondents are typically saving up $1,206.38 for their life-changing piece of jewelry.

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