After Cristiano Ronaldo hit the headlines thanks to the enormous $5m engagement ring he presented to his fiancée, Georgina Rodríguez, new research from 77 Diamonds has found that the vast majority of UK women would actually rather wear a smaller, more subtle engagement ring.
Georgina Rodríguez’s ring certainly makes a bold statement, with a centre diamond estimated to measure between 35-40 carats, but 77 Diamonds has surveyed 1,000 UK women and found that, for the vast majority of women, making a statement isn’t especially important.
While 29% of respondents do state that having an engagement ring that makes a statement is desirable, an overwhelming 71% don’t place much importance on it at all.
Furthermore, even if you do want to make a statement, it appears that size isn’t the best way to go.
Quality and style is more impactful than size
In fact, most women (30%) say that the best way of making a statement with an engagement ring is to opt for a piece that is custom-made, suggesting that a bespoke, one-off ring is far more eye-catching than the size of the gemstone.
For 19% of women, the most eye-catching element of a gemstone is its style and cut, while 16% say it’s the sparkle that matters most. It appears, therefore, that the strongest statement is made by the quality of a stone instead of its size. In fact, fewer than 10% of respondents said size matters most
When asked to express their opinion on large, blingy engagement rings, the most common response was that they are excessive, showy, and impractical (62%). A further 33% of women said they’re nice, but not to their personal taste, while just 6% love them, describing them as glamorous and bold.
Such is the preference for understated engagement rings that when asked whether they would ultimately prefer to wear a big piece or something smaller and subtle, a huge 93% opted for the latter.
Co-founder of 77 Diamonds, Tobias Kormind, commented:
“An engagement ring is a symbol of love, not status. While some may be drawn to the brilliance of a bold, show-stopping diamond, others find beauty in simplicity and subtlety. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to love, and the same is true for engagement rings. What matters most is that the ring reflects the unique connection between two people. Whether it’s custom-made, vintage-inspired, or a delicate classic, the perfect ring is the one that feels most meaningful to you.”
Survey results
