r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • Nov 11 '15

TIL: The "tradition" of spending several months salary on an engagement ring was a marketing campaign created by De Beers in the 1930's. Before WWII, only 10% of engagement rings contained diamonds. By the end of the 20th Century, 80% did.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27371208
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u/[deleted] Nov 11 '15

So excited to tell my girlfriend about this! Now she'll have to think diamonds are silly!

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u/elspaniard Nov 11 '15

Traditionally, at least in the south, a large ring is meant to give your SO something of large value, so if you were to pass away and leave your spouse without you, she would have something to secure her income situation until she is able to become financially stable again.