By Danielle Moore // SWNS
NEWS COPY w/ VIDEO AND INFOGRAPHIC
One in three American women in a relationship say that the COVID-19 pandemic made them realize that their current partner is “the one,” according to new research.
A new survey of 2,000 American women revealed that 32% of those with a partner think their current one is a keeper – suggesting that rings could soon be on the brain.
The study also examined the new norms, in the eyes of women, surrounding getting engaged.
Sixty percent of respondents agreed that the person wearing the engagement ring should have a say in what it looks like.
And over half of married and engaged respondents (51%) had some say in choosing their ring, with 36% having picked out the ring with their partner, 10% having picked the ring out by themselves and 5% having shown their friends what they liked, who then in turn gave their partner hints.
Would-be fiancés should note that consulting their partner on the ring is probably a good way to get that “Yes!”, as a full 41% of those whose partner didn’t consult them before making a selection say that they wish their partner had.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Angara.com, the study also looked at the engagement trends that have emerged in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.
Forty-six percent of respondents in a relationship said that one month of living with a partner during quarantine feels like the equivalent of spending a year in a relationship – which is likely at least partially accountable for the prevalence of revelations that their current partner is “the one.”
Top attributes named as part of the “ideal” engagement ring included white gold as the primary metal (32%), a diamond center (52%) and a diamond halo (44%).
Sixty percent of respondents, moreover, say their ideal engagement ring is a piece no one else has.
But while they want theirs to be unique, they seem to think engagement rings on the whole should be more prevalent, as nearly half (47%) believe that men who are engaged should wear engagement rings, too.
While diamond remains one of the most popular stones to select, 40% say they wouldn’t be caught dead wearing “the same diamond engagement ring that everyone else seems to have right now.”
Blue sapphires, emeralds and moonstones were among the colored gems that respondents were most likely to select as their ideal engagement ring center.
Ankur Daga, the CEO of Angara.com, says the desire to break perceived engagement ring traditions with out-of-the-mold designs echoes purchasing patterns observed by the online jeweler.
“The majority of buyers on Angara.com are buying colored gemstone engagement rings instead of the traditional diamond engagement ring,” Daga noted.
“The choice of gemstone selected is often based on the birth month or favorite color of the partner, making it more personal and unique.”
Ring upgrades have become common, with 31% of married or engaged respondents saying they’ve looked into upgrading their engagement ring – without their partner’s knowledge.
When it comes to ring cost, norms appear to be changing as well.
About three in 10 respondents (31%) say that the person who wears the ring should have to pay for at least part of it.
Seventeen percent of married or engaged respondents split the cost of the ring with their partner.
And 22% even covered the full cost of their engagement ring.
As for that cost, the average dollar amount that respondents designated as the appropriate sum to spend on an engagement ring was $1,206.38.
Moreover, 21% of respondents who were not married or engaged said that if they came across the perfect engagement ring, they would buy it for themself, fiance or no fiance.
And while that “perfect ring” may be a subjective ideal, the trend towards increasingly customized engagement rings certainly isn’t disappearing anytime soon, according to Daga.
“80% of engagement ring buyers on the site chose to customize a ring, versus buying a pre-set option,” he added.
