What Your Engagement Ring Might Say About Your Marriage

When a friend gets engaged, your first question usually is, "How did he propose?" And your second question, of course, is, "Can I see the ring?!" Welp, your friend's marriage might be better off if you're #unimpressed by the bling—at least according to a recent survey out of Emory University. It found that spending more on an engagement ring might spell doom for the marriage.
More than 3,000 people who had been married at least once completed an online survey, answering questions about their (first or only) wedding and marriage. When researchers in Emory's department of economics analyzed the data using a multivariate analysis, they found that relatively high spending on an engagement ring was inversely associated with how long the marriage lasted. When they looked at responses from recently married folk—people who got married in 2008 or later (since they're the most likely to accurately remember wedding expenses)—spending between $2,000 and $4,000 on bling was significantly associated with a higher divorce risk when compared to spending between $500 and $2,000. And interestingly, women who reported an engagement ring of under $500 also had a higher risk of divorce.
MORE: What Your Wedding Could Reveal About Your Marriage
Okay, okay, okay. Before you whip out some yarn, tie it in a ring-finger-sized circle, and call it a day, let's consider the limitations. This survey shows just an association, not causation. What that means: Your $2,500 diamond does not carry a curse that will someday break free from the rock, get into your mind, and force you to visit a divorce lawyer. The researchers only noticed a link.
MORE: 8 Amazing Proposal and Wedding Videos That Will Make You Feel Things
That said, it is pretty neat that this goes against some people's misguided belief that you need to spend your life savings on your wedding—and that you should be embarrassed if you (and/or your S.O.) can't afford a ring that blinds every person you meet. Seriously: Jewelry that causes eye damage? Overrated.
Moral of the story: We're not sold on the idea that going for the ring with the smaller price tag is the best get-hitched advice out there. But here are 15 fascinating and helpful things no one ever tells you about marriage and five awesome marriage pointers from divorcees. Both stories contain advice on wedded bliss that doesn't seem nearly as questionable as buying a ring at a certain price point to guarantee a happily ever after.

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