Engagement rings are as diverse as the love stories they represent, each distinguished by the diamond’s cut, the metal of the band, and other intricate details. But how adept are single men at distinguishing between these styles? Whether it’s a hopeful girlfriend anticipating a proposal or single men proactively doing their research, understanding engagement ring preferences can be quite revealing. To assess single men’s familiarity with engagement ring styles, we surveyed 600 heterosexual men, both single and in relationships (but not yet married), delving into their knowledge about cuts, styles, weights, bands, and more. Read on to discover how well these men fared in our engagement ring quiz.
The Diamond Grading Report Is In
From timeless vintage settings to romantic rubies, engagement rings symbolize significant moments in life. Eager to test our single male participants’ knowledge, we quizzed them on a variety of aspects, from the 4Cs and lab-grown diamonds to bands and beyond. Read on to see how the men performed.
Identifying Cut, the 4Cs, and More
We quizzed men on their ability to identify various diamond shapes, ranging from traditional to fancy cuts.
- 65.5% of single men correctly identified the round diamond, which not only garnered the highest number of correct responses but is also one of the most popular engagement ring stone shapes.
- The pear-shaped cut, characterized by its teardrop-like shape and classic style, was a close second, with 65.3% of respondents identifying it correctly.
- Single men also demonstrated proficiency in recognizing the oval cut, with 61.5% correctly identifying it.
However, when it came to more contemporary cuts such as the princess and marquise, the accuracy dipped significantly.
- Only 16.3% correctly identified the princess cut, while a mere 15% recognized the marquise cut.
- The radiant cut was the least identifiable, with just 14.6% of single men correctly identifying it in the quiz.
We also tested single men’s knowledge of engagement ring settings, as one can select the setting first before choosing the center diamond or gemstone when shopping for a ring.
- Surprisingly, less than half (44.8%) of the single men could identify the halo style, a design where the center stone is encircled by smaller diamonds or gemstones on all sides.
- Additionally, we discovered that 2 in 5 respondents (40.1%) were able to recognize a three-stone style — a symbolic setting that represents a couple’s past, present, and future journey together.
Next, we wanted to see how well men knew the 4Cs of diamond grading.
The majority of men demonstrated a good grasp of the 4Cs, with the following percentages correctly identifying each component:
- Cut — 82.4%
- Carat — 79.9%
- Clarity — 71.6%
- Color — 60.5%
However, it seems that some men could benefit from brushing up on their diamond knowledge, as they provided incorrect answers such as:
- Craftsmanship — 20.9%
- Consistency — 16.6%
- Complexity — 13.9%
- Class — 11.0%
- Cost — 10.1%
- Clean — 6.6%
While some answers were off the mark, we’d like to spotlight the areas where men excelled. We posed a true or false question: “All diamonds are natural (come from the earth)”
- Impressively, 83.4% of men correctly identified this statement as false, making it the most accurately answered question in the quiz.
- Interestingly, the question “Is a lab-grown diamond a real diamond?” followed, and 60% answered correctly — suggesting that some may have used deductive reasoning from the previous question.
We also inquired about which option was not a legitimate metal band for engagement ring styles, providing choices such as bronze, gold, yellow gold, and rose gold.
- 42% accurately identified only bronze as the correct answer. However, the responses were distributed as follows: bronze (53.4%), gold (48.3%), yellow gold (22.6%), and rose gold (21.7%).
Perceptions of Engagement Ring Price
From adhering to the three-month salary rule to splitting the cost of the engagement ring, there are lots of perceptions surrounding the ideal expenditure on a ring. Out of curiosity, we posed a question to our single male participants: “How much do you anticipate spending on an engagement ring?”
Our findings revealed that single men estimate the following spends on engagement rings:
- Men aged 18-29 — $7,800
- Men in their 30s — $5,340
- Men in their 40s — $3,250
- Men 50 and older — $4,130
On average, single males predict spending approximately $5,875 on an engagement ring.
Additionally, we sought to gauge their perceptions of how much they believe women want them to spend on the ring:
- Men aged 18-29 — $18,670
- Men in their 30s — $10,060
- Men in their 40s — $18,400
- Men 50 and older — $9,370
Single men estimated an average expected spend of around $14,665 for their lady’s stunning engagement ring. Seems they do realize diamonds are a girl’s best friend, after all.
Your Diamond Cheat Sheet
After responding to all the questions, we invited our single male participants to self-assess their knowledge of engagement ring styles. Interestingly, less than half (46.6%) rated themselves poorly, assigning themselves a grade between D+ and F. While such self-doubt may seem disheartening for those gearing up to propose, rest assured that Shane Co. is here to support you in picking out the perfect engagement ring.
Rely on our expertise to navigate the ring shopping journey seamlessly. Schedule a virtual or in-store appointment to consult with our jewelry experts. We’re committed to guiding you every step of the way, ensuring that the proposal becomes an unforgettable chapter in both your and your future fiancée’s lives.
Methodology
To gauge single men’s understanding of different types of engagement rings and ring styles, we conducted a survey with 600 heterosexual men. These participants were either single or in relationships, but not engaged, married, or divorced. The survey encompassed a range of questions related to engagement rings, including aspects such as cut, style, weight, and bands, among others.
