Women buying their own "engagement" rings

[Youshouldbestrongerthanme]

Just read an article in The Telegraph that reports this is becoming "a thing." That women are not waiting for a man but instead treating themselves to nice jewellery. Financial independence and accountability etc.
And why not?
I expressed my wishes to my now husband that I didn't want a traditional engagement ring, just in the same way that I wasn't going to change my title or last name. I certainly didn't want something expensive, or the value of x month's of salary (or whatever it is "supposed" to be). Not for me, personally.
I'm liking the shift here.

I didn’t know this was a thing but I have done it. I wanted a nice ring and figured no man would be buying me one anytime soon. But it’s 2026 and I’ve out earned any previous partners, now that I’m single there’s nothing to stop me buying my own ring. It’s a vintage sapphire ring and I wear it all the time.

To me it seems a bit of a non-story, but ‘women buying themselves what they want’ isn’t a very catchy or exciting headline, so they’ve had to shoehorn the word engagement in it. It’s not an engagement ring, they’re not engaged, and the title makes it sound a bit pathetic, ‘poor lady, nobody wants to marry her so she’s had to buy her own engagement ring and pretend’. When in reality it’s just women buying what they like. We earn our own money, we haven’t had to wait around for men to buy us expensive jewellery for a long time now.

Some of us even buy our houses without a man these days!!

@Strandas I totally agree!
I'm unsure as to whether these rings are generally worn on the ring finger of the left hand, hence them being referred to as "engagement" rings?
But if that's what a woman chooses then so what? Absolutely her choice!

When I was 19, I did buy my own engagement ring, because the selfish git I was "engaged" to was an unemployed waster. I was in love and didn't see it at the time.
Thankfully, we split up and never did get married.

Women, if you have to buy your own engagement ring, watch carefully for red flags. It may be that he is a lovely man who just can't afford the huge diamond rock you have set your heart on. Or it may be a warning that you should not be in that relationship.

@StandingDeskDisco Understood but... I think the issue comes when the bride-to-be places the most value upon the cost of the engagement ring rather than the meaning in which it is given.
My first engagement ring (now ex-husband) was pretty expensive. At 23 I didn't really stop to question the genuine intent behind it to be honest; sparkly, sparkly etc. In retrospect it was far more about willy-waving than what it symbolised! Tbh, it was traditional in style (aka a bit boring IMO) and I didn't love it, love it as a piece of jewellery.
My now husband (earns less than first) totally nailed it with the design and I absolutely love it. Less expensive in monetary terms, but so much more in love and thought.
The proposal wasn't ostentatious but it was romantic, and at 38, I had reached a maturity where I totally knew that what mattered the most was the genuine meaning behind it being given.