Engagement rings and divorce

[bathsh3ba]

Just a straw poll as I'm intrigued. If you are divorced, did you (or your wife) return engagement ring(s) when the marriage ended.

I know that etiquette wise they are a gift and don't have to be returned but personally I returned mine, even though I ended things due to his infidelity and abuse. It was a while ago now but I think my reason was I didn't want him having anything over me.

My boyfriend's ex-wife didn't return hers.

There clearly isn't a right or wrong answer but I'm interested to hear people's opinions and reasons.

I kept mine to pass on to my daughter.

It was his infidelity that ended my marriage. I loved that ring and I'm still devastated 10 years later I had to stop wearing it.

The engagement ring is given in anticipation of a contract, so if you break the engagement you return it but if you marry you complete the contract and it's yours.

@Doorhandleghost

The engagement ring is given in anticipation of a contract, so if you break the engagement you return it but if you marry you complete the contract and it's yours.

In most US states, yes, but not in the UK: none of the UK countries’ law upholds the same principals of conditional gifting and an engagement ring is always considered an unconditional gift (whether it’s morally correct to return the ring if you’re the one to break off the engagement is another matter.)

You keep it and sell it! Like a modern day dowry lol