MajorsJul 10, 2025
LVMH Names New Chairman, CEO of the AmericasLongtime LVMH executive Michael Burke has stepped into the role.
SurveysNov 27, 2017
10 Insights from Shoppers on Popping the Question
Here are observations on proposal and ring preferences gleaned from a recent retailer survey.
According to a recent survey from Robbins Brothers, shoppers today prefer vintage-inspired rings, followed by fancy cuts. Pictured here is Anna Sheffield’s “Bea Suite No. 24,” featuring a 1.66-carat marquise champagne diamond center and 0.25 total carats of white diamond trillions in 18-karat yellow gold on the ring and 0.17 carats of champagne diamonds in 14-karat yellow gold on the chevron band ($10,600 for the set).
Los Angeles--Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, the holiday season officially is upon us, which also means the start of the most popular season for proposals.
In the spirit of the season, retailer Robbins Brothers conducted a survey between Oct. 3 and 20 of its customers--email subscribers as well as Facebook participants who have recently thought about popping the question, become engaged or gotten married.
There were 489 participants, 362 women and 127 men, mostly ranging in age from 25 to 34 years old.
Below are 10 trends and preferences gleaned from survey results.
1. Sharing (later) is caring. It shouldn’t come as a surprise in today’s social media-focused world that people want to share the news of the engagement--and ring, of course--on social media. However, 75 percent of men and women surveyed said they think it’s only appropriate to do so after they have told their family and close friends.
2. Privacy, please. Though public proposals in front of large crowds--jumbotron or flash mob, anyone?--used to be popular, those days are gone. Nearly half of respondents said they’d prefer a romantic getaway to a favorite vacation spot, followed closely by those who prefer an intimate proposal with just their significant other. Less than five percent of participants prefer to get engaged at a public event.
3. Tradition reigns. According to Robbins Brothers, men and women in the survey agree on the methods for sealing the proposal--65 percent of both genders say what’s best is a combination of a verbal commitment, proposal and ring to make it official.
4. Old is new. According to both men and women polled, vintage-inspired engagement rings were most popular, followed by rings set with fancy-shaped diamonds and mixed metals.
5. Choices, choices. Survey takers were split on how the final choice of the ring should be made. Forty percent of both men and women prefer to pick out the ring with their significant others, while 40 percent of men said they know his or her style and don’t need help, and 20 percent of women said their significant other should know their style and pick out the ring on his or her own.
RELATED CONTENT: 7 Insights from The Knot’s Recent Engagement Study6. The carat question. The survey indicated that bigger isn’t always the preference; nearly half of both men and women said they expected 1 carat or less for the engagement ring.
7. Getting it right.
What made the shoppers most nervous when it comes to ring shopping was the desire to get it right. They were anxious about choosing the right ring amid fears of spending too much or “getting ripped off.”
8. Pinterest prep. To help provide a little inspiration for the big day, 44 percent of participants said they or their significant other used Pinterest for ideas and help.
9. Timing is everything. What’s the perfect amount of time to be engaged and allow for planning for the big day? Results were mixed between the sexes. Nearly 50 percent of women surveyed said they thought six months to a year was the ideal length for an engagement, while nearly 50 percent of men said one to two years was ideal.
10. Perfect price points. When buying an engagement ring, 57 percent of both men and women who took the survey said their ideal budget is between $1,000 and $5,000.
8. Pinterest prep. To help provide a little inspiration for the big day, 44 percent of participants said they or their significant other used Pinterest for ideas and help.
9. Timing is everything. What’s the perfect amount of time to be engaged and allow for planning for the big day? Results were mixed between the sexes. Nearly 50 percent of women surveyed said they thought six months to a year was the ideal length for an engagement, while nearly 50 percent of men said one to two years was ideal.
10. Perfect price points. When buying an engagement ring, 57 percent of both men and women who took the survey said their ideal budget is between $1,000 and $5,000.
More on Surveys
The Latest
Events & AwardsJul 10, 2025
IAC Gold and Diamond Conference Returns to NYC Central topics of next week’s event include climate action, labor rights, artisan preservation, and value retention in producing countries.
MajorsJul 10, 2025
Hearts On Fire Appoints New Sales DirectorVickie Rokkos has joined the jewelry company as its new national sales director of North America.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
Policies & IssuesJul 09, 2025
James Avery to Donate $1M to Texas Hill Country Relief EffortsThe jewelry company is one of several contributing to relief efforts in the region after the recent floods.
Weekly QuizJul 02, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Supplier BulletinJul 09, 2025
JCK Unwrapped: Trends, Insights & Post-Show TipsSponsored by Rio Grande Jewelry Supply
CollectionsJul 09, 2025
Cece Jewellery’s New Fruit Jewels Celebrate Life’s SweetnessThe “For the Love of Fruits” collection features five fruit pendants, each holding a different meaning.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.
EditorsJul 09, 2025
The Most-Read Stories of 2025, So FarDiamonds and crimes (some involving diamonds) top the list of National Jeweler’s most popular stories halfway through the year.
SourcingJul 09, 2025
Florida Couple Finds 3-Carat Diamond in ArkansasThey discovered “The Dash Diamond,” named for their dog, at the Crater of Diamonds State Park earlier this month.
CollectionsJul 08, 2025
Mikimoto’s High Jewelry Collection Turns Pearls into PetalsThe “Les Pétales” collection imagines roses caught mid-bloom as a tribute to nature’s beauty.
ColumnistsJul 08, 2025
Peter Smith: Why Jewelers Struggle With Premium PricingLuxury brands charge thousands for their shoes and handbags. Jewelers pricing diamond products should take note, Peter Smith writes.
IndependentsJul 08, 2025
David Rotenberg of David Craig Jewelers Dies at 79Rotenberg was an active member of the American Gem Society and an accomplished appraiser who also worked with therapy dogs at a hospital.
TechnologyJul 08, 2025
‘Diamond Divas’ Brings the Showroom to Social Media Reality SeriesIt follows New York-based brand Shahla Karimi Jewelry’s all-women team in “Say Yes to the Dress” meets “The Office”-style episodes.
Policies & IssuesJul 08, 2025
SMO Gold Launches New FoundationIn its inaugural year, the SMO Foundation will focus on supporting two organizations in West Africa and one in South America.
Policies & IssuesJul 07, 2025
Higher Tariffs Set to Take Effect Aug. 1, Officials SayThe announcement comes just as the 90-day freeze on the “reciprocal” tariffs nears its end, giving countries more time to negotiate.
MajorsJul 07, 2025
Natural Diamond Council CEO David Kellie To Step DownKellie, who joined the organization in 2019, will remain in his role through the end of 2025.
CrimeJul 07, 2025
7 Suspects Charged in California Jewelry Store BurglaryPolice officers apprehended the suspects as they were allegedly attempting to gain entry into another jewelry store.
Events & AwardsJul 07, 2025
Applications Open for Ella Klein Internship The program, a collaboration between Julius Klein Diamonds and the Women’s Jewelry Association, is in its second year.
Supplier BulletinJul 03, 2025
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessSponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
MajorsJul 03, 2025
Brilliant Earth Names Tennis Star Madison Keys as Its New AmbassadorThe 2025 Australian Open champion is the jewelry brand’s first athlete ambassador.
MajorsJul 03, 2025
Muse Sets Up Shop in Nordstrom’s New Jewelry HallThe West Village jewelry boutique’s new shop-in-shop is the cornerstone of Nordstrom’s revamped jewelry hall.
SourcingJul 03, 2025
SRK Announces Its Natural Diamonds Are Now Carbon-NegativeThis past year, the manufacturer said it recorded below-zero emissions per carat of natural diamond.
CollectionsJul 03, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Firework of Diamonds From YepremThe brand’s “Golden Strada” statement necklace features round, marquise, and pear diamonds that sparkle like Fourth of July fireworks.
CrimeJul 03, 2025
JSA Shares Holiday Weekend Security Tips Amid Spike in BurglariesJSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.
MajorsJul 02, 2025
Boucheron Looks to LA for First West Coast FlagshipLocated on Rodeo Drive, the store’s design was inspired by Hollywood and Los Angeles culture.
MajorsJul 02, 2025
Marco Bicego Opens Milan FlagshipThe new location continues the brand’s celebration of its 25th anniversary.
