I think most women love the idea of an engagement ring. I have mine and I love it. I didn't want a huge rock, or to spend over $5000 total including wedding band, but I did want a ring that I would love for the rest of my life and not feel like we 'settled'. I not only got the ring, but it was a ring that my guy helped me pick out and we both love. I'm even going without buy the matching wedding band for the wedding because we are paying for our wedding completely and I'm happy to wait a bit. But the point is he spent the money on the ring that I am going to wear for the rest of my life. I won't ever want a different one 'down the road'. It's money well spent at the end of the day. We bought mine from Charm in Market. Awesome diamonds, good prices and very nice designs. Another place I would recommend is Michael Hill. GORGEOUS designs and rings and less expensive than you would get elsewhere. Go to Market Mall and see Nova. She is amazing.
We are in the middle of now looking at rings for my fiance because the wedding is less than a month and a half away. However he isn't sure that he wants to wear his ring all the time (his Dad wore his for the wedding day and has never worn it since) and I am wanting to buy him a ring from Triton. In that case we are deciding on agreeing on the ring due to how much he will actually wear it. If he only is gonna wear it for special occasions, we will just get a simple ring and not spend a lot. $100-$200. If he decides he is going to wear it all the time, then I'm dropping the $500 on the one that he likes from Triton.
I guess my point of this whole 'letter' is that you can't go wrong with investing in a ring if you both agree on the investment.
I wouldn't change a single stone on my ring, and it's important to him that I love it. Whatever he decides on, it's important to me that he loves his ring too.