“I’m going to bet that the girls who didn’t get a real ring felt less special because they felt like he and his family weren’t willing to sacrifice anything for her”
Well, you would lose that bet with me. My husband made me feel special then and still does, nearly 36 years later. The sacrifices my husband has made for our children and me all our married life, far outweigh the naarishkeit of seeing how big and expensive a rock one can afford to buy. And yes, I love pretty jewelry, too, but B”H I was never as materialistic as we have turned our present generation into being. Assessing a potential relationship based on how many trinkets the guy or his family will give you, is a REALLY bad way to start a marriage. There are some very “generous” bauble-givers who are LOUSY spouses.