UK Wedding News
19/09/2011
Only 14% of grooms claimed to have downsized the engagement ring due to the economic climate, The Knot Market Intelligence 2011 Engagement & Jewellery Study shows.
In fact, one in four grooms spent more than he originally budgeted. However, they are spending less than couples did a few years ago. On average, couples are spending just under $5,200 (£3303.04) on the ring (compared with $5,800 (£3684.74) ) for couples engaged in 2008).
Luxury Ring Segment Spends an Average of $13,500 (£8575.2). Although round diamonds are the most popular cut for brides overall, they’re even more popular with luxury ring brides (57% versus 53% of the non luxury segment). However, cushion-cut diamonds are a trending favorite among luxury ring brides (8% versus 3% for non luxury segment).
Customization Is Key, Especially for Luxury Ring Couples
Whether they completely designed the ring on their own with a jeweller or made custom changes to an existing design, approximately two out of five grooms (41%) are choosing to add personal elements to the engagement ring. Customization is even more popular with the Luxury Ring segment as more than half (59%) choose to incorporate custom design elements.
Alternative Metals Increasingly Popular for Grooms
Although white gold is still the most popular wedding band metal, with approximately one in three grooms (34%) choosing it, alternative metals are becoming increasingly popular. In 2011, 27% of grooms chose tungsten (up from 19% for grooms married in 2008) and 16% chose titanium (up from 13% for grooms married in 2008).
Where Are Grooms Buying?
Approximately two in five grooms (39%) purchased at least part of the ring from a local or independent jeweller, while one in three (35%) purchased at least part of the ring from a national jewelry chain. And nearly 1 out of 10 grooms (9%) purchased from an online retailer. No matter where it’s purchased, are brides helping pick their own ring? Yes. The majority of brides are at least somewhat involved in the ring selection (65%), with nearly a third (31%) ‘very involved’ — that is, they shopped for and/or purchased the ring with their groom. Additionally, 21% of brides will actually visit a retailer in-person without her fiancé, a decrease from 30% for brides engaged in 2008.
Tradition Is Making a Comeback
The majority of grooms are taking tradition to heart when they propose. In fact, 77% of grooms proposed on bended knee (compared with 70% in 2009) and 71% asked the bride’s parents for permission (compared with 62% of grooms engaged in 2008) before popping the question.
Proposals are Becoming More Public
While a proposal’s always a private moment, they’re increasingly becoming more public affairs. In 2009, 68% of grooms proposed privately, while that number dropped to just over half (57%) in 2011. Perhaps that’s why 43% of grooms meticulously planned the proposal down to the last detail and only 10% of grooms 'winged' it.
Man-gagement Rings Are the New Trend
Brides aren’t the only ones with engagement rings these days. Grooms are now opting to wear 'man-gagement' rings; 5% of grooms wear an engagement ring along with the bride.
More than 10,000 qualified brides and 1,000 qualified grooms — of mixed ethnicities, education and income levels — were polled across America for the The Knot Market Intelligence 2011 Engagement & Jewellery Study. Proposal and engagement ring questions were asked of both brides and grooms in the recently engaged group while wedding band and jewellery questions were asked of brides in the recently married group.
All qualified respondents:
* Were 18 or older
* U.S. Brides
* Engaged Segment — engaged in between March 2010 and February 2011
* Married Segment —married between March 2010 and February 2011
* U.S. Grooms —engaged in between March 2010 and February 2011
The survey was fielded in February 2011 and was administered by Digital Research Inc. on behalf of The Knot Market Intelligence Group.
(GK/CD)
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Grooms' Ring Selection Not Affected By The Economy
Only 14% of grooms claimed to have downsized the engagement ring due to the economic climate, The Knot Market Intelligence 2011 Engagement & Jewellery Study shows.
In fact, one in four grooms spent more than he originally budgeted. However, they are spending less than couples did a few years ago. On average, couples are spending just under $5,200 (£3303.04) on the ring (compared with $5,800 (£3684.74) ) for couples engaged in 2008).
Luxury Ring Segment Spends an Average of $13,500 (£8575.2). Although round diamonds are the most popular cut for brides overall, they’re even more popular with luxury ring brides (57% versus 53% of the non luxury segment). However, cushion-cut diamonds are a trending favorite among luxury ring brides (8% versus 3% for non luxury segment).
Customization Is Key, Especially for Luxury Ring Couples
Whether they completely designed the ring on their own with a jeweller or made custom changes to an existing design, approximately two out of five grooms (41%) are choosing to add personal elements to the engagement ring. Customization is even more popular with the Luxury Ring segment as more than half (59%) choose to incorporate custom design elements.
Alternative Metals Increasingly Popular for Grooms
Although white gold is still the most popular wedding band metal, with approximately one in three grooms (34%) choosing it, alternative metals are becoming increasingly popular. In 2011, 27% of grooms chose tungsten (up from 19% for grooms married in 2008) and 16% chose titanium (up from 13% for grooms married in 2008).
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Where Are Grooms Buying?
Approximately two in five grooms (39%) purchased at least part of the ring from a local or independent jeweller, while one in three (35%) purchased at least part of the ring from a national jewelry chain. And nearly 1 out of 10 grooms (9%) purchased from an online retailer. No matter where it’s purchased, are brides helping pick their own ring? Yes. The majority of brides are at least somewhat involved in the ring selection (65%), with nearly a third (31%) ‘very involved’ — that is, they shopped for and/or purchased the ring with their groom. Additionally, 21% of brides will actually visit a retailer in-person without her fiancé, a decrease from 30% for brides engaged in 2008.
Tradition Is Making a Comeback
The majority of grooms are taking tradition to heart when they propose. In fact, 77% of grooms proposed on bended knee (compared with 70% in 2009) and 71% asked the bride’s parents for permission (compared with 62% of grooms engaged in 2008) before popping the question.
Proposals are Becoming More Public
While a proposal’s always a private moment, they’re increasingly becoming more public affairs. In 2009, 68% of grooms proposed privately, while that number dropped to just over half (57%) in 2011. Perhaps that’s why 43% of grooms meticulously planned the proposal down to the last detail and only 10% of grooms 'winged' it.
Man-gagement Rings Are the New Trend
Brides aren’t the only ones with engagement rings these days. Grooms are now opting to wear 'man-gagement' rings; 5% of grooms wear an engagement ring along with the bride.
More than 10,000 qualified brides and 1,000 qualified grooms — of mixed ethnicities, education and income levels — were polled across America for the The Knot Market Intelligence 2011 Engagement & Jewellery Study. Proposal and engagement ring questions were asked of both brides and grooms in the recently engaged group while wedding band and jewellery questions were asked of brides in the recently married group.
All qualified respondents:
* Were 18 or older
* U.S. Brides
* Engaged Segment — engaged in between March 2010 and February 2011
* Married Segment —married between March 2010 and February 2011
* U.S. Grooms —engaged in between March 2010 and February 2011
The survey was fielded in February 2011 and was administered by Digital Research Inc. on behalf of The Knot Market Intelligence Group.
(GK/CD)
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