It's seems to be mostly a US thing (it doesn't seem common in Western Europe either). It boggles the mind how spending several monthly salaries on a ring became a solidly embedded tradition over there.
You seem to believe the commercials more than most Americans do. The vast majority of people don't spend that much on an engagement ring (I'm pretty sure the commercials said "two months'" not "several" anyway--but still, that's nuts, no one I know spent anywhere near that much). An engagement ring is pretty entrenched as a tradition, sure, but not the boggling part about the expense.
I'm in Poland, and I know three couples that got engaged the past year. All of them have diamond engagement rings. It's a small reference point, but clearly some people care in Central Europe, and they all seemed excited to "see the ring".
She's even had random strangers (like a store checkout clerk or hotel front desk) ask to see it closer and then compliment what a good job I did (not tooting my own horn, I and others think it's just as silly as you do, but if you want the girl you get her what she wants).
When my ex and I got engaged, in Waterford, Ireland, all of her friends asked to see the ring and turn it around her finger. It was some sort of tradition.
Freak_NL|7 years ago
skywhopper|7 years ago
glandium|7 years ago
Guest9812398|7 years ago
mysterydip|7 years ago
gregoriol|7 years ago
That's the sadest thing I've read today.
5555624|7 years ago