Giving back an engagement diamond when engagement is broken?

Is it tacky for an engaged woman to keep the diamond ring given to her by her fiancee at the time of their engagement,,,,,when the engagement breaks up? My 45 year old son was widowed last year and left with three small kids. Recently he became engaged, and that lasted only a couple of months. He tells me he did not ask for the ring back, but I suggested to him that the woman ought to give it back without being asked. What motivates her to keep this ring anyway?Giving back an engagement diamond when engagement is broken?
I certainly wouldn't keep the ring, but she isn't obligated to give it back. It is technically a gift, but I would personally give it back to him. WHy would I want it? Unless he cheated on her or something and she wants to sell it... otherwise, I have no idea why she would keep it.
Well legally if he wanted it back he would get it back. And engagement ring is a promise of marriage if they do not get married the promise is broken therefor the ring is to be returned.



Since he didn't ask for it back and depending on why they broke up she might be keeping it for spite, for the money (though the market for rings SUCKS) or in hopes he'll return, or maybe shes sad to see it go.Giving back an engagement diamond when engagement is broken?
I agree with you that the proper thing for her to do is give it back. Since she didn't, he should ask for it back. She might not want to, though. It is her ring, and she can do what she wishes with it.
Legally, the person that purchased and gave the ring should get it back. An engagement ring is a contract and if that contract isn't fulfilled, the ring legally must be returned.



She probably views it as a gift and that is why she didn't return it. He needs to ask for it back and if she doesn't comply, he can bring legal action against her (but really, would it be worth it)?



Besides, what makes you think that she knows legally she has to return it? Not everyone knows the ins-and-outs of law as it pertains to engagement rings.Giving back an engagement diamond when engagement is broken?
I would give him back the ring if he wanted it back. If I did not give it back for me it does not make sense for me to keep it. Depending on my mind state I would probably pawn it or really just give it back to him.



I agree with you duckie... because I heard this own the radio that she is suppose to give it back.
If he broke off the engagement then she can keep the ring. If she broke it off she should give the ring back to him. The motvation for keeping it could be $$, sentimental value, spite....etc.

For future reference...maybe ask why he is handing out a ring to a woman he was likely only with for a year...if he met her the minute he lost his wife. Perhaps he should sloooooooow down and look out for the interests of his 3 kids. No offense.
Absolutely the lady should return the ring. As a matter of Honour



READ THE LAWS WHERE YOU LIVE ABOUT THE RETURNING OF AN ENGAGEMENT RING.. THERE ARE LAWS. BELIEVE IT OR NOT

IN USA ( If not listed check state laws re return of rings.

http://marriage.about.com/od/rings/a/rin…



It happened to my gorgeous cousin. Was a playboy but the lady did not return the ring and he forgot about it and married later.

( however he is rich) Maybe that 's why she kept it and the ring looked like a stone
They feel they are entitled to it, which they are NOT...the engagement ring should be returned to the person who gave/bought it. period.
the mannerly thing to do would be to return it, but some people don't have manners.

if it was a family ring (it was yours or your mom's or something), or if he just wants it back, i'd pursue getting it back through legal channels. otherwise, if he doesn't care, just let it go.
yeah I don't know why she'd want to keep the ring except for the sale value. but the right thing to do would be to give it back to your son and he's perfectly within his rights to ASK her for it before she goes and sells it. until they're married, that ring is technically his.
Traditionally, an engagement ring is a symbol of a promise. If the promise is not kept you give back the ring. Women keep it because they think it was a gift.
I was always told the rule of thumb was:

If the guy breaks off the engagement, the girl keeps the ring.

If the girl breaks if off, she gives it back.



My personal belief is that the gift of an engagement ring is Conditional. The condition being a commitment to marry one another. If that commitment to marry is broken, it should be returned.

It no longer has the meaning of what it was originally intended for.



I guess a motivation to keep it would be like a notch on a belt, to add to ones' collection, or an asset of value to sell or pawn for cash.
I wouldn't want to keep an engagement ring if either party broke it off. Why would someone want that reminder?
An engagement ring is a conditional gift - it belongs to the person who bought the ring and if no marriage takes places it is to be returned.



I went through a broken engagement a year and a half ago, and I returned the ring.



She might be holding on the rings in hopes of selling it, or maybe she's a romantic who is keeping the ring for "memories" - who knows? If he didn't ask for it back, she might assume he wanted her to keep it. Some guys don't care about getting it back once the engagement is broken. My ex told me to keep mine, but I didn't feel right so I returned it.
What I've seen a lot of is if the man breaks off the engagement, she keeps the ring. If the woman breaks off the engagement, she gives it back. And it's the same if they mutually agree to break off the engagement, she gives it back.



However, there are many circumstances where the woman keeps the ring regardless of if she should or not. Or the man insists that she keep the ring anyway.
She should give the ring back. The only thing I can think of for her to be keeping it is greed. The ring is promissory to marriage; there was no marriage, she should give back the ring. It is conditional; conditional to marriage, I have seen too many Judge Judy's to know she should give back the ring, and the longer her waits, the more she will think she can keep it as a gift. Tell your son that while it is admirable to seek a mate to help with the kids, next time he might do well to take his time. But, he should ask for it back. Hope that this helps. God Bless:)
TRUTHFULLY..ITS A THING
Women might as well give it back if the relationship breaks up. That may be common sense.
There are as many motivations for things like that are there are people. In that the acceptance of an engagement ring carries with it a spoken promise of marriage I would think she should return the ring. However, if your son is the one who broke off the engagement that presents an entirely different prospective and I would think the decision is strictly up to her. Whatever the circumstance it's for your son alone to be concerned about. ...and apparently he isn't.
Money! Let her have it! It does not mean anything to your son. It is just a bad memory.

One time I found a pair of diamond earrings and I returned them to their rightful owner. She didn't want them back but, she sure did not like the fact that I returned them either. Shallow people!