Ladies, Avoid These Engagement Rings—Sincerely, a Jewelry Designer. Published Jun 14, 2025 at 6:00 AM EDT. By . Alice Gibbs is a Newsweek Senior Internet Trends & Culture Reporter based in the U.K.

By 1965, 80 percent of American women had diamond engagement rings. The ring had become a requisite element of betrothal—as well as a very visible demonstration of status.