A Slow Economy Won't Slow Down One of the Biggest Purchases ... 'The Diamond Ring'

A Slow Economy Won't Slow Down One of the Biggest Purchases ... 'The Diamond
Ring'
GemEx Diamond Survey Finds 85% of Men Will Not Delay Their Engagement
Proposals

NEW YORK, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- "For richer or poorer" is being pondered
well before exchanging vows. However, according to a recent survey by GemEx
Systems Inc. (www.gemex.com and www.diamondlightperformance.com), only 15
percent would put their marriage proposals on hold, while 85 percent of future
grooms say their "I Do's" will not be turned into "I Don'ts." Despite the
struggling economy, the majority will still go on bended knee, with diamond in
hand, as originally planned.
When it's time to leave bachelorhood behind, 62 percent of men and 60
percent of women polled by GemEx, think between 1-3 months of the fiance's
salary should be spent on an engagement ring. Others thought a bigger budget
would be appropriate, with 10 percent of men along with 8 percent of women
saying over 10 months salary should be spent on the engagement ring (Gulp).
As men are known for having a difficult time asking for help, it comes as no
surprise that 85 percent of them plan to purchase their fiancee's diamond ring
without any financial assistance. Although surprising, 41 percent of women
say they would actually help pay for their ring. Not so surprisingly, 59
percent of women felt that was their boyfriend's responsibility.
"We've all heard about the 4Cs, but it's really the diamond's interplay
with light; the way it dazzles and sparkles, that consumers value most," said
Randy Wagner, CEO and Co-founder of GemEx. "We all want the diamond that gets
noticed in any crowd, so at GemEx -- we 'measure the bling.'"
Additional findings from the 2008 GemEx Diamond survey include:
-- Men (and women) agree that size really doesn't matter. When it comes to
purchasing the diamond she'll wear forever, it's the sparkle that counts the
most. In fact, 94 percent of women and 90 percent of men say they would
prefer a bright 3/4 carat diamond as opposed to a duller 1 carat diamond any
day. Also, men and women were on the same page regarding what makes a diamond
most beautiful; 65 percent of the men and women polled, agreed it's the bright
flashes of white light (Brilliance), indicating most men know what their women
want.
-- Is honesty really the best policy? There's a split vote among men,
when asked if they would be insulted if their fiancee asked to exchange her
engagement ring. Fifty percent would be appalled and the other 50 percent
would appreciate her honesty. When predicting their fiance's reaction to such
a request, it's pretty much like flipping a coin for the 24 percent of women
that would be bold enough to ask for a ring exchange. However, 76 percent of
women would rather accept the ring she doesn't love, as to not hurt her true
love's feelings.
-- An engagement ring doesn't just say, "I'm taken." Of the women
surveyed by GemEx, 84 percent say their diamond ring represents more than an
engagement. It displays their style and personality. Men weighed in with 63
percent saying they feel their fiancee's engagement ring is a reflection of
them too. So when selecting the "perfect" engagement ring, 77 percent of men
say they will not be influenced by the diamond rings their friends purchased
for their future brides.
-- To surprise or not? Eighty-five percent of women were surprised when
their boyfriends proposed and 15 percent knew exactly when he would ask. For
those fiancee's who like to snoop, GemEx reported that 67 percent of men
purchase the engagement ring within 3 months or less of proposing.
The online survey was conducted by GemEx(R) Systems July 18 - July 22,
2008.
About GemEx
GemEx(R) Systems (www.gemex.com) and (www.diamondlightperformance.com) has
been the light performance standard in the diamond industry since 1998. GemEx
pioneered the concept of scientifically measuring the light performance of
diamonds and consumers have embraced this metric of diamond evaluation as
demonstrated by the great success that GemEx customers have had selling
diamonds with the GemEx Reports.
SOURCE GemEx Systems Inc.

Irene Ross of G.S. Schwartz & Co., +1-212-725-4500 ext.326,
iross@schwartz.com