The engagement is off - now who keeps the ring?
Popping the question is one of the biggest events in any person's life, but what happens when things don't go as planned?
Listen as KZN reacts to the topic in the podcast then read more below:
What a day to talk about this! Sure, it's awkward, but it's a reality that happens more regularly than you think.
It’s Valentine’s Day and you just know that there are going to be those couples who get engaged, and not to be negative in any way, but a few of these proposals either will be shut down or won't make it to the wedding day. That's the reality.
Read: Five tips to help you pick the best engagement ring
So, the big question now is, if your better half unexpectedly breaks off the relationship, who gets to keep the engagement ring? I mean, what do you take into account when this happens?
According to an article published by Ilizna Esterhuyse Attorneys, the South African law takes engagement rings as a pledge from one person to another with the intent of marriage.
So if an engagement is called off, legally, the recipient will have to return the ring to the partner who gifted it to them.
But it seems that not everyone agrees with the law. I have a friend who was asked by her boyfriend for her hand in marriage, but ended up getting cold feet and broke off the engagement. He bought her a diamond ring and because she was in love with the ring, she wanted to keep it. Let's just say that it didn't end well and things got pretty awkward.
What’s your take? If an engagement is called off, who do you think should keep the ring? Will you choose to follow the law or make your own choice?