LeAnn Rimes' $85K Engagement Ring: Romantic or Revolting?

According to a press release I got today from CeleBuzz, the 5-carat oval diamond in a platinum and rose-gold setting engagement ring Eddie Cibrian just gave LeAnn Rimes is worth about $85,000. Of course in the great history of lavish engagement rings, that's not even over the top -- as "Diamond Guy" to the stars David Mamane says, "This ring is comparable to many other celebrities' engagement rings. It's not on the same scale as say Kate Middleton, or even Carrie Underwood for that matter, but I'd put it in the same price range as Katy Perry's and Jessica Simpson's."

Alrighty then.

One on hand, I understand that stars like Eddie and LeAnn are operating in a completely different economic scale than us regular folk. To them, sure it's an extravagance, but it's not like it's a whole year's -- or two years' -- salary. Eddie didn't take out a second mortgage on the family farm for that money.

On the other hand, in a world where nearly 17 million American children -- almost one in four -- go hungry EVERY DAY... it's kind of gross. Isn't it?

But then, this is a dangerous line of thinking, because if we're talking about scale, it's inevitable that I take a look at myself through that same lens. When it comes to scale, my own lifestyle is actually pretty gross, if you compare what I have to what a lot of the world doesn't have. I'm no millionaire; I work full time and so does my husband, but seriously -- my daughter has dolls who have dolls. I don't even know how many pairs of shoes I have. None of them are Louboutins, but they're not all Payless Shoes Source either. One of my prized possessions is a gold Tory Burch bag that cost about $400. Yes, it was a gift, but I could sell it on eBay and donate that money, right? Instead of carrying it through Penn Station past all the homeless people, I could take the money and give it to my local food pantry, or send at least four "baskets of hope" to struggling families in developing countries through Heifer International.

As someone who grew up with very little -- and when I say very little I mean I know what it's like to have your mom pay for the groceries with food stamps, but I don't mean I know what it's like to be starving child in a third world nation -- I'm conflicted about living in the world of the "haves." My husband and I argue about the thermostat all winter, but we're not going to NOT be able to pay the heating bill. Our daughter Isabella goes to public school, but we're able to afford ballet classes and soccer uniforms and birthday parties I would have died to have.

I appreciate this immensely, and something that really concerns me is making sure Isabella is appreciative too, and aware of all her blessings. A difficult task; a topic for another day.

So back to the $85K ring... would I ever spend that much money on something, even if I could?

What about a $20K ring?

Or $10K... or 5? Um, actually, now that you mention it, I don't know exactly how much my husband paid for this diamond solitaire I wear on my left ring finger, but it certainly didn't come out of a Cracker Jack box. And did I ever tell you how I'm reaaalllly really hoping for a diamond anniversary band in a few years? You know those pretty bands with the diamonds that go all... the way...

Well, crap.

$85,000.

Is it wrong for LeAnn Rimes to wear that much money on one little finger?

Or, in the great scheme of things, is that ring to my Tory Burch bag what my Tory Burch bag is to a homeless mother's last dollar?

This is cross-posted at BettyConfidential.com

 

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Comments

[synergie]

08:43 AM on 03/29/2011

It's an engagement ring, do we ask this question of everything everyone buys with their money? Houses, cars, help around the house etc.?

Frankly, I find both Eddie and Leann revolting for how they got together. I could care less about how much one adulterer spent on a ring for another adulterer. I think expecting these two people to care about anyone else is expecting a bit too much.

[Cassandra45]

05:50 PM on 02/07/2011

I'm going with revolting. It's a RING, for heaven's sake. The same kind of people spend the price of a house on the wedding too.

[Highball]

02:00 AM on 02/07/2011

It's not revolting or gross.

Just because there are people with absolutely nothing it doesn't mean that everyone has to lower their lifestyle to some level just above subsistence.

[Fleurdamour]

12:15 PM on 02/05/2011

It sounds like you earned your way into being a 'have' so I would never feel bad about it if I were you - that is supposed to be the American dream, isn't it? There is no reason to sit in poverty your whole life out of some misplaced sense of guilt when you are willing to work and contribute productively to society. I've had people try to guilt me about owning a good bag or nice shoes, but I'm the one sitting in the office 40+ hours a week, not them. I would not be able to motivate myself to show up there if I didn't get some emotional reward for my effort, and I don't feel I need to pander to jealousy. What I think our culture has trouble with is proportion and authenticity. That $85K ring is not an indicator of the love Eddie and LeAnn have for each other, it's an indicator of their need to display their status. You should buy things because you love them or they are going to make your life better, not because you want to seem better than others. And yes, those who have something should indeed give something back. You may have earned your money, but it wasn't in a vacuum, and I see giving back as an act of gratitude for the opportunity to earn it in the first place. Give what you can afford to and go to bed with a clear conscience.

[DixilandChik]

09:24 PM on 02/04/2011

The thing that is revolting is that at the same time Eddie Cibrian gave Leann this ring, he went to court and had his child support payments reduced and forced his ex wife to pay back part of the money he had paid for the last 6 months because he hasn't earned much for 6 months, he's not working and obviously not looking because he goes on back to back vacations and jaunts around the country following Leann...the whole thing is revolting

[Jazmo]

09:21 PM on 02/04/2011

It's pretty revolting considering he apparently reduced his child support payments after he lost his last regular acting role.

[MsNancyMitford]

08:54 PM on 02/04/2011

Revolting, especially as she purchased it herself, WHILE he was still married.

[PatA]

01:45 PM on 02/05/2011

This is for the three posters above........how do you people know the details about something that would be court-ordered? Did you read or hear it on TMZ? Also, MsNancy, have you seen proof that she bought the ring?

I don't care one way or the other how much anyone's engagement ring cost and this judging that goes on all the time about someone else's $ is getting old.

How about we take care of ourselves and let the rest of the world do what they want?

It is really none of our business and this includes the writer of the article.

[varro]

04:21 PM on 02/04/2011

I've noticed that the expenditures on the ring and wedding are in inverse proportion to the length of the marriage.

Just sayin'.

[JRsNana]

05:17 PM on 02/04/2011

Exactly. So, based on past averages, this marriage should last just around 18 months, give or take a week. Who's in the pool?

[yavieneelsol]

11:53 AM on 02/04/2011

Also: diamonds? They come from violent conflict. Despite efforts to control and regulate diamonds, it is incredibly difficult to guarantee that a diamond is conflict-free (even if they're selling it to you labeled as such). Diamonds are born from strife, conflict, and violence. Yes, how romantic.

[yavieneelsol]

11:50 AM on 02/04/2011

Interesting stuff. If you're interested in more, check out Peter Singer. He's a utilitarian philosopher who argues (pretty convincingly to my mind, though I don't do what he advocates) that it is morally indefensible to be living with so much excess when there are people in the world in dire, life-threatening poverty. He argues for certain donation structures and ways of living that will likely not catch on with most Americans anytime soon (I certainly don't live up to what he suggests), but they make sense.

[Chad Wheeler]

10:49 AM on 02/04/2011

This was a great article, and something I think about all the time. When I read about celebrity weddings that cost millions, it seems obscene, but then isn't my $5.00 frappacino also obscene? But then, aren't those same celebrities also able to donate millions? I sure can't, so does this balance out? I wish there was an easy answer to this question. There isn't, but I try to donate as much as I can and hope for the best.

[Amina65]

10:22 PM on 02/03/2011

Romantic. Look, the diamond you buy is relative to the amount you make. You go to work, you earn money, why should you feel guilty for spending it. I'm sure they give away lots of their money so why shouldn't they buy the things they love and want. YOu can't make those who work hard and earn hard pay for everyone else in society! stop with the guilty trips...

[MsNancyMitford]

08:55 PM on 02/04/2011

Hardly, he filed to lower his child support payments due to low income the month they announced their engagements.

[PatA]

01:47 PM on 02/05/2011

And, Ms.Nancy, you saw the court papers, when and how?

[Artos]

08:24 PM on 02/03/2011

Yes it's Revolting, but then what do you expect, this is America after all where we have very little in the way of a realistic outlook on life. Our priorities are shaped by our wishful thinking rather than what really requires doing.