Whether you're Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, one thing we can all agree on is that Belly's engagement ring on The Summer I Turned Pretty leaves much to be desired. Yes, Jeremiah is an unemployed college student, $20,000 in debt, but is this really the best he could do? To find out, I went on the hunt to find out how much Belly's engagement ring costs—and what he could have bought instead. When Jeremiah officially proposed to Belly in this week's episode, “The Last Supper,” it immediately sparked online debate and criticism—mostly from #TeamConrad. “Not even the microscope in the lab Conrad's gonna work at could find this ring,” tweeted @candycaneconrad. Another fan corrected Jeremiah when he told Belly that he wished she could wear the ring “loud and proud,” tweeting, “there is NOTHING loud about that ring.” Despite some fans criticizing the ring, the actual piece is quite lovely. Belly's engagement ring is The Diamond Fizz Ring from Brooklyn-based jeweler Catbird. It's made with 14K recycled gold and a 3mm, .089-carat recycled white diamond that retails for $298. It's a gorgeous, delicate piece that is ethically made and made with solid gold—rarities in the world of fine jewelry. Based on reviews, customers like for stacking or building up their fine jewelry collection. It is not, exactly, the typical engagement ring we're used to seeing on television. And, for the record, that's totally okay! This is a completely reasonable ring for a 22-year-old to get his 20-year-old fiancée—hell, I wish I had someone who wanted to buy me a ring like this—but here's the thing: Jeremiah isn't a reasonable 22-year-old. This is a manchild who only realized he was missing credits to graduate when he went to pick up his cap and gown. He's someone who casually expected his dad to pay $20,000 for his surprise bonus semester and is now in debt. Jeremiah is not responsible with money, so why is this the thing he's willing to save on? We did the math. Belly's ring cost the same as six Criterion Collection DVDs, three pairs of Lululemon leggings, and two years of Amazon Prime. It's nothing to sneeze at, but it's also significantly less than Jeremiah's frat dues—and definitely less than a round-trip to Cabo to cheat on your girlfriend. Not only that, but if Jeremiah was committed to the idea, he could have bought a bigger ring for the same price. Yes, he would need to have been willing to compromise on getting a real diamond, but that feels like a reasonable tradeoff, especially if he wanted to give Belly a ring that her mom could actually see from across the table. Or, he could have really saved money by getting a travel ring (aka a less expensive ring people wear if they're worried they might lose their more valuable rings). Better luck next time, Jere!
