h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My ex let me keep all the credit and bank loans she'd taken out in my name, I thought that was very generous of her after kicking me out in the street with the dog and nowhere to live. And then to run up some more was just peachy, I'm so very happy about it (yeah, she kept the ring as well)

Ouch!

i have never received an engagement ring, but i was given a beautiful irish thingbo ring (the one with the crowned heart in the hands) for my 21st by an ex - when we broke up we made a commitment to try to be friends but it didn't work - i actually wore the ring for a long time, to signal that i wasn't on the market (so to speak) because i wasn't - but eventually we did become friends again, so i stopped wearing it because i worried he would think my wearing it thought i wanted to get back together

then, when i started another serious relationship (which i am still in 2 years down the track and hope to be in for life) he tried to interfer and it was clear to me we couldn't be friends - we have lost contact and after a while of trying to think what to do with the ring i gave it to the Mission with a whole lot of other stuff, with a note saying it was valuable so they should probably take it to a jeweller rather than sell it in their shop.

that said, i wouldn't put it in the same range as an engagement ring, value-wise - it was gold and hand-made by a friend of my ex who is a jeweller, but there weren't any stones or anything - not to degrade it at all! it was a beautiful ring and a lovely gift, just not something that i could really keep after our relationship, plus i don't think he would have wanted it back, i broke up with him and he was very very hurt