Ok first of let me say that I think that a ring is a symbol of your love, and its only recently in history that diamonds were involved at all. The diamond trade has also caused horrible pain and suffering in the world. All that said its not a point I would draw a line in the sand for. Most women are going to want a diamond engagement ring. Its not surprising to me that the women on this sight tend to care much less than the general population. Thats not a good or a bad thing, it just is. The diamond is not to small if you saved as much as you could for as long as you should. Now to define could and should. Did you save whole heartedly? If you were out drinking with your friends or buying non essential (that includes snakes people) then maybe she feels that you didn't show the dedication to her that she is looking for. I saved for my fiancée's ring for about a year we have been together for almost 6 years. I spent 10 weeks worth of gross pay. I spent way to much she said. She is probably right. Now I am not saying anyone else should do the same. I make decent money and the more you make the more you can afford to save. When we first met I made a lot less and I could never have come close to 10 weeks gross pay. I needed that for food and shelter and any extra was used to put her through grad school. The point is did you make sacrifices personally and save for long enough. A proposal should take more than a month to gear up for. At the end of the day only you and her know the truth. Sounds like you dodged a bullet. Return the ring if you can and find someone with values more like your own. At the end of the day I put so much time into learning about diamonds and the various metals that settings are made of, so much time looking for the right center stone and the right jeweler, I would have been so devastated by an "it's too small" that I am sure I would be single right now.