im not talking legally here. im talking about what I would like.

I gave it to her to signify our promise to each other to get married in future. If it was just a ring I gave to her as a gift... sure keep it.

But if at the end of the day the "promise" is recinded, then the ring doesnt belong to her at least those are my feelings. The "ring" being any ring in future, or the current one, belongs to my fiance. Not an ex.

Think of the "ring" as a non-specific entity.

The ring that you bought for Girl A... that your no longer seeing Girl A... you get back. You flog for the cash.

You buy a different ring later, and give it to new Girl B. Girl B ends up marrying you. You effectively have only 1 engagement ring in circulation.

Thats the best way I can explain it.

Im not engaged to Girl A, so why should she have a symbol saying that I am...

So who actually broke it off? If the woman does then perhaps she should give it back. If the bloke did then she shouldnt.

In the end its a bit of jewellery, if she gave it back you sold it, bought something else and gave that to woman 2 you would still have two rings in circulation although one now belongs to someone else. Effectively you are using the same money to buy the second ring so it is the same ring.

No cause Id use the money from the first ring to go out and get hammered the money would be long gone, its not like Id be working a chain of women.