I READ Sandra Leong's Girl Talk column (Only A Big Diamond Ring Is Forever, Life!, Nov 5) in which she spoke of how some women desire big diamond engagement rings.

I'm a mother of three boys and concerned about the expectations of young women and the values they will impart to their offspring.

Leong's view is that buying diamond engagement rings is akin to an investment which is 'a societal practice that has been around like, forever'.

She speaks for herself and perhaps the Western world, which seems to be her benchmark, judging from her reference to Romans, Austrians and British.

Most of these Westerners, by the way, were known to have robbed the diamonds from natives who did not bestow this material value on the stones in the first place.

Also, the facts that diamonds are in abundance (enough for every girl to own at least a kilo) and that the market is controlled by a few big players just make buying a big engagement ring all the more a perverse obsession.

I am sad that most of the writer's peers are trading their traditional values for highly materialistic ones.

I am sure there are girls out there who value a man's love for what it's worth.

I feel sad for the average man with average earnings, likewise the average woman with the average potential to snare a husband but is handicapped with this engagement-ring syndrome.

My advice to my sons is to save for a rainy day and remember always to pamper the woman they love, without her asking, within their means.

If she's the right woman, she won't clobber them for buying a diamond too small for her to show off.