What happens to the ring when things go sour and the engagement is broken off? Surprisingly, it depends on where you live.

In the United States, the ring is considered a conditional gift; if the marriage is canceled, the ring must be returned. Irish law holds the same view of the situation. But in Britain, the return of the ring is only enforced if there was a prior agreement by the parties to do so in case of breaking up. In Canada, it depends on who breaks it off, if the bride cancels, she must return it but if the groom backs out, he forfeits his claim to the ring.

A recent court case in Australia ruled that the bride having refused the marriage offer, no longer retained rights to the gift but that it became bailed property. Thus, when Vikie Pappas as bailee, ordered her father to throw out everything her former fiance had given her including the ring, she improperly and unlawfully disposed of bailed property.