(IDEX Online) - Happy couples are spending more on engagement rings during the pandemic, say US jewelry retailers.They're saving cash on weddings and honeymoons because of coronavirus restrictions, so they can splash out on a more expensive stone. The pandemic has also seen more couples take a long, hard look at their relationship and decide it's time to commit to marriage.More than four out of 10 jewelers said bridal customers were spending more. Thirteen per cent said they were spending much more, according to new research by the US jewelry magazine Instore.Only seven per cent reported lower spends. Forty-five per cent said expenditure had remained stable."Big diamonds are going out the door," one cheery retailer told the magazine. "The Midwest is always slower than both coasts on trends, but even here 1.50 to 2 carats are the new norm."