Woman refuses to return $17,500 ring

New York -- A New York woman who refused to return a $17,500 engagement ring after marriage plans fell apart said she will go to court to keep the jewelry.

Colette Dipierro, 28, said ex-fiance Christopher Reinhold, 25, gave her the ring on her birthday in May so she does not feel obligated to return it despite the end of the engagement, WPIX-TV, New York, reported Tuesday.

Reinhold said in court papers the ring was given to Dipierro "in contemplation and consideration of marriage." He is suing for its return.

Dipierro said she was engaged to Reinhold for four months. She said the relationship began in 2007 and she eventually lived with him, paying rent and expenses.

She said she was having doubts about the relationship when he proposed marriage.

"Society puts a lot of pressure on women to get married at a certain age," Dipierro said of her initial decision to accept the proposal.

Reinhold's attorney declined to comment when contacted by WPIX-TV.

Copyright 2010 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).

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