Many Russians retain gifts received from an ex-partner after a breakup, a topic that drew attention in a study reported by socialbites.ca in connection with the dating service Mamba and the SOKOLOV jewelry brand.
Gifts for men typically include items such as bags, scarves, headwear, or umbrellas. In the top five categories, these ex-partner presents also commonly feature perfumes or cosmetics, gadgets, wristwatches, and jewelry.
Survey data show that women most often receive jewelry, gadgets, perfumes, watches, cars, and even real estate from former partners.
Respondents indicated that women are more likely than men to be asked to return a gift after a breakup, with about a quarter saying they received such a request. Only around 17 percent of men admitted to having faced a request to return a gift. Experts note that about half of respondents ultimately returned gifts, while roughly a quarter ignored the request. In many cases, some chose to accept cash in lieu of a returned item, amounting to about one in five responses.
The study also revealed that some women received gifts valued at up to 100,000 rubles from their ex-boyfriends. Furthermore, roughly one in ten encountered a surprise gift valued at more than 500,000 rubles.
Moreover, data show that a sizable share of men feel uncomfortable receiving expensive gifts in new relationships. Experts describe that around 28 percent of respondents associate generous gestures with signaling the seriousness or value of the relationship, while others see such gifts as a different kind of personal exchange.
In related findings, wardrobe items were also highlighted as elements that Russians sometimes find annoying after a breakup, illustrating how personal belongings can carry emotional weight long after a relationship ends.
Notes on the study indicate a nuanced landscape: while some gifts are cherished as memories, others raise questions about expectations and boundaries in post-breakup dynamics. The data underscore how material gestures intersect with emotions and the evolving patterns of personal relationships in contemporary Russian society, reflecting broader social attitudes toward gift-giving, trust, and the meaning attached to possessions after a breakup. These insights come with attribution to the organizations and media reporting the survey results and are presented here to offer a clearer picture of how people navigate post-separation exchanges. Source attribution: Socialbites.ca, in collaboration with Mamba and SOKOLOV, with analysis coordinated by independent researchers and industry commentators.