Diamond alternative engagement rings?

[Becky9191]

Hi everyone,

This is a really weird topic that I've tried speaking with my normal friends about but its gone down like a right lead balloon!

I'd really like a big shiny engagement but don't really want my other-half to spend a fortune on a diamond ring and realistically our budget wouldn't stretch to a big ring!

I've found some second hand diamond rings but I don't like the idea of it being connected with another story (or broken marriage!) and the negative ethical mining practices do concern me.

I've started to look at lab diamonds which look brilliant but are still pretty expensive, also theres a few moissanite suppliers in the UK which look really good but I'm not sure if these will look like actual diamonds?!

I've spoken to a few friends who are really dismissive about anyone not buying diamond rings but they all have diamond rings so its difficult for me to be critical at all. A fe of them consider anything not diamond related fake which seems really unfair!

I'd love to know everyones thoughts, has anyone opted for a non diamond ring?

Bec

[owlofathena]

My engagement ring is peridot. I always wanted an emerald ring but when I saw the peridot ring in the jewelers it was beautiful and I love the colour. Our budget wouldn't stretch to a diamond but as I'm not really a jewelry wearing person the simple peridot suits me

[Theredjellybean]

personally i think spending so much money on a diamond is bonkers if you cannot afford it.
and it is very rude of people to be so judgy and dismissive
in the end if you like big flashy ring, get a fake diamond and wave it around alot ( quickly ) and no one is going to really know, and honestly if my friends wanted to examine my ring close up to see if it was a real diamond i'd be wondering why i was friends with them in the first place.

or get something more unusual but less popular ...be a new trend setter.....i have a beautiful pearl ring not engagement cus i do not want to marry my dp but he wanted to give a ring. I did not want diamonds etc as did not want it to be an engagement ring
so many people ask me about it and admire it

[Theredjellybean]

ooh just googled peridot and they are so pretty ! maybe i do want an engagement ring after all !

[mumofone2818]

etsy.me/2T4C8yF

I have got both of my engagement rings from this shop on etsy! (lost the first one moving house but my second one is custom made by them)

There jewellery in my opinion is amazing! My 2nd custom ring cost £210 as I got it in Solid gold instead of the silver in the pictures on there page, however they can custom make pretty much anything or order one as normal from there shop, they do lots of different lab made stones and designs xx

[ChillyB]

I have an aquamarine engagement ring. Aquamarine means “long and happy marriage”. I love my ring and lots of strangers have asked me about it over the years in shops, hand washing in loos etc.
My husband had it made just for me and it’s made from an ethically sourced stone and gold. I won’t post a pic cause it will be outing, but I’d definitely consider other options to diamonds.

[Getoffmylilo]

White sapphires are much cheaper if you still want it to look like a diamond and still be a precious stone people associate with engagement rings.

[AnnaMagnani]

I have a garnet and I get loads of compliments on it.

Basically I wanted a big fuck off stone on a tiny budget - so I have a nice garnet which is set to look much bigger than it is

Loads of people think it's a ruby too

Just pick something you like and go for it. Have a look here if you want coloured stone inspiration:

hkjewellery.co.uk/gemstone-engagement-rings

[SoggySockRage]

White sapphire might be a good option, very durable, looks like a diamond and still quite sparkly depending on the cut!

[Biancadelrioisback]

If you want a clear stone I'd go for a CZ. Loads of people can't actually tell the difference.
I used to work in a jewelers and we had two identical rings but one was a CZ and one was a diamond. As part of a comp we'd ask people to guess which was which and the winner would get a charm or a bracelet or something.

[ElspethFlashman]

I have a lab created sapphire. The reason was cos we were skint and couldn't afford the real thing but it actually worked out for the best as the colour is beautiful, whereas natural sapphires can look quite navy, which doesn't appeal to me.

And absolutely nobody has any idea it's lab created! I'm going to upgrade the setting and bling it up a bit for our 15th anniversary as we've more money now, but I'm still keeping that lab created stone as its such a lush colour.

I've heard mossanite is quite soft and more prone to scratching? But someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

[ElspethFlashman]

BTW check out the shop Rare Earth on Etsy. There are some absolute STONKERS and they have a lot of lab created and mossanite stuff and they're more affordable than the size would have people think. It's one of my favourite shops just for pure ring porn.

[ThomasRichard]

I have a moissanite ring. It looks exactly like a diamond, is super-sparkly and conflict-free. DP got it from the US but I’m sure you can get it here too. A quick google tells me it’s got a hardness of 9.25, which is harder than any other jewellery stone than diamond.

Honestly, if you don’t tell people they’ll never know.

[Jinglebulls]

If you do find a stone that you love, look it up on the Mohs hardness scale.
Diamonds are at the top at 10, then sapphires are 8-9 meaning they're hard wearing and suitable for every day wear.
The lower down the scale, they more likely the stone is to scratch and chip meaning its not durable enough for wearing every single day.

I think your friends are judgy and you shouldn't share any details of your ring with them.
"How much did it cost?" - "enough"
"Is it real?" Well obviously it's a real ring and really on your finger so you're not lying by saying "yes" ☺️ you don't have to tell them if it's not a real diamond.
And as for second hand jewellery, you have to remember that a diamond is already a couple of million years old by the time it reaches its first recipient, you're a speck in the diamonds lifetime. I love old jewellery and it's story. And it's a fuck ton cheaper so there is always that. I find new "shop window" prices just mind boggling and wonder how on earth they manage to flog some things.

[CoffeeBeansGalore]

Gems tv, Sky channel 665. Their website is //www.gemporia.com.
All genuine gemstones. They sell zircon which is mined in Tanzania (NOT lab created cubic zirconia). Zircon has double refraction so it actually sparkles more than a diamond.
They do beautiful jewellery, both diamonds and coloured gemstones.
Lots of different styles. All hallmarked gold, silver or platinum.
I have several pieces which are gorgeous.
They support ethical mining & invest in the communities where the mining takes place. All gems come with an authenticity certificate which tells you where it was mined.
Honestly can't recommend them high enough!

[foxatthewindow]

Honestly, go second hand. It spend millions of years being formed in the earth. A few years on someone else’s hand doesn’t mean anything! It will be much cheaper and is ethically and environmentally more sound.

[mumonthehill]

I have a sapphire engagement ring and I love it!

[hsegfiugseskufh]

Don't know if anyones said it but moissanite. Its beautiful and sparkly and not as expensive as diamonds.

[wafflyversatile]

You dont have to criticise their choices just go with your choice and show it off and gush about how much you love it. If they have any manners at all they will ooh and ah and tell you its lovely.

[wafflyversatile]

Also unless you are a trained jeweller I dont know how anyone can tell the difference between diamonds and any clear stone or even cut glass. Once they're out from under the jeweller's display lighting they just look like clear stones.

[duggeehug85]

I have a morganite and diamond ring from rare earth on Etsy. I love it!

[Jinglebulls]

What is your budget @Becky9191 ?

[Loopytiles]

Get a much cheaper, coloured stone, vintage, or a “fake” and just don’t tell people.

It’s superstitious to think like that about second hand.

[fedup21]

Mine is second hand-I love it.

A fe of them consider anything not diamond related fake which seems really unfair!

I've started to look at lab diamonds which look brilliant but are still pretty expensive, also theres a few moissanite suppliers in the UK which look really good but I'm not sure if these will look like actual diamonds?!

I’d say if you want to buy cubic zirconia or Moissanite and pretend it’s diamond, that is fake!

Not wanting a diamond and going for sapphire/garnet etc instead is different completely.

What is it you want? A coloured stone or a cheap diamond lookalike?

[BakedBeeeen]

I have a tanzanite ring set inbetween two small diamonds. The tanzanite is a very pale lilac colour, but it comes in different shades of purple. I love it!