Talk to me about engagement rings please!

[Shallysally]

As in the difference in terms of look, quality etc between diamonds and moissanite.
Also settings, and styles that will look nice on my 50 something slightly wrinkled hand.
Thank you!

Not sure about settings but if I was choosing now I’d go for lab grown diamond for both price and ethical reasons

Thank you @Whatchamacall, I’ll have a look at lab grown diamonds

Lab grown all the way. So much cheaper and more ethical.
Also have a look at vintage rings, there are some stunning ones and they are often bargains!

I wouldn't look at lab grown rings at all and would focus on buying an antique or vintage ring.

Engagement rings don't have to be all about diamonds - what is your favourite coloured gem? Even with diamond highlights a coloured gemstone ring can be purchased for a fraction of some lab grown stones and will keep its value much much better.

I do love aquamarine. Thanks for the suggestion.

My engagement ring is a 2 carat aquamarine and I adore it. DH chose it because I didn’t want diamonds and I am a sea lover.

I get loads of compliments on it. Diamonds are the biggest scam IMO.

That sounds lovely @PetrichorSoul!

I would love to see it!

Me too.

I've got a cheap lab grown diamond ring. I would be too afraid to wear an expensive one, and I'd rather the money was spend on other stuff, like housing or just having fun.
I've had loads of compliments about it.

Always a vintage ring!

Ahhh definitely vintage! Mine is a vintage ring circa 1920s, platinum set with sapphire and delicate pavé diamonds on the shoulders. It's gorgeous and I love that it's been part of another love story before ours 🥰

Coloured stone, second hand! No VAT on antiques. If you buy a new ring, 20% is tax.

look at auction, jewellers shop windows, Birmingham Jewellery quarter, Brighton Lanes, Grays in London, Hatton Garden, try on different styles - clusters, three stone, five stone, victorian, Edwardian, yellow gold, platinum - all of them!

Diamonds are beautiful but people can be rude enough to ask carat and quality and colour and just having a honking sapphire or aquamarine cuts all that nonsense out. And so much more individual.

@JumpstartMondays your ring sounds beautiful!

@UnashamedLabelHo well if you insist, I feel I shouldn’t disappoint you in my ring search!
I do agree re the questions though.

Not an engagement ring but I love aquamarine too

The stone in your ring is lovely @JaceLancs

Aquamarine for an engagement ring is an excellent choice.

I chose a setting I loved but the diamond was quite small so the jeweler in the jewelry quarter Birmingham bought a diamond and made the ring for me. Moissonite looks shiny in the beginning but loses it's sparkle more quickly than a diamond. I also love antique rings and have bought quite a few with sapphires and diamond, and with rubies and diamond.

@tothelefttotheleft here you go!

It’s set with sapphires and diamonds. It’s too hot to wear my wedding band with it but it’s a platinum band inlaid with teeny lab grown diamonds. I do love sparkle

That’s a lovely ring @PetrichorSoul

I’ve been looking online and found a couple of styles that I like.

I’ll go and have a try on and see how they look!

I have a moissanite engagement ring and it's beautiful. Definitely worth a look.

I've been wearing diamonds on my fingers since 1997 - quite beautiful if I so say so myself - and nobody has ever asked about the carat, colour etc.

I agree with trying to source vintage though, both from an ethical standpoint and it's just nice to wear something that has a bit of history to it and is likely a bit unusual compared to current trends.

If you're going to go for a coloured stone I'd think about what colours generally suit you. Emeralds are my favourite.

You can get lab grown sapphires etc too - doesn't just have to be diamonds.
I'd choose something which is hard and durable as an engagement ring, as you'll wear it every day.

I’m not keen on the darker coloured stones.

DP is quite traditional so he wants to go but the ring himself and has asked me for a few choices, and my size obviously!

I have to say, my engagement and eternity rings are both diamond and nobody has ever asked about the carat etc I have heard people comment on extremely large solitaires though and enquire if they are real diamond!

I love the aquamarine ring @PetrichorSoul posted-that is stunning! I love aqua and topaz :)