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

@AnnaMagnani I have a garnet one too, people often think it’s a ruby... and sometimes I don’t bother to correct them

My morganite with a wedding band and eternity ring ❤️

Beautiful rings on here.

I'd go vintage and for an Art Deco saphire. Dreamy.

My own ring is a diamond cluster. I was adamant I didn't want the same all of my friends (a solitaire) and it's really sparkly, when the light hits all the little stones. Love it so much.

@brightbluesky Love your wedding band!

Go to an Indian jeweller and ask for a 18c ‘American diamond’ ring. You will get real certified gold but the diamonds will be manufactured.

Another option if you want a real stone is aquamarine as it looks beautiful but is often a lot cheaper.

My engagement ring is moissanite. Looks no different from the diamonds in my wedding ring, which was my Nans.

I was exactly the same as you, didn't want to spend a fortune and wanted something ethical. We spent £250 instead of ten times the amount for the same style diamond ring.

Honestly, go for it. Moissanite is a winner for me!

@CoffeeBeansGalore thank you. Tried on so many before I chose this one!

fedup nobody has ever asked me what mine is. I would tell them its a moissanite though. I specifically wanted one because they are sparklier and also i dont really like the ethical issues that surround diamonds as well as the fact its all just a massive marketing ploy!

l have a Moissanite ring. The stone is stunning, and much better quality than l could ever afford without winning the lottery.
l was put off diamonds a bit (although l love the look of them) when l read something that said they're only so expensive because De Beers did that advert years ago that said how many months salary you should spend on an engagement ring.
And the blood diamond thing is a really big concern, too.
lf l could afford it, l'd love a big (fingerprint sized) dark opal in a very simple setting. They cost the earth, and they're just stunning.

This is mine! I think its charles and colvard. Im trying to picture the box!

Loopytiles Put a bit of gin or vodka in a container. Put your ring in it and leave it overnight. lf you use something like a little plastic tub with a lid, give it a shake. You'll be amazed at all the gunk in the liquid. Then give it a good scrub with a soft toothbrush. lf you have a sonic one, all the better. lt'll sparkle!

I have a v expensive Art Deco platinum and diamond engagement ring that was about £5k. But I'm WAY to scared to wear it! I lose stuff, break stuff all the time and I would 100% lose it one day. So it lives in the safe and I wear a very similar QVC silver Diamonique ring instead. I've lost a few over the years and so it makes total sense to me. I tell anybody that asks what it is, I've never pretended.

My ring is from Lily Arkwright and it is BEAUTIFUL! I could not be happier, both with the ring, the customer service or the fact that I can go to sleep at night knowing that no one has died whilst being forced to mine for my lovely shiny rock!

OP I'm with you on the dislike of diamonds, and I especially dislike solitaires. It's a personal opinion and each to their own, but I find solitaires incredibly plain for the amount of money they cost! I always knew I'd want aquamarine because it's my birth stone. When I got engaged, my DH and I had looked at a few aquamarine rings and the only one I liked was a 7-stone aquamarine eternity ring surrounded by lots of smaller diamonds. It cost £800 and it's the prettiest aquamarine ring I've ever seen. It makes me so happy and I get so many complimentary comments.
I got a wedding band made to fit it and that has more diamonds set in it, so I definitely don't feel like I need a big diamond. My wedding set is pretty enough.
Do what you like and don't worry about other people that seem to follow the big diamond/Solitaire rules, that's their preference and not yours.

@katseyes7 Something like this?

CoffeeBeansGalore That kind of stone, but bigger. And nothing on the shoulders. Just completely plain, either four claws or a setting where the gold's just round the edges of the stone.

DragonOnFire

I love aquamarine too. It's so pretty.

I've got a white sapphire, it's lovely and sparkly and not cloudy at all, people often think it's a diamond!

Another Cz option here:

www.diamonfire.co.uk/product/6-claw-solitaire-ring-2ct/

www.charlesandcolvard.com/engagement-rings

Conflict free Moissanite rings look EXACTLY like diamonds

@keepingbees could you name some insta accounts to follow? I really want to get a second hand ring

@BigusBumus have you got a photo of your 5k ring ❤️ love a bit of ring porn

This is brilliant, I just thought everyone bought a diamond and that was it. It's amazing to see all these wonderful different rings and advice on how to go about buying one. I spoke to my sister last night about opting for a moissanite and she was a little taken a back that I didn't want a diamond but she's a bit more traditional than I am.

crunchy123 & Chugga - Thanks for sharing your experiences with Lily Arkwright, I've taken the plunge and booked in for a one on one consultation next Saturday before I decide what to opt for. Seeing everyones rings has made me question if the tiffany solitaire was maybe a little too plain.

Bollykecks - Wowza! Thats such a lovely photograph, I love the small moissanite stones on your band :)

@BigusBumus have you got a photo of your 5k ring ❤️ love a bit of ring porn 😂😂😂

thanks becky!

I absolutely love it, will probably buy more moissanite rings. I have a CZ ring on the other hand but it doesn't sparkle as much (though it was v cheap and prob needs a good clean!) and I will probably replace with another moissanite ring when the wedding is done and we have a bit more cash!