What do you think of non-diamond engagement rings?

Question

I never really thought much of them myself, but my boyfriend proposed to me friday night and gave me a ring with a teardrop alexandrite, offset by a tiny speck of a diamond, and I absolutely love it. What do you think about non-diamond engagement rings? Love them? Hate them? Indifferent? Why?

And before anyone brings this up, I'm not looking for opinions on my ring- I love it and no one's answer is going to change my mind on that. I'm just curious what people think of non-diamond engagement rings in general, because I never thought about them much before.

Answer 1

I love my light blue sapphire. It has some very small diamond accents and I love it. I never was a diamond girl and wanted a ring that reminded me of my fiance. It's his birthstone and he has blue in his eyes. We both like sapphires and it's beautiful. I love that he thought of me when he picked it out but loves it also. It's unique and it means more to me than a diamond. I think people should get what they want. Diamonds just look like money to me and I think too many people equate them with love. As if buying something that doesn't cost quite as much means your fiance loves you less. Congratulations on your engagement.

Answer 2

I think an engagement ring is a very personal thing and is based on personal taste! Many women go with a diamond engagement ring for all the wrong reasons: 1) to fit in, 2) so people won't think their bf is poor or cheap, and 3) because they lack original thought. If you choose a diamond engagement ring, it should be because you simply LIKE the look of diamonds period.....not for anyone else! You're going to be the one to look at it for the rest of your life. Personally, I love sapphires and really thought about picking out a sapphire engagement ring. But when my sweet bf (now husband) took me to a jewelry store, I ended up falling in love with a setting that had sapphires on the side instead of as the main stone. I fell in love instantly. If you are happy with your ring, that is all that matters!!! :)

Answer 3

I think non-diamonds are a great idea. I'm getting a carat blue topaz. We looked at diamonds and I decided that they were too expensive, and my boyfriend has always had problems with buying diamonds in general. My choices were gemstone or a man made diamond from Apollo. I figure since I wear two blue topazes everyday I might as well get a stone I know that I'll wear. My birthstone is a diamond, and I've really never been too keen on it. I love the idea of Alexandrite though!
Congrats!!! And have fun planning the wedding!

Answer 4

Engagement rings were not traditionally diamond but plain rings of gold, silver or iron. Gems were important and reassuring status symbols to the aristocracy only and laws were passed to preserve the social rankings. Sad huh?

The custom to use diamonds can be traced back to the Romans who valued diamonds as a supernatural gem believing it could stop poison, stave off insanity and qualm fears. Parisians thought that the diamond would ward off evil spirits if worn on the left hand.

You can credit De Beers, the diamond company ("A Diamond is forever") for making the diamond engagement ring the standard in the U.S. for it's extensive marketing campaign.

Regardless, I'm sure your fiance put a lot of time and effort into your ring. You love him and you love the ring... what more can you ask for?? By the way, my engagement ring has elk ivory with a small diamond. It's totally me and I would never change it for a big ol' diamond ring!

Good luck and congratulations!!

Answer 5

I've requested one as well! Some people will judge and think that "oh well he must not love you as much as me since your ring is only $500" or whatever. They can shove it. I know for a fact my fiancee spent months scouring jewelry stores to find the right ring....whereas the girl I work with who got the 2 ct. diamond.....I went shopping with her boyfriend and he spent all of half an hour choosing it. I'm not knocking her, in fact the ring he got her is beautiful...but I do get really mad when people assume just because it's a gemstone it's not just as important.

Personally I just don't see the what the big deal is about a diamond. Everybody has them and they are just sooo expensive. I knew for sure I wanted at least 1 carat for it to look proportional on my hand. To have I diamond I would need to spend like 6k! Personally I can think of much better things to do with that money in general than walk around with it on my finger. And since I am an art teacher for young age children and work with my hands a ton doing my own work it's completely impractical.

Congragulations on the engagement!

Answer 6

I'd be interested to know if you have the green or red kind....
I think it's lovely to have another gemstone. My husband chose a traditional diamond for me, and made a great choice - I suppose I like it most because diamonds match everything.
However, I bought myself a dress ring last year - a pink topaz with diamond shoulder stones, and thought what a lovely engagement ring it would have made!

Answer 7

I think that it is all a matter of personal taste. Obviously he liked it and picked it out especially for you!
I am partial to diamonds, but had my hubby given me an engagement ring with a different stone, I would have been just as excited. If he loves you and you are going to be happy together, the ring doesn't really make a big difference!!
congratulations on your engagement!

Answer 8

I HATE repeat HATE diamonds. haha I did a report in the diamond trade and was sooooo turned off by them. They're not even really precious stones, the diamond companies regulate how many go on the market to keep them expensive...not to mention the human rights issues with these companies! i told my bf I hate diamonds and refuse to wear them haha. So he proposed a few years later with a deep pink sapphire ring...One center emerald cut and four smaller ones on each side. When i saw it I almost cried esp since it looks purple and since we were friends he always got me something purple(I don't know why bc its not my fav color but he did). I have had rude people say its bc he is too cheap to get me a diamond but I really hate them haha and my ring WAS expensive ( "1/2 a carat or so worth" if he was able to get me a diamond he would have saved a little bit of money bc my ring is packed with sapphires i found out how much and wanted to return it and get a cheaper ring until I realized I was being rude). Idk I'm sure your is pretty and trust me it took your fiancee a while to find. It depends on what you like :-). congrats

Answer 9

It truly did no longer in shape me to have a hoop that feels like the numerous available and that i could no longer see the experience in dropping hundreds on a diamond ring whilst there are gogeous rings with different stones available. the only comments i are starting to be on my ring have been effective! i've got under no circumstances had to truly clarify the hoop, different my married or engaged friends have quite expressed some envy, as they had like something that seems a sprint greater unique. you would be fantastic, and of path you and your fiance liking the hoop is all that concerns, yet i'm effective human beings will react to it certainly.

Answer 10

CONGRATS!

How dare you break the sacred tradition started by rich people and diamond industry!!!

HAR HAR HAR! I don't really know who started it, but diamonds are EXPENSIVE...

I think they're awesome. A ring should reflect you and your life and, partially, your budget.

Personally, I think your ring sounds very nice. Although you didn' ask for my $.02, depending on the cut/size of the ring, are you considering something like a diamond anniversary type band to go with it, or a "plain" band? You have options!!!

Again,
Congrats and good luck..