Are you ready to pop the question? Have you found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with and are ready to propose to them? Are you unsure about the kind of engagement ring you should buy them? Are you having doubts about a diamond engagement ring?
If you have made up your mind to take a great leap forward in your relationship, then you must resolve the issues related to the last question.
The old cliché that diamonds are a girl’s best friend is dead and buried. It comes from a time when most women were pressured to accept certain conventions and attitudes. That world no longer exists. And you should not assume that a diamond engagement ring will be a sure-fire winner with your fiancé-to-be.
Reasons Why She May Prefer A Non-Diamond Engagement Ring
Getting to know someone is a life-long process. Even if you have been dating for a long time, you may not know everything about the person you want to marry. However, you can pick up on enough hints, suggestions, and other clues to figure out whether she would prefer not to have a diamond engagement ring.
One of the main reasons why a person might refuse to wear diamonds is moral. Some of the most diamond rich regions of the world are also some of the bloodiest and most oppressive. What are called blood diamonds are mined in countries in which there is an ongoing war. The parties to the conflict often use slave labor, including children, to work in diamond mines. They sell the diamonds and use the money to finance their armies and continue their slave-based business operations.
All attempts to stop the flow of these diamonds to the world market have failed. They find their way into the manufacturing chain of even the most respectable companies. Your girlfriend need not be on the political fringe to know that even well-known jewelers sell engagement rings whose diamonds have been hacked from the earth by enslaved children. She may not want to risk accidental complicity with this practice.
Moral rectitude may not be the only reason she prefers a non-diamond engagement ring. As hard as it may seem, some women simply don’t like diamonds—at least not to wear. Most women used to envy the sight of a big rock on the finger of a friend or relative. This is no longer the case. For some, an engagement ring with a large diamond in the center is too loud, gaudy, and, perhaps most importantly, conventional.
Your intended may be the kind of person who likes to stand out from the crowd. She may despair at the thought of being just another fiancée with a large diamond ring.
Debunking The Myth Of Rarity
Before you pour all your money into a diamond engagement ring, you should at least determine whether you would actually be getting fair value for your money.
The fact is that diamonds are not as rare as many people believe. Russia, Botswana, South Africa, and Botswana have the largest diamond deposits on the planet.
And all of these countries follow the model established by the South African company Du Beers in the early 20th century. They have business cartels that limit the supply of diamonds to the world market, which gives the appearance of scarcity.
The diamond industry has spent a great deal of money perpetuating the myth of diamond scarcity, which has allowed them to artificially inflate the value of gemstone diamonds.
Non-Diamond Engagement Rings Alternatives
You don’t have to buy a diamond engagement ring to impress your girl. Alternatives are available. Here are some of them:
1. Ruby
Rubies are extracted from a mineral called corundum. They share this genesis with sapphire. Ruby is widely accepted as a symbol of passion and love. Historically, before the age of the diamond, rubies were exchanged as gifts among royalty and people of high status.
Ruby is a tough and sturdy gemstone, which makes it perfect for daily wear on an engagement ring. A ruby engagement ring would be an especially good choice if your girl loves the color red.
2. Topaz
This is one of the more affordable non-diamond alternatives. Another great thing about topaz is that it comes in a variety of colors. You can, for example, purchase a white gold ring with blue or aquamarine topaz in the center. The stone is elegant and classy, and will look good on her finger.
Topaz is also resistant to scuffs and scratches. If your bride-to-be is an especially active person, if she enjoys sports and outdoor adventure, then this may be the non-diamond alternative for her.
If your girl looks down on big gaudy engagement rings, she will love topaz. It is one of the few gemstones that lose their worth as they increase in size. The small stone that she receives will actually be of high value.
The one concern about topaz is maintenance. The stone does tend to lose its shine over time. To remedy this, you will need to take it to a jeweler to have it expertly polished.
3. Emerald
This gemstone has a very long history. It is one of the first stones to be widely used as a personal adornment. Indeed, emerald is a rarer stone than diamond, which just goes to show what a job the diamond industry has done to inflate the market value of its product.
Emerald is seen by many to symbolize harmony. The deep green of an emerald stone can also have a calming effect on some people. If you are with someone who is into wellness and the power of home and personal items to bring peace and serenity to a relationship, then you should seriously consider this non-diamond alternative.
4. Morganite
Morganite has a pale pinkish color that some women love. The morganite stones is in the same family of stones as emerald. However, they are stronger than the latter, which makes a morganite engagement ring perfect for daily wear.
If you intend to pop the question to someone who is into light and pinkish colors—and there are many of them—then a morganite engagement ring may be the way to go. It complements well a rose gold ring, or even a lighter color.
Buying a morganite engagement ring for your sweetheart may be the best way to melt her heart and get her to answer the big question in the affirmative.
5. Amethyst
This stone is a member of the quartz family. The best of these gemstones has a deep violet color. In some cultural traditions, the stone is believed to have healing properties. Your girl may be more taken with the air of mystery exuded by the tone.
Amethyst is known as the most elegant member of the quartz family. This has much to do with its color. Purple is associated with nobility and elegance. An engagement ring with this stone in the center will certainly embody the latter quality and a great deal more.
Again, if your girl is into wellness, spirituality, and other alternative lifestyle movements, she may appreciate an amethyst engagement ring, as the stone is believed by some to cleanse the wearer of any negative energy that may surround them.
6. Love Knot
Sometimes simplest is best. Getting to know your girl involves discerning her general taste for jewelry. If you have noticed that she never wears precious jewelry of any sort, it may be a good indication that she has made a conscious decision not to.
If she comes from a wealthy family or is in a well-paid profession and still refuses to wear necklaces, bracelets, earrings, or rings with gold or diamonds, it is a strong sign that she has for some reason foresworn such items.
A love knot engagement ring is a perfectly sound non-diamond alternative for such a person. Love knots are minimalistic. They symbolize togetherness, connection, and true love. The very shape and design of the ring represents the institution of marriage. It is one more way to express the act of tying the knot.
Most love knots are made of white gold. Some are made of rose gold and platinum. Your girl may be willing to wear gold in this instance—especially if she sees that you have taken her very specific views on jewelry into account before purchasing the engagement ring.
The Practicality Of A Non-Diamond Engagement Ring
Your decision to purchase a non-diamond engagement ring may come down to one thing: money. There is no shame in admitting that this. You may not be in a financial position to purchase a diamond engagement ring, but this should not stop you from asking the person you want to spend the rest of your life with to marry you.
In fact, it may be better to buy an engagement ring with a properly sized stone than a ring with a diamond so small that one can barely see it.
You should make your decision based on what you have good reason to believe your girl will like rather than gossip and popular convention.
Summing Up
Popping the big question is a big deal, and it is important to buy the right ring for the occasion. Diamond engagement rings are not as popular as they once were. And there is no good reason to spend loads of money on a stone that is not as scarce as the diamond industry would have you believe.
A range of exquisite alternatives are available. You should choose a non-diamond engagement ring based on the beliefs, personality, and lifestyle of your future fiancé.
