Alternative engagement rings

[Kacie_bride]

What do you think of engagement rings or wedding rings that use a different stone (or no stone) other than a diamond. I found this below.



For example, there are many colored gemstones that have historical associations to love. Red stones symbolize the heart, and thus, passion and a zest for life. With red, one instantly thinks of ruby, but the same symbolism can be conveyed very inexpensively with red garnet, or with a little larger budget, red tourmaline, or for a little more, red spinel. All natural gemstones, and all beautiful.

We can find similar choices for green (which symbolizes faithfulness and continuity) where choices include not only emerald, but green garnet or green tourmaline; for blue (which symbolizes spirituality and purity) in addition to sapphire we have blue spinel, iolite, and blue tourmaline. You might also combine whatever stone you choose with a small diamond on each side, thereby completing the ring with the symbolism of diamond, which, because of its unrivaled hardness was believed to be indestructible.

And lets not forget the gem that has been associated with love and with the wedding itself longer than all others, the pearl; one might seek a natural pearl in an antique or heirloom piece.
There is also a tradition of using a birthstone in the ring--hers or his--something connected to the couple in a very personal way, perhaps also combined with diamonds and their symbolism.

[Kacie_bride]

I have always wanted a diamond. Justin knew that. I would have been very disapointed if I would have gotten another type of stone. I'm not saying that I wouldn't have accepted it, but I would eventually change it out or add a diamond to the ring.

[ladymelissa]

Whatever Mike would have picked out would have been fine with me. To me it's more about the meaning of the gesture than the ring.

[LaceyinPgh]

I wanted a diamond solitaire. That was the end of the discussioni. But, I don't care what someone else has. If it is your hting, go for it.

[mlm063007]

For my engagement ring I wanted a diamond solitaire. I would have been upset if I had gotten something else.

For my wedding band I am thinking about getting emeralds.

[racecargirl]

I remember seeing a beautiful diamond and sapphire set that i really liked, but the main 'jem' was the diamond, but it had sapphire accents. I would have been ok with something like that. But what my fh picked out is perfect.

[StaceyMc]

I'm really not about the stone, I'm about the promise and commitment that is represented by the ring. Joe did a nice job picking my ring - I would have loved it regardless.

By the way, our wedding bands are ruby.

[MOB Karen]

For my engagement ring I wanted a diamond solitaire. I would have been upset if I had gotten something else.

For my wedding band I am thinking about getting emeralds.

Are you a May baby?

[MOB Karen]

Amber's at work and I'm off until after the wedding, so Amber doesn't have as much time as me to play on the computer. So I asked Amber, "would you have been disappointed with an engagement ring that wasn't a diamond solitaire?" This is her reply...

"No. I love and am very happy with my ring but would have been satisfied with whatever.... I am getting a glorious wedding I have no complaints."

I just love her!

[mariaandmanish]

I was fine either way. THe meaning is what mattered most to me, not the actual ring. THough, I love my ring, and I think he really did a great job picking it out!

[CarlosHoney]

I actually prefered another stone. Moissanite. Though money is no object in the eyes of love... We were on a budget with my ring. My 1 Carat solitare in 14k white gold costed us $600.. A diamond would be $5500.. And no one can tell the difference. I think it's more beautiful than a diamond. More fire and brilliance, for a lot less cash.

Oh, plus, there's no blood on my hands for getting Moissanite. The same is not true with Diamonds.

[nic1124]

this is a pic of mine. I think whatever u like is great. My cousin was proposed to in ireland with an emerald. Its beautiful. I think its the thought that counts

[CarlosHoney]

this is a pic of mine. I think whatever u like is great. My cousin was proposed to in ireland with an emerald. Its beautiful. I think its the thought that countsIt is!! And I agree!!

[Jenn060306]

I have a diamond solitare. But if we couldn't have gotten it i would be happy with another stone. Maybe my birth stone. Pink Amathest then 2 tiny diamonds on either side if possible.

[nikkiana]

Whether it was a diamond or not wasn't a priority with me... The ring we picked out did end up being a diamond ring, but it wasn't a requirement.

[HisMuse]

I told him I wanted a red stone and not a diamond, I never wanted a diamond. My ring is beautiful and very me.

[frenchie]

Almost any stone is cool with me, I actually care more about the shape and metal of the band itself - white gold or platinum, and it needs to be a pretty shape. I like rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds very much so either is fine with me.

[NicksBride]

I am gonna sound petty, but I HAD to have a diamond. I was always so set on it as a little girl I would ahve my dad buy me those "Fake" diamond wedding rings so i could wear that around. If it was any other stone I think I would have been disappointed. BUT I would have loved it because my DH picked out. But he did an amazing job!! :o

[miranda]

I wanted diamonds as the main stone, but I wanted sapphires around it. I finally got what I wanted :) Sapphires are kinda FH and my thing. He's given me a sapphire necklace and a sapphire ring, so we're kinda hooked on them :)

[neebelung]

I say do whatever you like. Some people tend to just like the traditonal meaning of a diamond. Personally, I wanted something different... for me, we went with a sapphire center stone because it's my FH's birthstone (so for me, the ring represents him as the center of my universe). I have diamond flanking it, and diamonds down the sides, and my wedding band(s) will be diamond pave as well, and in truth the setting is fairly "traiditional," but I love that it's just a little different, and I know no one else has the exact same ring.

[SerendipityCrafts]

Hugh was aware of my "wish list" .... marquis, emerald, oval or pear shaped diamond (anything other than round) and set in a simple setting. I would have been open to another kind of stone but I don't take off my jewellery and so, there is no other stone as "tough" as a diamond"

[EarlyBird]

I never thought of another stone besides diamond when we were talking about getting engaged. Personally, anything else i would have been disappointed with (not b.c im money grubbing, but b.c i knew we had the money for it and FH knew that i had always wanted a diamon) however, if we had a stone other then diamond that we felt had a meaning to us, it probably wouldnt have bothered me to get that stone, but as it stands, diamond is what i wanted, and thankfully what i got. I know ppl say its the meaning behind it, and your right- but i guess i just saw myself wearing the more traditional stuff :)

[StJohnBride]

For other people I think they're ok -- I prefer diamonds for me 10000%. But to each his own. :)

[neebelung]

Personally, anything else i would have been disappointed with (not b.c im money grubbing, but b.c i knew we had the money for it and FH knew that i had always wanted a diamon)

Actually, good quality gemstones are often as much, and sometimes even more expensive, than diamonds.

[mj512]

I'm pretty sure Matt didn't even think of anything but a diamond. I would have been really taken off guard if he would have given me something other than a diamond. Of course he knew just what I wanted (princess cut, white gold) and I totally love it :)

[Doglover]

I wanted a diamond but I wouldn't be mad or anything if it weren't.

[EarlyBird]

Actually, good quality gemstones are often as much, and sometimes even more expensive, than diamonds.

thats very true- but you know most ppl associate "money grubbing" with GIVE ME DIAMONDS :) haha! i just wanted to make it clear that i would never have been disappointed on no diamond (or anything that would have cost around the same) if i knew we couldnt afford it.

[Trillian]

No judgement on people who want diamonds and won't have anything else, but no way on earth would I own one. I know what mining diamonds does to the environment, I know what it does to the people who live in mining areas, and I know that the only reason diamonds are the norm is due to marketing and social conditioning of american women beginning in the 30s. I'm all about fighting social conditioning, and I'm all about being eco-friendly. There are no eco-friendly diamonds. The ring I wanted was a quartz crystal, but he let that one slip through his fingers. I've found another I like at an independent shop here in Philly, but we're visiting the renaissance fair in a few weeks and we're going to check there first.

[sjk1431]

Not cool. I wanted a diamond. End of story. I'm not a fan of gemstones.

[WendyNC]

Mine is a sapphire that we took out of his mom's anniversary ring (she and his dad are divorced). We weren't originally planning on an e-ring, but it is nice to have one. But I am ready to stop wearing it and just have my nice, plain, smooth band. I don't wear rings, so I am not used to it poking... like if I curl up with my hands under my face... uncomfortable!! haha... I will probably wear it on my right hand every now and then after I am married.