Carrying on from last week’s Wednesday Wedspiration, where we looked at 48 (absolutely freaking gorgeous) alternatives to diamond rings, this week we’re looking at engagement rings that are similar to diamonds in everything but the price tag.
Moissanite engagement rings
Moissanite is a natural, clear stone which is so close to a diamond, you’d be hard-up to tell the difference without a microscope and a geology PhD.
If you like the look of a diamond but you’re worried about the ethics of them (for good reason), moissanite is a fantastic alternative; while you can get synthetic diamonds – which you can be confident don’t make you complicit in whole entire wars – the price is still unnecessarily high. Moissanite costs about 90% less, but looks (and lasts) the same.
Sapphire engagement rings
Sapphires are durable and hard-wearing – exactly what you need in a ring that you’re never going to take off! – and I kept getting recommended them when I was looking into diamond alternatives for my own engagement ring. I completely ignored them. I couldn’t see a big blue stone working with my dress style or my skin tone.
And then I found out they aren’t all blue.
Sapphires come naturally in almost every colour, and synthetic sapphires can come in even more. Yellow, peach, and pink gems make a sweet, understated ring.
(I wound up getting the yellow lab sapphire that looks like a snitch for my own engagement ring. It’s awesome.)
Morganite engagement rings
If you like the idea of a pale pink ring, morganite is a fantastic alternative. The shades of pink differ wildly – and very pale shades tend to be a bit pricier, since more people want them – but they’re still a lot less expensive than diamonds while having the same incredible shine and clarity. (Plus, who doesn’t like pink?!)
Rose quartz engagement rings
Rose quartz is another fun, inexpensive choice if you want a playful pink ring. It’s a soft stone so it can’t stand the same wear and tear as a sapphire, but it’s also one of the most readily available stones in the world so it’s not going to break the bank if it ever needs to be replaced.
If you’re planning on getting a less expensive ring for now and getting a new one down the line, which some couples like to do, after they’ve sorted out mortgages and other finances, or if you’re planning on being very, very careful, rose quartz is a great alternative.
Aquamarine engagement rings
Aquamarine is the blue version of morganite – and I mean that very literally.
If you like the idea of a having subtle hint of colour in your ring but you don’t feel pretty in pink, aquamarine is a perfect alternative. It has the beautiful shine and clarity of a diamond – without the hideous price tag.
Moonstone alternatives to diamond rings
Or why not go for something a bit more magical? Moonstone is a beautiful gemstone with a bluish, otherworldly sheen. It comes in different colours but a white stone, glowing adularescently in the light, would make a beautiful understated ring. (And you’d always have a handy means to hypnotise sultans on a moment’s notice.)
Metal engagement rings without gemstones
Or why not leave off the stone all together? Metal bands look gorgeous on their own! Get a design worked into the metal instead of a gemstone, get a secret design inside that leaves a light imprint on your finger, so you’re never not wearing you’re ring (even when you’re not wearing your ring), or go minimal with a simple band. Maybe it won’t mean much to anyone else – but it only has to mean something to you and your partner. (And I’d suggest folding your other fingers down so they can get a really good look at your ring finger while you tell them that.)
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The ring in the title image is by Metalicious on Etsy.
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