# Best non-diamond engagement rings you've seen? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 1, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999 "2012-01-01T00:34:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/21 "2012-01-01T21:49:39Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > So my boyfriend-er-fiance proposed to me over the holidays. šŸ˜ƒ We are going to be picking out the ring together. Iā€™ve always liked the idea of a non-diamond engagement ring to avoid the political controversy over diamonds, plus the financial cost of a genuine diamond isnā€™t really worth it to me. > > Based on my initial searching, I am currently considering looking for something in sapphire and moissanite. ) Congrats and good choice on no diamond, they are over-priced and super-hyped. I think a sapphire is a excellent choice. Iā€™d get a nice 2-3 ct one, in a square cut, with 2 tiny fake diamonds on each side. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/22 "2012-01-02T01:40:23Z")
> [@Tracyfish](#): > > We skipped an engagement ring and went straight for matching rings from [this](http://www.minterandrichterdesigns.com/) site. Theyā€™ve redone their site, but we got rings most like [this](http://www.minterandrichterdesigns.com/products-page/hardwoodinlay/starry-starry-night-2/) one. I thought theyā€™d be more blue than green, but theyā€™re still pretty. Thanks for telling me about this! My fiance has always been attracted to the idea of a titanium band so I showed that site to him and he loved the designs on there. It looks like we may end up using them for his wedding band (though I still want some kind of gem in my engagement ring). ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/23 "2012-01-02T01:49:11Z")
Thanks to everyone who has given feedback and ideas. There are so many choices, yet so many of them turn out to be overpriced when you look into them closely. It does help to hear what others think about this. After looking at the prices at some retail jewelry stores (mainly to get some ideas about what various designs look like on my finger) I am more convinced now than ever that buying a ā€œnewā€ diamond from retail is not for me. I donā€™t see any sense in making my fiance go into debt to get me a new diamond ring when there are some pretty, cheaper alternatives out there. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/24 "2012-01-02T01:56:28Z")
Donā€™t know where you are but when I lived in the SouthEast I learned that shopping for jewelry @ pawn shops was quite acceptable; no one thought twice about saying they got a piece of jewelry or a stone at a pawn shop. Maybe you could shop together for a ring or stone there? Much cheaper than regular retail. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/25 "2012-01-02T03:04:34Z")
I decided to go with a single ring for engagement and wedding with no stone. We went with a vintage band from [here](http://marleneharriscol.com/) (I think I got that link from this board). ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/26 "2012-01-02T03:22:12Z")
I got my wife a 1.75 carat medium blue sapphire flanked by 1/2 carat diamonds, on a simple gold band. The choice was a combination of budgetary constraints(she has big hands, and thereā€™s no way I could have afforded a similar sized good quality diamond), dislike of diamonds and DeBeersā€™ price fixing, and knowing that she likes things that are out of the ordinary. The colorā€™s a little bit unusual- most are a dark royal blue, but hers is somewhat lighter. She gets compliments pretty often about it apparently; sheā€™ll come back and tell me every time. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/27 "2012-01-02T03:32:09Z")
Congrats! And I agree with rubies. [This](http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/image/jewelrymedia/2477--1RU1702ARG?$product-md$) is cute (ick on the color of gold, though). [This](http://jewelry-shopping.padisgems.com/images/products/detail/21600168.jpg) is cushion cut and antique style. I have 3 stone one from Kay Jewelers and I constantly get compliments. It looks antique, so I love it. ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/28 "2012-01-02T21:26:18Z")
Congratulations! I recommend [pricescope.com](http://pricescope.com) (the Colored Stones board) for trying to source a colored stone you like ā€“ lots of helpful friendly people ā€“ although they do not deal with man-made stones (like moissanite). For a second-hand ring or stone I recommend [diamondbistro.com](http://diamondbistro.com), although with all the usual caveats from buying second-hand (the nice thing is that this site has fewer of the Scam!Sellers than, say, eBay). Still, most of the people there are quite nice and you can often score deals. Moissanite is a gorgeous stone. It is even more dispersive (more rainbow flash) than diamond, although make sure you get one that doesnā€™t have a greenish tint, as some of them do. My official engagement ring is a cubic zirconia, which no one has ever called out as fake (it is a very, very well cut one from [winkcz.com](http://winkcz.com)). My unofficial one is a lovely sapphire. So I am very much on board with your ideas! ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/29 "2012-01-03T04:43:50Z")
Iā€™d second Pricescopeā€™s coloured stone forum as a resource if you are looking for something like a sapphire stone. I found a person to custom cut a sapphire for me there (in the US), as well as a benchmaker to set it here in Australia. If you are interested in sapphire engagement rings, hereā€™s a [thread](http://www.pricescope.com/forum/show-me-the-ring/show-off-your-sapphire-engagement-rings-please-t124960.html) showing many different options from participants (mineā€™s there too!) ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/30 "2012-01-03T13:43:31Z")
Mine, which I received over the xmas holidays (from someone who also posts on this board) is sapphire flanked by two diamonds, as sapphire is my birthstone, and I prefer them over diamonds. (I didnā€™t pick it out, otherwise, admittedly, it would have been only sapphire). Itā€™s got a high prong setting which I will have re-done, as Iā€™m not keen on them. As someone mentioned below, they tend to catch on things, and I donā€™t care for that look overall.\* \*Heā€™s not worried about me fiddling and faddling with the ring or setting as Iā€™ve re-set or sorted just about every piece of jewelry heā€™s given me; heā€™s more relieved that I said ā€˜yesā€™ than anything else, and that I can stand the sight of him when heā€™s got man-flu. ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/31 "2012-01-03T17:24:49Z")
Oh, I forgot another important set of boards! [http://betterthandiamond.com/discussion/ubbthreads.php](http://betterthandiamond.com/discussion/ubbthreads.php) is a discussion board for simulants and synthetics (they also welcome natural stones, but are not as knowledgable about them as e.g. pricescope) ā€“ you can see some gorgeous moissanite and cubic zirconia and synthetic (lab-grown, but otherwise identical chemically to the natural thing) gemstones like rubies and sapphires. The company that hosts the boards, [betterthandiamond.com](http://betterthandiamond.com), I find to be a little overpriced for what they provide, but there are lots of people there who will help you find a simulant/synthetic ring that no one will ever realize is not the real thing (both my sister and I used advice from that site to get rings, and everyone always oohs and aahs over them). ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/32 "2012-01-03T17:26:45Z")
Oh, I forgot another important set of boards! [http://betterthandiamond.com/discussion/ubbthreads.php](http://betterthandiamond.com/discussion/ubbthreads.php) is a discussion board for simulants and synthetics (they also welcome natural stones, but are not as knowledgable about them as e.g. pricescope) ā€“ you can see some gorgeous moissanite and cubic zirconia and synthetic (lab-grown, but otherwise identical chemically to the natural thing) gemstones like rubies and sapphires. The company that hosts the boards, [betterthandiamond.com](http://betterthandiamond.com), I find to be a little overpriced for what they provide, but there are lots of people there who will help you find a simulant/synthetic ring that no one will ever realize is not the real thing (both my sister and I used advice from that site to get rings, and everyone always oohs and aahs over them). ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/33 "2012-01-03T20:10:58Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > Mine is a very simple bezel-set sapphire with no other ornamentation, pretty much like [this one,](http://www.amazon.com/White-Unusual-Design-Natural-Sapphire/dp/B001710GBE) but we had mine made by a local jeweler because a) we could choose the stone in person, and b) apparently I have munchkin fingers (itā€™s a size 4.75). Sapphire is my favorite stone and my birthstone; I wasnā€™t at all interested in a diamond, or a prong setting. (IME they are always catching on things.) That is gorgeous. Congratulations, **lavenderviolet**. I donā€™t have much to add on rings, since I do have a diamond. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![LaurenIpsum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@LaurenIpsum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LaurenIpsum)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/34 "2012-01-03T21:06:17Z")
How about a Swarovski crystal? Their online store has some rings that might work. Many of their rings are fairly ā€œbusyā€ looking but here are some simple ones I found that have one main crystal in the center: [http://www.swarovski.com/Web\_US/en/1081949/product/Angelic\_Ring.html?CatalogCategoryName=0112](http://www.swarovski.com/Web_US/en/1081949/product/Angelic_Ring.html?CatalogCategoryName=0112) [http://www.swarovski.com/Web\_US/en/1024251/product/Flirt\_Ring.html?CatalogCategoryName=0112](http://www.swarovski.com/Web_US/en/1024251/product/Flirt_Ring.html?CatalogCategoryName=0112) [http://www.swarovski.com/Web\_US/en/953107/product/Dazzle\_Ring\_.html?CatalogCategoryName=0112](http://www.swarovski.com/Web_US/en/953107/product/Dazzle_Ring_.html?CatalogCategoryName=0112) ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/35 "2012-01-03T21:11:08Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > That is gorgeous. Thanks, and I have to say, the [shop we worked with](http://christopherduquet.com/) did a nice job, in case aanyone is in this neck of the woods. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/36 "2012-01-03T22:20:05Z")
I donā€™t have a photo, and my original ring was an oval amethyst that Typoā€™s mother had, that he gave to me. Later though, when we could afford it, we purchased a 2 carat oval sapphire. Lots more affordable than a diamond. We did have it set in a setting with 3 tiny diamonds on each side, but thatā€™s optional. Iā€™ve always loved sapphires and dearly wish my mom had held off birthing me for a few more weeks so theyā€™d be my birthstone :D. Iā€™m not familiar with moissanite. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/37 "2012-01-03T22:48:44Z")
Mine, of course! Mineā€™s the best! Okay, so I lucked into my grandmotherā€™s old 30ā€™s setting (which Grandpa had taken the diamond from for a new setting in the ugly 80ā€™s) when she died, so Iā€™d had it set with a lab created emerald. When I got engaged I just had it resized to fit that finger. I LOVE it - itā€™s low profile, so it doesnā€™t catch on things. I mean, yeah, not everybody has a vintage ring hanging around, but I love this one and if I had to do it over again Iā€™d have had something made like it. Well, if I had my exact druthers it would have been a white metal and a sapphire, but I like the sentimental attachment (and of course the price tag!) Itā€™s also very important to me that thereā€™s no colonial history or other unpleasantness associated with my engagement ring - the gold, maybe, but I didnā€™t buy it. Grandpa did. šŸ™‚ I took a really quick photo and put it on Flickr [here.](http://www.flickr.com/photos/62555962@N00/6630931487/) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/38 "2012-01-03T23:21:06Z")
My wifeā€™s is an opal. Itā€™s her birth stone, and we both detest diamonds. Opals come in all [different hues](http://www.opalmine.com/unset-opals/crystal-opals/) and types and reflect back spectacular colors. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/39 "2012-01-04T00:01:58Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > The sapphire is surrounded by platinum, and it really makes the blue color pop. Thereā€™s a few really tiny diamonds set in the band itself for extra sparkle. My best friendā€™s wife had a large sapphire mounted on platinum, surrounded by some tiny white diamonds. I thought it was very pretty, and I am in general a big fan of having a large emerald or sapphire with some accent stones on the sides. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999/40 "2012-01-04T00:11:19Z")
I donā€™t have a specific ring, but tourmalines are lovelyā€“they come in a huge variety of colors and settings, and are not too expensive. I used to have a beautiful pink tourmaline in a gold settingā€¦one of my favorite rings. I had my momā€™s engagement diamond reset into my own engagement ring after she and my dad divorced. Then I got divorced and itā€™s now known as the Cursed Family Diamond. šŸ™‚ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-diamond-engagement-rings-youve-seen/607999.md?page=3)