Once we consider engagement rings, we robotically assume ‘diamond.’ In 2021, the typical value of an engagement ring was $5,500. Yikes! Should you and your honey are each in class, saving in your massive day or honeymoon, or saving cash typically, that isn’t the very best information. 

However you don’t must have a diamond to have an engagement ring that’s each a stunner and a dialog starter. There are various choices on the market that may match effectively inside a modest funds and nonetheless be a showstopper. To not point out, there are numerous well-liked stones that aren’t diamonds that may nonetheless maintain up superbly over time and could also be extra ethically sourced, bringing you (and your checking account) peace of thoughts. It’s for these causes and lots of extra why it’s best to contemplate different engagement rings. 

Let’s Discuss Settings and Cuts

For some time there, halo cushion minimize stones had a chokehold on the engagement ring trade, or which may simply be me. I felt like each ring I noticed, from the high-end luxurious manufacturers to the low finish, throughout my social media feeds, solely featured this model. However in actuality, there are such a lot of extra ring settings and stone cuts to buy, and a limitless variety of prospects to select from in case you’re designing your individual ring or in search of one thing a bit completely different.

First, there’s the timeless and basic. Spherical, radiant, princess, good, oval minimize, emerald minimize, or pear-shaped are classic and chic. These cuts are nonetheless round for good cause. They’ve held up since the custom of engagement rings started, and are an enduring and ageless form of minimize in your ring.

Then there’s a extra trendy, individualistic really feel. East-west emerald minimize stones, along with hexagonal or octagonal, trilliant, royal, kite, christian, scissor, and step cuts, could also be much less frequent, however are simply as eye-catching and distinctive.

Picture Supply: Jack Weir and Sons

Whereas the minimize of a stone or stones is vital, its setting could be simply as massive an element within the worth. Basic settings, like pavé, cathedral, bar, channel, halo, and solitaire, are simply recognizable and can give your ring a classic really feel, regardless of the kind of stone or minimize. Extra different or distinctive settings embody designs like rigidity, bezel, flush, cluster, shank, and phantasm.

Picture Supply: Grahams Jewellers

In relation to making your ring really distinctive, it’s all within the particulars. You’ll be able to add small however significant touches like further or different-colored stones, baguettes, and even accent a plain, easy ring with a extra intricate wedding ceremony band. There’s no proper or unsuitable option to go about it, and also you or your soon-to-be fiancé can really put your persona on show with any mixture of bands, stones, settings, and types.

Let’s Discuss Stones

Should you’re balling on a funds, as they are saying, you would possibly assume a diamond or perhaps a lab-grown diamond is your one and solely go-to. Lab-grown diamonds sometimes value 40% lower than historically mined diamonds of the identical readability and minimize, however their worth does depreciate over time. Not solely that, however you is perhaps writing off tons of different attractive different stones and gems that may showcase your persona and make your ring as a complete all of the extra distinctive.

Fast geology lesson for you: Gem stones are measured on a scale of hardness and are assigned numerical values from 1 to 10. The Mohs scale, as it’s identified, measures a gemstone’s scratch resistance along with hardness. On the Mohs scale, a diamond has a rating of 10, making it extraordinarily sturdy and proof against put on and tear over time. In distinction, a preferred gem like a pearl has a low score on the Mohs scale (2.4 to 4.5), making it softer and extra prone to potential harm over time. Stones like pearls and opals are stunning and basic, however must be cared for fastidiously to keep up their luster. Any gem with a score of 6 and over on the dimensions is taken into account applicable for jewellery use.

The preferred stones at present dominating the choice engagement ring enterprise (and for good cause) are morganite and moissanite. With scores of seven.5 and 9.25 respectively, these stones are sturdy, cost-effective, and most significantly, sparkly and gorgeous. Morganite has a novel pink to blush tint and is in the identical gem household as stones like aquamarine and emerald. Although the settings and cuts will clearly fluctuate by value relying on the place you go, an 8mm morganite spherical stone prices $800, in comparison with an 8mm spherical diamond, which runs about $6,639. 

In coloration, a moissanite stone is extra akin to a diamond. Moissanite was found within the crater of a meteor website in 1893 and even has a better refractive index than diamonds, giving it a stunning sparkle that doesn’t deteriorate over time. Moissanite stones are conflict-free and heat-resistant. A 1-carat moissanite stone will run about $1,405, whereas a diamond of the identical minimize and weight prices about $5,180.

Different less-common gem stones embody alexandrite, which has a score of 8.5 and adjustments coloration from inexperienced to purple to purple, relying on the lighting. You may additionally see stones like agate, rose quartz, tourmaline, chrysoprase, and tanzanite rising in popularity. All these stones have a hardness over 6.5 and fluctuate in coloration from pink to inexperienced to purple to cloudy, milky grey, or blush. With a mixture of stones and all kinds of settings and cuts, you’re assured to seek out the best match for you – pun supposed.

Make Your Wishlist

Two years in the past, the person of my goals acquired down on his knee and requested me to be his without end. Not solely was I completely stunned by the proposal, however the ring as effectively! He’d been purchasing round secretly for a number of weeks, and in the long run he gave me a completely gorgeous emerald-cut moissanite solitaire stone in a rose gold setting. In these two years, I’ve labored in retail and in two completely different places of work, moved right into a home, and had a child, and the ring continues to be as sparkly and fascinating because the day he put it on. 

Looking for an engagement ring ought to be enjoyable, in the beginning. You could be funds acutely aware whereas nonetheless in search of a wonderful, long-lasting ring. Save the rings you want on Instagram or make a Pinterest board. That manner, your boyfriend could have a complete temper board to tug the right concept from. Should you’re involved about worth, have a look at Etsy, the place there are literally thousands of reasonably priced choices. Or, settle for a hoop from a member of the family and add or take away stones or particulars to make it your individual. You might even purchase a stone and have it set in one other ring if that’s your desire. The choices are limitless.

Closing Ideas

Each woman deserves the ring of her goals, and it doesn’t must value an arm and a leg. And, you don’t have to purchase a diamond to have a glowing stunner. Glad purchasing!

Love Evie? Join our publication and get curated content material weekly!