Read here our guide with great ideas and prices for alternative engagement rings!
Life has so much to offer, and it’s a shame that most of us limit ourselves to the known few or the traditionally accepted.
When it comes to expression of love, most people put their best foot forward so as to ensure their love is felt endlessly. The same applies when it comes to proposing marriage.
Men usually break their backs trying to find the perfect engagement ring for their fiancé to be, and usually most people choose diamond rings which is fine, as they are strong, magnificent, brilliant and expensive.
But what if your lady doesn’t like it, or she has a more contemporary approach to life, or worse still your budget doesn’t allow it?
This is where alternative engagement rings, which are equally beautiful, come in.
The beauty of alternative engagement rings is that they come in a wide range of colors, and therefore you are spoiled for choice.
In fact one can even get a ring crafted out of their birthstone to make your alternative engagement rings more meaningful.
Colors symbolize different things, and knowing the meanings will help you settle on the best engagement ring.
If your budget is on the low side, red garnets will fulfill the same purpose and if your spouse was born in Jauary, garnets are particularly meaningful as they are the birthstone for the month!
You can get alternative engagement rings with sapphires, if blue appeals to you. Blues are linked with purity and spirituality and are a great option if you value these aspects most.
Turquoise and Tanzanite’s which are exquisite and rare, will also work. Turquoise is associated with happiness, fortune and luck especially for those born in the month of December. To most people these are the things they want most in their marriages.
For green, emeralds which are very charming, usually come to mind first and for those born in May. This is a fantastic choice as it their birthstone.
The green color symbolizes continuity and faithfulness. Another option is the aquamarine which has immense sparkle, is green blue in color and most importantly is associated with love, hope and affection!
White normally symbolizes life, purity, cleanliness and openess amongst other things, which are great aspects to have when one wants to get married and some of the stones that can be used, are pearls which by themselves symbolize modesty, grace, chastity.
Most appealing is that they are linked with happy and successful marriages. Another alternative is a white opal which has intriguing beauty and represents, hope, innocence, friendships and emotions.
Purple is the color associated with royalty, wealth and sobriety. It can be a very unique and interesting choice when used in an engagement ring, as it will allow someone’s personality to shine through. The amethyst, which is associated with peace and tranquility and comes with various shades, can be a great choice too.
Yellow signify warmth, friendliness and acceptance, and yellow topaz gemstones which are associated with life, strength and healing would be yet another great choice.
One of the most common alternatives is the sapphire, which has even been used in the Queen’s family by the Queen’s mother, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Anne and Princess Diana!
Alternative engagement rings with sapphires, come in many colors ranging from: purple, brown, green, orange, pink, black as well as colorless. This stone shows spectacular color changes when observed in fluorescent or incandescent light.
Sapphires have the mohs of 9 and hence are very hard, therefore making them a great option for the engagement ring, as you are assured of durability. Another plus is that you can have them heat treated to improve their color and clarity, and what more can a girl ask for!
Rubies have similar properties as sapphires.
Chrysoberyl comes in greenish yellow colors and it has a mohs of 8.5. One very valuable form of this stone is the alexandrite which is color changing.
Other alternative engagement rings, are the cubic zirconias, whose hardness range between 8 and 9. It comes in broad range of colors and one is spoiled for choice. Its only shortcomings are its low fracture, strength and toughness level.
Emeralds which are very charming and beautiful unfortunately are not the excellent choice for engagement rings. With a moh of between 7 and 8 they have lots of natural fractures and inclusions. If you have to use emeralds look for high quality ones and remember to protect them from high temperatures and impacts.
Lastly but definitely not least, is the magnificent moissanite, which was discovered just before the 1900s. This stone looks so much like diamonds and therefore it’s a great alternative for those set on having diamonds, but can't for one reason or another.
It has a hardness of 9.25, which means it’s very strong and durable. It’s not colorless, but when it comes to fire, diamonds hands down and many might concur with this. For the most environmental conscious people, moissanite engagement rings are definitely your best choice.
• Research is important so as to familiarize you with the terms you will encounter as you shop, so that you are not duped. Some of the terms will include cut, clarity, color and carats.
• Shop for a reputable jeweler so as to get value for your money and also the best ring. Search online and get recommendations as well.
Having said that, the price of alternative engagement rings, is relatively low depending on the stone. They range from $500 to $2500, but then again it can differ based on what you want and where you buy.
So get out of your comfort zone and look around. Remember when it comes to alternative engagement rings, it’s mostly the thought that counts!
Life has so much to offer, and it’s a shame that most of us limit ourselves to the known few or the traditionally accepted.
When it comes to expression of love, most people put their best foot forward so as to ensure their love is felt endlessly. The same applies when it comes to proposing marriage.
Men usually break their backs trying to find the perfect engagement ring for their fiancé to be, and usually most people choose diamond rings which is fine, as they are strong, magnificent, brilliant and expensive.
But what if your lady doesn’t like it, or she has a more contemporary approach to life, or worse still your budget doesn’t allow it?
AHAA! alternative engagement rings :-)
The beauty of alternative engagement rings is that they come in a wide range of colors, and therefore you are spoiled for choice.
In fact one can even get a ring crafted out of their birthstone to make your alternative engagement rings more meaningful.
Colors symbolize different things, and knowing the meanings will help you settle on the best engagement ring.
Meanings of colors and colored gemstones
Red is used to signify love, passion, life and basically the heart and if this is your color of choice, Rubies which are magnificent and fiery are best suited. “Pigeon blood red” is the most common type of ruby.If your budget is on the low side, red garnets will fulfill the same purpose and if your spouse was born in Jauary, garnets are particularly meaningful as they are the birthstone for the month!
You can get alternative engagement rings with sapphires, if blue appeals to you. Blues are linked with purity and spirituality and are a great option if you value these aspects most.
Turquoise and Tanzanite’s which are exquisite and rare, will also work. Turquoise is associated with happiness, fortune and luck especially for those born in the month of December. To most people these are the things they want most in their marriages.
For green, emeralds which are very charming, usually come to mind first and for those born in May. This is a fantastic choice as it their birthstone.
The green color symbolizes continuity and faithfulness. Another option is the aquamarine which has immense sparkle, is green blue in color and most importantly is associated with love, hope and affection!
White normally symbolizes life, purity, cleanliness and openess amongst other things, which are great aspects to have when one wants to get married and some of the stones that can be used, are pearls which by themselves symbolize modesty, grace, chastity.
Most appealing is that they are linked with happy and successful marriages. Another alternative is a white opal which has intriguing beauty and represents, hope, innocence, friendships and emotions.
Purple is the color associated with royalty, wealth and sobriety. It can be a very unique and interesting choice when used in an engagement ring, as it will allow someone’s personality to shine through. The amethyst, which is associated with peace and tranquility and comes with various shades, can be a great choice too.
Yellow signify warmth, friendliness and acceptance, and yellow topaz gemstones which are associated with life, strength and healing would be yet another great choice.
Properties of alternative engagement rings
Alternative engagement rings with sapphires, come in many colors ranging from: purple, brown, green, orange, pink, black as well as colorless. This stone shows spectacular color changes when observed in fluorescent or incandescent light.
Sapphires have the mohs of 9 and hence are very hard, therefore making them a great option for the engagement ring, as you are assured of durability. Another plus is that you can have them heat treated to improve their color and clarity, and what more can a girl ask for!
Rubies have similar properties as sapphires.
Chrysoberyl comes in greenish yellow colors and it has a mohs of 8.5. One very valuable form of this stone is the alexandrite which is color changing.
Other alternative engagement rings, are the cubic zirconias, whose hardness range between 8 and 9. It comes in broad range of colors and one is spoiled for choice. Its only shortcomings are its low fracture, strength and toughness level.
Emeralds which are very charming and beautiful unfortunately are not the excellent choice for engagement rings. With a moh of between 7 and 8 they have lots of natural fractures and inclusions. If you have to use emeralds look for high quality ones and remember to protect them from high temperatures and impacts.
Lastly but definitely not least, is the magnificent moissanite, which was discovered just before the 1900s. This stone looks so much like diamonds and therefore it’s a great alternative for those set on having diamonds, but can't for one reason or another.
It has a hardness of 9.25, which means it’s very strong and durable. It’s not colorless, but when it comes to fire, diamonds hands down and many might concur with this. For the most environmental conscious people, moissanite engagement rings are definitely your best choice.
Watch some great ideas to alternative engagement rings!
Things to do before and when choosing an alternative engagement ring
• Know your girlfriend’s taste prior to buying ,and if you need to, consult with her family and friends. You wouldn’t want to buy a ring that she doesn’t feel like wearing.• Research is important so as to familiarize you with the terms you will encounter as you shop, so that you are not duped. Some of the terms will include cut, clarity, color and carats.
• Shop for a reputable jeweler so as to get value for your money and also the best ring. Search online and get recommendations as well.
Having said that, the price of alternative engagement rings, is relatively low depending on the stone. They range from $500 to $2500, but then again it can differ based on what you want and where you buy.
So get out of your comfort zone and look around. Remember when it comes to alternative engagement rings, it’s mostly the thought that counts!