In my line of work with diamonds I have had many male customers ask me the following questions: “Why does an engagement ring have to be set with diamonds? Why can’t it be something more affordable? I’m on a budget. Can’t I give my fiancée a ring that isn’t necessarily made up of expensive diamonds?” My answer is YES, you most certainly can!

The tradition of diamond engagement rings originated in 1477 when the Archduke Maximillian of Hamburg bestowed a diamond engagement ring upon his intended, Mary of Burgundy. Diamonds were chosen because they are the hardest, most durable natural mineral on the face of the earth. They symbolize the unbending union between a man and a woman entering into wedlock.

However, times have changed, technology and progress march on, thus the precious gemstone industry has come up with some reasonable and affordable alternatives for diamonds in engagement rings. For instance, a Cubic Zirconia is an artificially synthesized material. It is durable and visually similar to a diamond. However, it is not as rare as a diamond therefore it is not as valuable or sought after. Thus, a Cubic Zirconia ring would be a less expensive purchase than a diamond ring. In addition, one may opt to set an engagement ring with a birthstone instead of a diamond. Birthstones add sentiment and uniqueness to a ring. Choosing a birthstone signifies thoughtfulness and intimacy, creating a ring that is personal and special to its wearer.

Also, there are many colored gemstone historically associated with the ideal of love, which can be used as diamond substitutes in an engagement ring. For example, red-colored gemstones such as rubies and red garnet may symbolize passionate and intense love. Green-colored stones like emeralds and green garnet symbolize faithfulness and eternal love. Blue-colored stones for example, sapphires and blue spinel, symbolize the purity and spirituality of love. Therefore, a gemstone setting can be an agreeable, affordable alternative to diamonds. Colorless sapphires are also a most agreeable substitute to diamonds since they are durable and lustrous. They can be cut to look like diamonds and to the untrained eye diamonds and colorless sapphires appear quite identical. Consequently, colorless sapphires are less expensive than diamonds and are always a good solution for a low budget. 

In addition, you may consider saving money on the band’s metal rather than on its set stones. For example, you could choose to use cheaper metals such as a low karat gold, silver or palladium as your ring material. Or, you could go eccentric and opt for unusual materials such as wood or plastic. These materials wouldn’t make for a very traditional ring and you probably wouldn’t be able to set gemstones into these materials. However, if done properly, an alternative material ring could be a modern interpretation to traditional engagement rings and could be quite unique.