Are there any good alternatives for diamonds for a wedding ring?

I would go with colorful gemstones for your fiancé's engagement ring if I were you. Gemstones are not a cheap substitute to diamonds, on the contrary! Certain types of precious gemstones (such as rubies, emerald or sapphires) can not only look stunning, these gemstones are also quite valuable. Also, generally speaking, these gemstones would cost you less than actual diamonds (assuming that the gemstones weren't too large in size). You'll definitely be considered original with a colorful gemstone encrusted engagement ring! If you want your engagement ring to look even more unique, consider having the colorful precious gemstones mounted into an unusual ring setting, for example, a cluster setting (which will arrange your gemstones in virtually any geometrical shape you choose), or a ballerina setting (where the gemstones are mounted into a king of ballerina's skirt shape).

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Why not go with birthstones? Birthstone set engagement rings are a great alternative to the conventional diamond engagement ring. You can have your fiancé's engagement ring set with her birthstone, and you can even add your own birthstone. Birthstone engagement rings are appealing due to their sentimentality and their affordability. Generally speaking, most birthstones are more affordable than diamonds (unless they belong to the precious gemstone category, which includes: diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies). Also, birthstones can add a little color and flare to the traditional engagement ring, and can look quite unique.

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Actually, traditionally wedding rings don't necessarily contain diamonds or gemstones at all. While engagement rings are set with one or more diamonds, the majority of both women's and men's wedding bands consist of a solid band (hence the name...) made from a precious metal, such as gold, white gold, silver or platinum. The solidness of the wedding band is meant to symbolize continuity - as in your continuous, pure and uninterrupted love. The bands can be molded into various creative shapes like braided, or embossed with patterns like hearts or leaves.

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I like amethysts a lot...I know it isn't something people usually get for weddings, but I really love them. My boyfriend proposed with this exquisite ring...It was pave-set using platinum, the perfect ring for diamonds...but he interlaced tiny amethysts in it. It was so perfect, totally me, and no one could mistake it for anything but a really beautiful and unique engagement ring. I was overwhelmed with my happiness...

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Gemstones are quite a nice alternative. I wouldn't go for artificial diamonds, because there are a poor version of natural ones, but gemstones come in amazing colours, less glamorous than diamonds, but still romantic, and can be the focus of a beautiful wedding ring.

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Nonsense, artificial diamonds are not poor versions of natural ones, in fact, they are even higher quality and more perfectly sound on a molecular level. The only thing that real diamonds have over the artificial ones is the fact that they are more rare and thus more valuable. If you are interested in pure aesthetics than the synthetic diamond is the way to go. They will give you that shine and look of a beautiful diamond at a fraction of the price.

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