Ladies....does it have to be a diamond for engagement?

• sej

  

  I had this conversation over the weekend with some of my friends, and as usual, I'm the odd woman out. I want to see just how odd I am (anyone who knows me, please refrain from commenting on that subject )
  
  
  I like the look of colored gems (my own preference is pink sapphire) instead of all diamond. I'm not totally excluding diamonds, but like the look of a combination of the two. My friends thought I was nuts. Of course, they also think I'm nuts because I haven't been planning my non-existant wedding for 10 years, and would be ok with planning one on short notice and/or eloping.
  
  What's your preference? Anyone have an engagement ring with something other than a diamond?
• Laley23

  

  Nice banner ad for this thread...lol.
  
  
  As a male on the subject, I would only buy white gold with diamonds. I really dont like the look of a binch of color in a ring (even gold). I really like the look of white/diamond combo though.
  
  Of course, if the girl wanted something in particular....well Im not an idiot, Id buy what she wanted.
• gorocks99

  

  Diamonds weren't even the popular choice for engagement rings until DeBeers made it so back in the early part of the 20th century. Colored stones were more prevalent then. Diamonds are the biggest rip-off ever, IMO, but smart marketing and control of distribution has made them a "must have" for most women.
• Nate

  Will you marry me? You can pick your ring.
  
  
• Con_Alma

  Any type of ring can signify whatever the two parties choose for it to.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  I'm not a woman, but my mother-in-law has an aquamarine gemstone center that they got in Italy back in the day when they were living in Europe. It is very large and very impressive. Unfortunately my wife is a diamond person, she has a radiant cut with two trillions accenting.
• sleeper

  

  I won't buy my future wife a ring unless she signs a pre-nup, book it!
• sej

  

  Manhattan Buckeye wrote: I'm not a woman, but my mother-in-law has an aquamarine gemstone center that they got in Italy back in the day when they were living in Europe. It is very large and very impressive. Unfortunately my wife is a diamond person, she has a radiant cut with two trillions accenting.

  
  I do appreciate that the only people answering thus far are men. I wasn't trying to exclude you guys at all, and I appreciate the responses.
  
  
  I think a gem like that would be even better.
• power i

  

  I have a diamond, but my sister has an emerald. If you're going to wear this ring everyday for the rest of your life you should really have what you love.
• iluvz

  You're not crazy. I don't get the whole need for a rock thing. If I were ever brave enough to do it again (which is doubtful) I wouldn't even want any stones. Plain band for me. To me its just a diamond. I'm just not really in to them. It doesn't mean a thing other than Oh, he spent a lot of money. I'd rather money be spent elsewhere.
  
  I also think the whole wedding planning concept is over rated. I couldn't have cared any less about my wedding (maybe it was a sign) My mom wanted the fairy tale princess wedding, I said fine, you plan it and pay for it and I'll show up. She literally planned the entire thing, down to my dress even. I never even saw the wedding invite till after the wedding!
• CenterBHSFan

  

  No, it doesn't have to be a diamond. My granny's ring was actually a sapphire emerald cut surrounded by diamonds and it was very beautiful.
  Also, I've always liked rings that were unique and different and not "what everybody else is wearing".
• Scarlet_Fever

  

  My wife has a CZ she just doesn't know it.
• sej

  

  iluvz wrote: You're not crazy. I don't get the whole need for a rock thing. If I were ever brave enough to do it again (which is doubtful) I wouldn't even want any stones. Plain band for me. To me its just a diamond. I'm just not really in to them. It doesn't mean a thing other than Oh, he spent a lot of money. I'd rather money be spent elsewhere.
  
  I also think the whole wedding planning concept is over rated. I couldn't have cared any less about my wedding (maybe it was a sign) My mom wanted the fairy tale princess wedding, I said fine, you plan it and pay for it and I'll show up. She literally planned the entire thing, down to my dress even. I never even saw the wedding invite till after the wedding!

  Don't get me wrong...I love sparkling jewelry, but I tend to agree with you. I've told my parents for as long as I can remember that they can just cut me a check after I elope.
  
  

  CenterBHSFan wrote: No, it doesn't have to be a diamond. My granny's ring was actually a sapphire emerald cut surrounded by diamonds and it was very beautiful.
  Also, I've always liked rings that were unique and different and not "what everybody else is wearing".

  
  That was my whole point, too. I didn't even get into the conversation about preferring vintage/estate or artisan created. I would have exploded heads.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  Just a quick piece of advice, when you are ready to make the leap go to a jeweler and try on different rings, and take your time. The store should be patient and helpful.
  
  My wife was heavily into having a "canary" diamond, but when she tried on different stones she changed her mind, her complexion is just too dark for the yellowish stone.
  
  We spent some quality time at the flagship Tiffany store on 57th street in NYC when we were getting engaged, they were very nice about sampling their rings (speaking of pink, my wife tried on a pink diamond that they retailed at $300,000, needless to say that was above my range). Just take your time and get something that you'll love forever.
• NNN

  

  When my wife and I got engaged, the ring was still being assembled at the time that I wanted to propose. So as a stand-in, I bought one of those $8 cocktail rings from Meijer to use and have her wear until the real one was ready.
  
  If I'd known how many people would gush about that cocktail ring as if it were the real deal (because no one who isn't a jeweler can tell the difference), I'd have had her stick with that instead of getting a real ring.
• Scarlet_Buckeye

  

  I'm a man. It's going to be a diamond.
• sej

  

  Manhattan Buckeye wrote: Just a quick piece of advice, when you are ready to make the leap go to a jeweler and try on different rings, and take your time. The store should be patient and helpful.
  
  My wife was heavily into having a "canary" diamond, but when she tried on different stones she changed her mind, her complexion is just too dark for the yellowish stone.
  
  We spent some quality time at the flagship Tiffany store on 57th street in NYC when we were getting engaged, they were very nice about sampling their rings (speaking of pink, my wife tried on a pink diamond that they retailed at $300,000, needless to say that was above my range). Just take your time and get something that you'll love forever.

  
  Yeah. Pink diamonds are only mined in Australia, and I think only from 1 mine. That's pretty much out
  
  

  Scarlet_Buckeye wrote: I'm a man. It's going to be a diamond.

  As in she only wants a diamond, or you'll only buy a diamond?
• thedynasty1998

  

  My girlfriend wants a Canary Diamond for her engagement ring. I was also under the mindset that only a white diamond is to be used for an engagement ring, but I really like the Canary Diamonds.
• Scarlet_Buckeye

  

  sej wrote:

  Scarlet_Buckeye wrote: I'm a man. It's going to be a diamond.

  As in she only wants a diamond, or you'll only buy a diamond?

  As in, I have full intention of only getting a diamond. Now... obviously things can change. Maybe she will say, "I don't want a diamond (which I don't think would ever happen because let's face it... diamonds are a girl's best friend), I want such-and-such." Well, ultimately it's about making her happy so it would be whatever she wants, but from my perspective I am planning on getting a nice diamond rock.
• LJ

  

  Dr. J doesn't even really care if she gets a ring or not. In her line of work she would only wear it while at home, or out with me.
• gorocks99

  

  LJ wrote: In her line of work she would only wear it while at home, or out with me.

  She's a rock star?
  
  
  Kidding.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  thedynasty1998 wrote: My girlfriend wants a Canary Diamond for her engagement ring. I was also under the mindset that only a white diamond is to be used for an engagement ring, but I really like the Canary Diamonds.

  Canary diamonds can be very striking, and very expensive. They tend to be only cut in the rectangular shape (emerald cut, radiant cut, princess cut), very impressive stone especially if your girlfriend has a fair complexion. If she's darker (like my wife) the coloring is a bit lost.
• LJ

  

  gorocks99 wrote:

  LJ wrote: In her line of work she would only wear it while at home, or out with me.

  She's a rock star?
  
  
  Kidding.

  lol. She's much much much tighter with money than I am (like she gets upset if she rents a movie and it's bad because she wasted the $5) anyways all the female vets she has worked with or talked to say they all lose about 1 diamond per year if they wear their ring to work. Some will wear them on a necklace, but necklaces get broken a lot in practice too.
  
  She told me I can just take her on a nicer honeymoon if we get married lol.
• sej

  

  LJ wrote: Dr. J doesn't even really care if she gets a ring or not. In her line of work she would only wear it while at home, or out with me.

  That's another part of why I don't particularly want something conventional. I don't particularly want the people I deal with to know a single thing about me other than what they absolutely have to. I wear a ring on my left hand as is, and would likely only wear a band to work. This would be especially true if it was something big and blingy (which isn't really my style anyway, so that's sort of moot) Of course, things change and I could switch careers...or actually get engaged, since this all was a hypothetical scenario for me during this convo.
• justincredible

  

  You know Jessica. She wouldn't have accepted anything other than a diamond.