Woman crossing road, image by Brooke Cagle

Three truths when choosing an engagement ring for your anti-diamond partner

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, the saying goes.

“If you really love her, you’ll get her a ring in that little blue box”.

But here’s the thing: Not everyone is looking to flaunt a flashy solitaire diamond.

Maybe you and your partner don’t buy into the hype. Maybe you’re rule-breakers. Or maybe you’re concerned about the social injustices linked to the diamond trade.

If so, an alternative engagement ring might be just what you’re looking for.

It’s time to bust the myths. Here are three truths that defy the engagement ring status quo.

Australian oval teal sapphire ring

Truth 1: Your engagement ring does not have to feature a big ass diamond

It can – there are some beautiful, unique diamonds out there that even anti-diamond individuals would fall in love with. But it doesn’t have to.

Consider alternative stones celebrated for their distinct colours and unique variations. Sapphires, for example, come in a range of blues, pinks, oranges, yellows, greens and more, and are a great choice as a diamond alternative. They are one of the hardest gems in the world (second only to diamonds out of all the natural gems) and are highly suitable for long-term wear.

Truth 2: Your engagement ring does not have to cost three month’s salary.

In the 1930s, De Beers embarked on an extensive, and very successful, marketing campaign to convince the world that diamond engagement rings were the be-all and end-all of proposals.

This included establishing a salary guide to dictate how much a guy (who was always assumed to be the proposer and always assumed to have a female partner) should fork out for an engagement ring. At the beginning of the campaign it was one month’s salary. In the 1980s it changed to two months. The number now varies between one to three months.

But we know that dollar value is not commensurate to love. An engagement ring budget is highly personal. It might be determined based on the kind of engagement ring you want, or how much you value an engagement ring over other priorities in life. Your budget doesn’t have to be fixed right at the beginning of your search and may change when you have a clearer idea of what you’re after. Your jeweller should be able to guide you through the process, explain the differences between the various budget levels and provide options to suit.

Truth 3: Jewellery is about more than the 4Cs

Diamonds are traditionally judged against four criteria: Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat, which determine the perceived beauty, quality and price of a stone. But jewellery is about so much more than cold, emotionless grading systems.

Choosing a custom engagement ring is about the experience of designing that special, once-in-a-lifetime keepsake and seeing your piece come to life behind the scenes. It's not about socially-defined grading systems that allow others to judge you on how much you paid for your diamond.

Instead, think about your ring as a symbol of your story. What memories and references can you incorporate into your design?

The engagement ring below, for example, was designed for a couple who wanted to incorporate a fish reference. Take a closer look… can you see the fish? Read the full story.

White gold and tourmaline fish ring In jewellery, just as in life, there are no rules. A ring made out of a beach pebble you discovered on your first holiday together is no less meaningful than a diamond engagement ring from a high street jeweller.

Too many people stick stubbornly to the status quo and dutifully file into chain stores to purchase the biggest solitaire their three-month budget can handle. But ‘mundane’ doesn’t have to be part of your repertoire. The world doesn’t need more followers.

So let’s design a ring that tells your shared story. One that you can both look down on and think, “this ring truly captures who we are”. Read more about why you might want to consider a non traditional engagement ring.

Pink sapphire marquis engagement ring

Need some ideas?

Send an email or book a complimentary consult where we’ll discuss how to create an alternative engagement ring that gets you that “yes”!

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We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, on whose land we create and celebrate. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the ongoing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the land and waters of Australia.