Now-a-days, for modern brides-to-be, when it comes to our big days anything goes, and the same goes for our engagement rings! Diamonds may be the traditional stone of choice for a proposal – and a girls best friend of course! – but many of us contemporary, unconventional, fashion-loving and eco-conscious gals, are looking for something a little different….

Something more colorful, reflective of their own personal style or love story, and of course more ethical. Something a little more unique than the simple solitaire, yet still undeniably stunning! So with this in mind, I have rounded up 16 alternatives to the traditional diamond engagement ring for you to swoon over. And swoon I have no doubt you will, because these sparklers are wow……

Moissanite

Moissanite is one of the more popular diamond alternatives because of its similarity to the traditional stone – apart from its price (and less exploitative mining practices) it’s almost impossible to tell the difference!

Marquise Moissanite Engagement Ring – Olive Avenue Jewelry

Peach Sapphire

I know, peach! Because not all sapphires are blue. In fact sapphires come in many beautiful colors (we’ll see more later) and being the birthstone of September make a great choice for brides born or getting married in that month!

Peach Sapphire Engagement Ring – Minimal VS

Sapphire

Of course a deep blue sapphire was the stone of choice for Princess Diana and sapphire engagement rings have seen a resurgence in popularity since the lovely Kate started wearing the same beautiful ring.

Sapphire Engagement Ring Set – Alya Personalised

Ruby

But if blue isn’t your color, then how about a rich red ruby? Just like diamonds, a ruby’s quality is decided by its cut, color, clarity and carat weight, so its still worth doing your research and looking around before buying a ruby ring.

Marquise Ruby Engagement Ring – Minimal VS

Black Onyx

Onyx first started being used in jewelry by the early Egyptians and I am not sure anything makes much more of a style statement than a black engagement ring!

Black Onyx Engagement Ring – Olive Avenue Jewelry

Teal Sapphire

As well as being absolutely stunning, a sapphire has come to symbolise faithfulness and sincerity which makes it pretty perfect for an engagement ring… especially in this gorgoeus color!

Oval Teal Sapphire Rose Gold Engagement Ring – Minimal VS

Emerald

Emeralds comes in many beautiful shades of green, and as well as being the birthstone of May they have long been associated with fertility, rebirth, and love. In fact, ancient Romans went so far as to dedicate the Emerald to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.

Emerald Halo Engagement Ring – Moissanite Rings

Opal

Always one of my favourite stones, for its many colors, opals make a stylish alternative to the traditional diamond, especially when set like this! They’re also the birth stone of October and considered to represent faithfulness, making them rather fitting for an engagement ring.

Wandering Star Rainbow Ring – Catbird NYC

Pink Sapphire

I told you they come in lots of colours! And if you’re looking for a pretty feminine stone, they don’t come much prettier than a pink sapphire…..

Emerald Cut Pink Sapphire Engagement Ring – Studio 1040

Turquoise

Whilst not the hardest of stones (so a turquoise engagement ring will require a little looking after) it is none the less a sophisticated choice for a centre stone, and with its vibrant hue will make quite the style statement.

Pear Turquoise Engagement Ring – Minimal VS

Pearl

Pearls are as timeless as diamonds, and just as radiant with their iridescence…..

Pearl Engagement Ring – Alya Personalised

 Morganite

Morganite comes in the prettiest shades of blush and pink, and cut like a diamond can be just as sparkly, making it easy to see why this budget-friendly alternative has become such a popular choice in recent years….

Pear Morganite Engagement Ring – Minimal VS

White Sapphire

And yes, sapphires also come in white! Clear, colorless and cut like a diamond, I think it would be hard to tell this isn’t one…

White Sapphire Engagement Ring – NY Fine Jewelry

Tanzanite

Almost violet in hue, this precious stone would make a pretty choice for a proposal!

Trillion Tanzanite Ring – Minimal VS

Aquamarine

The birthstone of March, Aquamarine is paler than a sapphire, and usually a little more budget friendly, but no less lovely. A tranquil shade of blue it is thought to bring peace and calm to those who wear it.

Hexagonal Aquamarine Engagement Ring – Capucinne

Moonstone

Used in jewelry and adored by both the ancient Greeks and Romans, who believed it was born from solidified rays of the Moon, moonstone became popular again during the Art Nouveau era with French goldsmith René Lalique and created a large quantity of jewelry using this stone.^[

Oval Moonstone Engagement Ring – Minimal VS (see this ring in a stunning set here)

So you see, diamonds may be forever but so would be any one of these beauties! I know I would love to see one (or two) sparkling away on my finger.

For any guys out there reading this post and not yet convinced by a diamond alternative, you might want to read this rather interesting post over on The Art of Manliness – who knew our love of diamonds was just the result of a brilliant marketing campaign?!

Or for more engagement ring ideas

You will also find a few in the Chic Vintage Brides boutique 🙂 Just remember, your engagement ring will be worn every day! It should be an extension of your style, not a representation of a current trend, so think carefully about what your true style is before making a choice.

Amy

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