The New Intimacy

Would you choose an alternative wedding ring gemstone?

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Contributor: Lady of the Lab Lady of the Lab
I've been doing some research in the process of picking a ring and I came across two popular lab-grown alternatives to diamonds, cubic zirconia and moissanite.

From Wikipedia:
Cubic zirconia -- "cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2"
Moissanite -- "originally referred to a rare mineral discovered by Henri Moissan having a chemical formula SiC and various crystalline polymorphs... synthesized in the laboratory and named silicon carbide (SiC)"

Would you choose an non-traditional gemstone over a diamond?

And would you try to pass it off as a diamond?

Links:
Moissanite Vs. Diamond (Squidoo)
Cubic zirconia vs Diamond (Diffen)
Moissanite vs. Diamond Nexus** (eHow)

** "...cubic zirconia that has been coated with a protective chemical substance to prevent clouding and increase durability"
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
Yes, I would choose an alternative gemstone.
45
No, I would only choose a diamond.
18
Yes, I would tell someone that the stone was not a diamond.
17
No, I would instead tell someone that it is a 'diamond'.
Total votes: 80 (64 voters)
Poll is closed
05/26/2013
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Contributor: Lildrummrgurl7 Lildrummrgurl7
I had already planned on forgoing the diamond wedding ring. My future mother-in-law gave me an old family ring with a white gold band and an emerald (my partners birthstone) so I planned on adding some stones around the emerald and using that as my wedding ring. The added stones will probably be a "fake" diamond like CZ
05/27/2013
Contributor: eri86 eri86
I would love to have an single set emerald instead.
05/27/2013
Contributor: TJtheMadHatter TJtheMadHatter
When my husband and I were going to get married, my mom offered me several rings. There was one that was a CZ, another was a different stone, and then there were the real diamonds. My mom pushed for the CZ, saying that it was the biggest of them all. I went with the diamonds. I grew up looking and loving the diamond ring. Also, I don't wear or buy expensive jewelry, so in my mind my wedding ring should stand out. It's the only ring I own, and the only jewelry that I wear ever day (aside from the three piercings in my upper ear cartilage).

*A ring wasn't important to me, so long as we got married. The fact that she offered me anything meant and means a great deal to me.
05/27/2013
Contributor: evanescentowl evanescentowl
I'd much rather get a pearl than a diamond. I'm not sure why. I also prefer silver to gold. XD
05/27/2013
Contributor: gwenevieve gwenevieve
Quote:
Originally posted by Lady of the Lab
I've been doing some research in the process of picking a ring and I came across two popular lab-grown alternatives to diamonds, cubic zirconia and moissanite.

From Wikipedia:
Cubic zirconia -- "cubic crystalline form of zirconium ... more
my wedding ring isnt a diamond, idk what it is
but it desnt even look like one
its light pink and heart shaped
with 2 small diamond-looking gems on either side
i love it
i think most diamond rings are very boring
05/27/2013
Contributor: Woman China Woman China
I get mocked when I tell people that if I ever decide to marry there will be no rings. But if he insists on a ring, then I get the plain and simple band and he can wear the rock.

The two engagement rings I have been presented with in the past; one was a honking emerald, and the other was a black diamond surrounded by traditional diamonds. Always find it funny when people think I am impressed by flashy things.

Other than the Eleven it is.

By the way Lab Lady!!! Congrats!!!!
05/27/2013
Contributor: TJax TJax
For something she is going to wear everyday for the rest of her life, why would I be stingy and get something that could get chipped?
05/27/2013
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Lady of the Lab
I've been doing some research in the process of picking a ring and I came across two popular lab-grown alternatives to diamonds, cubic zirconia and moissanite.

From Wikipedia:
Cubic zirconia -- "cubic crystalline form of zirconium ... more
When we got married, we were both in grad school and could not afford a diamond. We knew we were going to have very good jobs one day soon, so we agreed to a nice size CZ, set in a ring she designed, and on our one year anniversary, where we were already on our career path's, we replaced the CZ with a real diamond and put that "special" CZ into a necklace she wears almost every day.We agreed on this before hand and had no intention of staying with a "fake" stone. FYI, of all those you mention, CZ looks best, and lasts longest, but must be removed before doing any work on a ring, as heat will shatter it (unlike real diamond).
05/27/2013
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by TJax
For something she is going to wear everyday for the rest of her life, why would I be stingy and get something that could get chipped?
Real is real. Fake is fake. Diamond is the only thing here created by nature over millions of years. Even a tiny real diamond is worth many times what a huge fake CZ is. I would rather have small and "real" personally.
05/27/2013
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by evanescentowl
I'd much rather get a pearl than a diamond. I'm not sure why. I also prefer silver to gold. XD
Rubies are also pretty in some wedding settings.
05/27/2013
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by eri86
I would love to have an single set emerald instead.
A good emerald can cost more then diamond,by the way.
05/27/2013
Contributor: dancingduo dancingduo
We did a white topaz for the engagement ring. Her idea, not mine!
05/27/2013
Contributor: VeganChick (is Gone) VeganChick (is Gone)
Cubic zirconia will get cloudy and faded after awhile. I have to replace my earrings every few years because they get dull. My mom has moissanite and don't really think it looks like a real diamond, although it is pretty.

We went through Brilliant Earth to get something ethically sourced.
05/27/2013
Contributor: Pumpk1nPatch Pumpk1nPatch
I do not like most traditional wedding rings, so I had mine made with a Herkimer Diamond (double terminated quartz). Love it.
05/27/2013
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
With the skyrocketing price of gold - not only have diamond substitutes gained in popularity - other metals have as well. I've seen 'jewelery grade stainless steel', tungsten and other metals offered.

Luckily after being married for 23+ years, I've bought all the jewelry I need to buy. It will be interesting to see what my kids opt to do when their weddings approach.
05/27/2013
Contributor: Lady of the Lab Lady of the Lab
I'm looking at an alternative gemstone because although a diamond is really pretty, I was having a hard time justifying the cost against other financial goals.

Right now I have my eyes set on moissanite.

Since chipping was mentioned, here are some stats:

Mohrs hardness scale:
Diamond -- 10
Moissanite -- 9.25, 2nd hardest gem & used as a replacement for diamonds in scientific experiments
Sapphire & Ruby -- 9
Topaz & CZ -- 8
Emerald -- 7.5 to 8

@Woman China: Thanks ^.^ I'm also in the process of planning the ceremony.
05/27/2013
Contributor: bettyboom bettyboom
Honestly, I want just a plain silver band.
05/28/2013
Contributor: natashaanime natashaanime
I would actually want a diamond. It doesn't have to be big either, I would just want at least one really nice ring in my lifetime.
05/29/2013
Contributor: sXeVegan90 sXeVegan90
I'd actually want a real diamond. Because it is a wedding band and a symbol of our undying love...well I'd rather have real than fake. If I couldn't afford a real diamond, I would just get a simple band without a stone in it at all.
05/29/2013
Contributor: KrissyNovacaine KrissyNovacaine
i chose a Diamond Nexus. I liked buying a stone that wasn't impacting the human rights of a country, and wasn't going to bankrupt us as well. It felt like the smart choice for us.
05/29/2013
Contributor: MissAdara MissAdara
For me, opals are better than gold and diamonds. I am just crazy over them, and would love to have an opal at least incorporated into my wedding ring.
05/29/2013
Contributor: TiffanyW TiffanyW
Quote:
Originally posted by Lady of the Lab
I've been doing some research in the process of picking a ring and I came across two popular lab-grown alternatives to diamonds, cubic zirconia and moissanite.

From Wikipedia:
Cubic zirconia -- "cubic crystalline form of zirconium ... more
My ring has a sapphire in it. It's what I wanted. Now, I kind of want an upgrade...
05/29/2013
Contributor: chicmichiw chicmichiw
Quote:
Originally posted by Lady of the Lab
I've been doing some research in the process of picking a ring and I came across two popular lab-grown alternatives to diamonds, cubic zirconia and moissanite.

From Wikipedia:
Cubic zirconia -- "cubic crystalline form of zirconium ... more
I actually would welcome an alternative appearance to a wedding band. Like no gem at all. As a woman, I like the look of a plain gold band. I'd prefer having something written on the inside than a big rock on top.
05/29/2013
Contributor: GingerSpice GingerSpice
as long as it sparkles, i'm not picky
05/29/2013
Contributor: joiedejouets joiedejouets
If it wasn't diamond I would rather get some other sort of cheaper gemstone than a fake.
05/29/2013
Contributor: SecretKinksters SecretKinksters
Only diamonds for me on my wedding ring.
05/29/2013
Contributor: giftdgecko giftdgecko
Quote:
Originally posted by Lady of the Lab
I've been doing some research in the process of picking a ring and I came across two popular lab-grown alternatives to diamonds, cubic zirconia and moissanite.

From Wikipedia:
Cubic zirconia -- "cubic crystalline form of zirconium ... more
We went with a stone that wasn't a diamond simply because it looked nicer on the ring. It looks great and while we may get a strange look every once in a while, diamonds are a fairly recent development in society and one that is unnecessary. It's not cubic zirconia but an amythest
05/29/2013
Contributor: TiffanyW TiffanyW
Quote:
Originally posted by sXeVegan90
I'd actually want a real diamond. Because it is a wedding band and a symbol of our undying love...well I'd rather have real than fake. If I couldn't afford a real diamond, I would just get a simple band without a stone in it at all.
It's all about preference. My ring was a blue sapphire. It was a genuine stone, not a lab-made. But at that point in my life (I wasn't even 18 when he proposed) I wasn't comfortable wearing a real diamond. I was afraid of losing it, or damaging the ring.

I am 22 now, and we have been talking about an upgrade. I know for a fact I won't be working anytime soon (no daycares within 45 miles) and I am more comfortable about wearing a real diamond ring.

I don't think the stone has anything to do with the meaning of the ring. The ring is for unconditional love, and I guess pronouncing it to the world. No one is going to know if it's diamond or CZ
05/30/2013
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
C and I finally got my engagement ring about six weeks ago. It's a small diamond, got it from a pawn shop (one of the employees is a friend of mine), and it's unique. I do dream of replacing the diamond with an emerald ... but I've already developed an attachment to it as it is.

chiliring
05/31/2013