Alternatives to the Diamond Ring

Diamonds, love and weddings all seem to be intrinsically tied together. Diamonds are forever, after all, and they’re often considered the truest expression of a couple’s commitment to one another.

But diamonds can be expensive, and there are social and environmental concerns to consider, too. Diamonds are mined in countries rife with conflict, where working conditions can range from suspect to criminal. And gem mining is environmentally destructive. It is possible to get so-called “conflict-free diamonds,” though that doesn’t solve the environmental questions. You could buy a vintage ring, reusing the stone or the entire ring, but some couples choose to make a statement by going diamond-free altogether. Time Magazine has several nice suggestions, if diamonds aren’t budget friendly.

There’s plenty of room for creativity when it comes to wedding rings that don’t include diamonds. Other stones have symbolism that couples can find meaningful, as can stone-free rings that utilize interesting metals with unique designs, or even recycled metals that aren’t newly mined.

One popular choice is the stone moissanite, first discovered in a meteor crater in Arizona. Moissanite is now created in labs, and it’s durable, brilliantly shiny like a diamond and yet significantly less expensive.