Diamonds had a monopoly on engagement rings for decades. Now, couples are considering other stones and three trends have emerged as a result. Today’s couples are prioritizing color, conscience and cost-effectiveness.
Couples have a rainbow of options for stones. According to brides.com, some are choosing sapphires, opals, aquamarines or emeralds. Vogue.com cites other choices as Padparadscha sapphires, spinels, sapphires, tsavorites and tourmalines. For those who still want a clear or light-colored stone, white sapphires and aquamarines are popular.
If you can’t choose just one stone, don’t. Multi-stone rings are increasing in favor. Some have a large, colored center gemstone surrounded by diamonds or other gems, while another style is two different stones to represent the union of two people.
Diamonds are still a favorite choice for many couples, but they may not buy ones made in the ground. For a variety of reasons, more people are buying diamonds grown in laboratories.
“Lab-grown diamonds are exactly the same as natural diamonds, both chemically and in appearance,” according to the International Gem Society. The jewelry company Helzberg says, “Even with special, highly advanced equipment it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between the two.” Man-made stones have several benefits: they are cheaper, better for the environment and “conflict-free.”
Natural diamonds grow deep in the earth and must be mined, often in ways that damage the land and, in some countries, use enslaved labor and profit criminal activities.
“In many African countries, (diamond mining) has been used to fund civil wars and illegitimate governments” run by “rebel groups or warlords,” the IGS says. These stones have earned the nicknames “conflict diamonds” or “blood diamonds.”
While the jewelry industry has taken steps to reduce these types of gems in the marketplace, some may still exist. If you’re opting for a natural diamond, ask your jeweler about its source and how it was mined. The IGS says jewelers should have paperwork documenting that the diamond was mined ethically.
Cost can be a big factor in buying engagement rings, and man-made stones are hard to beat in that regard. Estimates vary, but most sources say lab-grown gems are generally 60% to 95% percent less than diamonds mined from the ground. That means you can afford a larger gem with this option. They sparkle just as much as natural diamonds and can be cut into the same shapes as the natural ones.
More engaged couples are looking for ethically-sourced stones. They’re choosing man-made diamonds, diamonds mined in Canada (all of these are conflict-free, according to the IGS, but may cost more) or older diamonds. As with lab-grown stones, buyers can get more stone for their money by buying antique diamonds. Vogue.com and brides.com tout the positive environmental impact of vintage stones and their unique, “old-world” look. Along with recycled stones, some couples are also recycling the metal for their engagement rings.
To find secondhand diamonds or rings, check eBay, pawnshops, antique stores, local jewelry stores and Etsy. There are even groups on social media for people buying and selling used rings. Ask relatives, too. Maybe they have an old ring they don’t wear anymore and would be willing to let you have the stone or metal.
One downside to getting a lab-grown diamond or gemstone other than a diamond is it probably won’t have the same resale value as a natural diamond. But, hopefully you won’t have a need or desire to resell the ring – don’t make that your primary criteria. And the resale value of natural diamonds is a fraction of what the retail was anyhow.
The bottom line – do what you want regardless of trends. But know there are more options for rings than there used to be and that you don’t have to sacrifice your values or budget to get jewelry that symbolizes your love. ”
Tara McClellan McAndrew is a freelance writer in Springfield.
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This article appears in The Wedding Issue 2025.
