I was dreaming of my wedding ring I would like to have some day and looking at other rings online when I came accross a site for lab created diamonds. When I started reading it things started to make sense. hen I found out that it only takes about $6 per carat to mine and cut it that $5000 1 1/2 carat (of medium quality ring) just made my dream ring seem less wonderful to me. I can get the same ring in 2 carats for $700.
My bf has let me pick out my ring asking me to keep around 1 to 2 carats. I always wanted a 2 carat ring. But i am a saver and cannot bare the thought of $5000 - $7000 credit card balance. And he wants to get me something realy special since this is the only time we would be spending this amount on jewelry.
I have been seriously considering a lab created diamond. I mean I own two lab created emeralds and I perfer the color and clearity of them better.
I have been reading articles and it says that 52% of women now want real diamonds and women of our generation are opting for lab created or even substituting an emerald or sapphire in the diamonds place with diamonds around it (my cousin had that and the ring is beautiful).
My bf said it would be ok if two things happen...
1. we keep it a secret
2. when we get a head in life (when I finish schooling and child care and child support arent issues anymore) we replace it with a real diamond.
How do you feel about real and lab created diamonds?
I mean I just see so much more me and him can do with $5000 instead of a diamond but we both want the look of a diamond. Is this weird? oh...and hes not being cheap this was my idea. he doesnt particularly like it that much but says its not for him its for me.
You like it so you should get it. It sounds like it's right up your alley. You stated lots of reasons why you should and have no problem with it so do it.
__________________
"Did you just say "the bee itch?" Or did you just call me a biiitch!? "
I've written about this before.. I should look for the post but anyway, bottom line is I was faced with the same choice. I chose the lab created. I still have my ring, have worn it proudly for 12 years now. NO ONE knows. I took it to a jeweler once and he had to use his loop thing (forget exactly what it's called) to see if it was real or not.
With the money we saved we took a European honeymoon. I've never regretted it since. Who wants to start a marriage off with debt. The ring is REAL to me. It has been for a long time now. No difference. And like I said no one knows.
It's gorgeous too. It's a marquis cut with a baguette on either side set in yellow gold.
If you're like me, and it sounds like you are (a saver) you WON'T regret it. Don't tell anyone and no one, I mean NO ONE will know. And you will have exactly what you want...even better I believe.
So go for it!
__________________
“There's no thrill in easy sailing when the skies are clear and blue, there's no joy in merely doing things which any one can do. But there is some satisfaction that is mighty sweet to take, when you reach a destination that you never thought you'd make”
I think Touche's post a while ago really brought this issue to my attention, and I decided that a synthetic diamond is what I would want. To me there are certain times when spending a lot on something is worth it, a ring (especially when an EQUAL substiture is available) is not one of those situations.
I don't understand why your bf says that you would have to beep this a secret, I find that a little strange.
Different strokes for different folks. I have several pieces of synthetic and lab created jewelry. I can't really tell the difference, but I know which are real and which are not. I had to pawn my ring once many years ago and wore a very nice cubic zirconia ring and to look at it you can't tell, but I felt deceitful when telling anyone that it was real. However, I was just as proud of it as a natural diamond and wasn't afraid to tell anyone what it was. I think it cost around $250 itself! Not a cheap piece of jewelry and I still wear it often. I have a lovely Zircon necklace that I wear and it's darker than a white diamond (its supposed to be) and I have had a couple of people ask me why I wear fake jewelry when I also have a diamond necklace. I tell them it's not fake - it's Zircon. Zircon is a naturally occuring gemstone too. It's funny the perceptions and emotions tied up in jewelry!
The home shopping channels always say their stones are better looking than diamonds, yada yada yada, then they go on to talk about size and setting and say they look 'believable'. That in a way seems like a cheat. A Saturn may look like a Lexus and drive like a Lexus, but it's still a Saturn. If you're not proud of it or feel peer pressure to the point you have to lie about your wedding ring, then don't get one until you can afford what you really want - or get a less expensive ring to wear now and on your 10th anniversary (or whenever) get the ring of your dreams. You'll have a goal to shoot for and can save for it.
I wear my synthetics with my naturally occuring gem stones and no one knows any different. "they" might think everything I have is paste!
I think Touche's post a while ago really brought this issue to my attention, and I decided that a synthetic diamond is what I would want. To me there are certain times when spending a lot on something is worth it, a ring (especially when an EQUAL substiture is available) is not one of those situations.
I don't understand why your bf says that you would have to beep this a secret, I find that a little strange.
Wow, thanks Allina. It means so much to me that you remembered my post on this. Are you engaged? Are you holding out on us? You better spill girl!
And as for you, Hokey there's NO way in hell you can tell that mine isn't real. I had a friend who said the same thing and guessed that mine was real! Ha! Plus I've already mentioned that the jeweler I took it too one time couldn't tell without pulling out his jeweler's loupe (sp?).
The funny thing about your post was that after all that, you concluded by saying that you wear your "real" stones along with your synthetic stones and no one can even tell the difference.
For me, the ring is a symbol. It's not a matter of "real" versus "fake." It represents that period of time when my husband and I made a commitment to each other for life. It's not about the stone. The ring is merely a symbol of that commitment and of our love. Nothing more and nothing less. Again, it's not about the stone itself.
And a4a, you're right about your views. My H and I actually had an argument about this. He did NOT want me to go the synthetic route but later THANKED me for being such a sensible woman. Of course, he didn't thank me until AFTER we came back from our 2 week European honeymoon that we couldn't have taken had I gotten a comparable engagement ring that WASN'T lab created!
Wow, thanks Allina. It means so much to me that you remembered my post on this. Are you engaged? Are you holding out on us? You better spill girl!
Hah, nope I'm not engaged, not even close and nowhere near even thinking about it The post about rings just cought my attention because one, I have many friends starting to get engaged so I hear a lot of ring talk, and two I've always had sort of a problem with having to blow several thousand $ to start a life together. I would much prefer an awesome vacation, or something we can both USE for that amount.
And I could never hold out such juicy info from LS!
I havne't really made up my mind on the matter, so please don't attack what I'm about to write.
On the one hand, I think it's silly to blow that much money on a piece of jewelry that can be replicated for 1/20th the price, especially when an engagement should really be abotu the commitment, not the bling.
On the other...the ring is a symbol largely because it (allegedly) retains value well over time. It's the idea that it is everlasting, that you can give it to your kids and it will be just as pretty (and valuable) as when you got it. Of course, the other part of what makes it a symbol is just symbolism, but why bother with a cheap imitation at all, if you are boycotting the ridiculous prices of the diamond industry? I can understand the need to have an imitation ring to appease family, friends, and other people that will know you are getting engaged, but getting an imitation just for the symbolism...why not get something else?
Why does it need to look like the real thing to be symbolic of your love?
Why does it need to look like the real thing to be symbolic of your love?
Cuz it's pretty and sparkly and stuff.
I've been thinking about getting synthetic diamond earrings because I like the sparkly diamond look against my dark hair, but don't really want to spend the cash on ones big enough to see, and would be afraid of losing them.
Hey, Allina you BETTER not hold out on us! You're a cutie.
Insomnie, I respect your view. I would never attack anyone's choice. I just have my own view on the matter. I didn't really get your last question on your post though. I think, NJ answered it best. Bottom line is because I like it. It reflects my taste and wasn't a ridiculous price for something that will last longer than I will last!
Let's not even get into the diamond industry and the atrocities associated with it. I don't want any part in that. Look that up. It's pretty disgusting really. It's inhumane.
So what should I get something else? I didn't do it to appease ANYONE...not my family, not friend, not anyone. I did it because I loved the look of it, it pleased ME and it made sense all the way around. I liked my ring AS MUCH as I liked the REAL THING. So if I liked them equally, and couldn't tell the difference, and knew they'd both last as long, why the heck NOT? Did you know that the lab diamonds are just about as "hard" as the real ones on the harness scale? There's a scale for hardness for stones. I don't have all that info but diamonds are the hardest and the lab ones are close behind.
I'm hard on my jewelry and I've never chipped or broken my "diamond"...I did however knock the marquis stone out of the setting once and that's when I took it to the jeweler's. I asked him to please re-set it in my setting...but before he did that I asked him if he could tell me if the stone was "real" or not. That's when he looked at it with his naked eye for a few minutes. He said he really couldn't tell and would need the loupe. It was only THEN that he could tell.
I'm looking at it right now. It's gorgeous next to my wedding band that my husband placed on my finger 11 years ago this past June. It means everything to me. I can't imagine that a "real" stone would mean more to me.
This is "real" enough for me.
So, although I won't judge you, Insomnie, please don't judge me for choosng a stone that maybe to you isn't real but to me represents the REAL love my husband and I have had for each other for almost 12 years now.
Hey, Allina you BETTER not hold out on us! You're a cutie.
Let's not even get into the diamond industry and the atrocities associated with it. I don't want any part in that. Look that up. It's pretty disgusting really. It's inhumane.
Thanks Touche
I also have a huge problem with the diamond industry, but I tend to get all crazy political on here sometimes so I was gonna give it a rest.
When I meet the girl of my dreams, and I'm ready to ask her to marry me, I'm going to put together a romantic evening. When the moment comes, I'm going to give her a gold ring with an empty setting.
Then I'm going to pull out a piece of charcoal and crush it in my hand until it becomes a diamond, and put it in the ring right in front of her. What could be more romantic?
I saw a guy do that with a piece of charcoal in a movie. Looked like a piece of cake.
Please note: The suggestions and advice offered on this web site are opinions only and are not to be used in the place of professional psychological counseling or medical advice. If you or someone close to you is currently in crisis or in an emergency situation, contact your local law enforcement agency or emergency number.
Or did you just call me a biiitch!?
"
Linear Mode
