Choosing the engagement ring is one of the most trying and sentimental moments as you plan the wedding. With so many varieties in design, stone, metal, quality and price- it gets tricky to decide the best. Moreover, there is a budget to keep in mind for everyone which is another obstacle between your dream wedding ring and your reality. Keeping all these in mind, many next-generation couples look for affordable and beautiful alternatives to diamond. A lot of pressure gets eliminated when your budget concern get reduced. Moreover, these lesser-known gemstones are often very unique and beautiful enough to beat a diamond. Read on to find out about five such alternatives.
Aquamarine
This light blue to greenish blue stone is a beryl gemstone and related to emeralds but would not break your bank. However, unlike emeralds they have a better clarity and hence look more radiant and sparkly. They are also the perfect substitute if you are looking for women’s sapphire wedding rings on a budget. The bluish transparent colour is similar to lighter shades of sapphire making it hard to tell them apart from aquamarines.
Morganite
Morganites are named after American finance, J.P. Morgan and also belongs to the beryl family. They have a pale pink colour, making it a popular choice for engagement rings. They also have high clarity and affordably available in larger sizes. Usually, the pure pink colour is costlier than orangish and peach versions of the stone. If you love the padparadscha sapphire, this is the perfect affordable alternative to them.
Topaz
Topaz is the birthstone for November-born and usually known as blue or yellow stone. But in reality, there are green, orange, red, pink and even purple topaz too. The stone is referred by their colour and is a versatile alternative to many precious gemstones. The imperial topaz is the most expensive variety, but you would not be missing out on much by buying a regular topaz at a fraction of the price either. The only drawback of topaz is the cleavage plane which means it can easily break into half even though its hardness rate is 8.
Ametrine
The Ametrine is a cross between amethyst and citrine. It is a quartz stone and noted for its distinct colour. The stone reflects both yellow and purple colour. The greater the contrast and demarcation between the shades, the more expensive is the stone. But despite that, it is still an affordable choice and within the budget of most buyers. You can even get unconventional unique cuts in this stone which ensures you get a unique engagement ring.
Moissanite
Moissanite is considered the closest substitute for diamonds at a much lesser price. It is in fact, cheaper than lab-grown diamonds too. They have a hardness of 9.5 on the Mohs scale and is the second-hardest mineral after diamond. Their brilliance is also comparable to diamonds and hence it is very difficult to tell them apart for anyone other than an expert jeweller.
Whether you are getting lab grown diamonds or a unique gemstone for the wedding ring- the key concern is its beauty and your budget. When both these factors get satisfied, you can happily claim to have found the perfect wedding ring.
