Non-diamond Engagement Ring?
Q: I just wanted to get some opinions on a
non-diamond engagement ring. I am not a big fan of
mafia organizations, and DeBeers is one the worst.
Its amazing to me that they managed to not only
kill the rest of the diamond miners in South
Africa, but now have engineered society so that
you're expected to hand them 2 months of your
salary.
I don't have a problem with buying an expensive
ring for my fiancee, but I would like to buy her
an emerald instead (it would match her eyes a
million times better). I find the beauty of a fine
emerald stone to be un-paralleled, and would much
prefer this as a symbol of my love for her. Is
there any sort of modern society protocol for an
_emerald_ engagement ring?
A:Non-diamond engagement rings are more uncommon, but certainly not
unheard of. My FMIL's was a pearl instead of a diamond. That was what
she wanted.
Emeralds, as with all precious stones, fall under the same grading
system as diamonds, though a "good quality" emerald may fall on a
different spot on the scale than a "good quality diamond", because
nearly all emeralds have inclusions in them because that is the way they
are pulled from the earth. A "extremely good quality" 1 carat emerald
can run thousands and thousands more than a diamond of the same quality
and weight, just because of those inclusions found in nearly all
emeralds...so if there is a nearly perfect/perfect emerald it's BIG $$$.
Here is another thing to consider. With diamonds, other than whacking
them because they can chip, you really don't have to worry about them
(e.g., jewelry cleaner, detergents, etc.). Emeralds however need to be
cleaned only with warm soapy water and a bristle brush. Your fiance will
have to avoid the following with the ring: jewelry cleaner, household
chemicals, treated cloth, sharp blows, extreme temperature changes, and
ultrasonic cleaners. Emeralds are just more fragile than diamonds (or
rubies and sapphires which hold up exactly like diamonds). If you go
with it I suggest a good six prong setting too, to protect the stone
further from sharp blows, and from falling out. If you break one prong
on a six prong setting, the stone is held in place. If you break a prong
on a four prong setting, you are taking you chances on whether it will
still hold. If you get a marquis setting, go with "V" caps to protect
the points from chipping.
My suggestion to you is to find out if your future fiance is a "diamond
gal", or would not mind or even love a non-diamond engagement ring. For
me, though I find emeralds stunning, I *always* wanted a diamond
solitaire engagement ring (and a plain wedding band with rubies in it).
A few thoughts. First, you should make sure what your
fiancee's preference is. Some women really want diamonds,
especially for a ring they're going to wear every day. If
she's also amenable to something other than a diamond,