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, find out what her preference is. Even if emeralds match her eyes, she might prefer something else. With emeralds in particular, I'd be careful because they can be a bit delicate to wear in an everyday ring. They require more TLC than a harder, more durable stone (like diamonds, rubies, sapphires). If you both really want to go with an emerald, you might want to consider the setting carefully so that it will be as protected from sharp blows as possible. My husband and I both have rubies in our rings. We both like them very much. I certainly wouldn't trade mine for a diamond for anything, but then again, I'm not a big diamond fan myself.

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