More often than ever we are asked about alternatives to diamond in engagement rings. The reasons are varied. Some women like to look down on their left hand every day and see their favorite color simply because it makes them happy. Many more couples do not wish to pay the higher prices for a diamond or possibly risk choosing one that may come from a controversial source.  We respect these various concerns and are happy to work with your choice.

Our favorite alternatives consist of:

Corundum which includes blue sapphire and ruby as well as all of the other hues in this family of gems which have the same chemical makeup and many of the same properties, the most important being durability and a hardness of 9 (see explanation below), which is critical in a ring that is worn daily and is subject to much abuse.  We always have many colors to choose from; pink, green, purple, yellow, orange and more. A colorless sapphire is also a great choice for women who like a neutral colored gem, not wanting it to possibly clash with clothing. A one carat diamond can set you back thousands while a fancy colored sapphire may cost only hundreds.

Moissanite is one the best diamond simulants on the market taking the place of cubic zirconia as a colorless diamond-like option. It is fairly new on the lab-grown gem scene. A simulant means that it looks much like a diamond but is not even close chemically speaking. Moissanite is more brilliant than diamond with a hardness of about 9 ¼. It is often more darkly tinted and difficult to find in color grades D to H. It appears nearly flawless however and is about 1/4 the price of a diamond. It is also available in all shapes and sizes.

Canadian diamonds are natural diamonds that come from a conflict free source. We have many sources available for diamonds mined in Canada. These diamonds come with certification guaranteeing place of origin and are usually laser inscribed with a serial number. Two other high producing sources for diamond outside of Africa are Australia and Russia.

Of course there are many more beautiful gems available but they are simply not suitable. We are often asked to set gemstones like opal, tanzanite or peridot in a wedding ring. While these gems are beautiful and often more rare than diamonds, if they are not at least 9 in hardness they are not durable enough for everyday wear. Softer gems are fine for occasional wear. We recommend them for fashion rings worn on the right hand and interchanged to compliment clothing color and style.