For many people, there’s only one way to propose and get engaged: with a diamond ring. It is considered to be a symbol of a man’s lifetime love that he should shell out a massive amounton a significant diamond that the lady can then show off to her close friends and family – it shows that he can and could facilitate her for the relaxation of her life, right? Not so fast. Many times a large rock shows foolish money spent, makes the future in-law’s nervous and other family members wonder where he got that kind of money and how he is going to provide for her now that he spent it all on her ring. Especially if he is still in University or in an entry-level job!

This idea of givingdiamondrings prior to marriage has been nearly for less than a century, however, as it was popularized solely by Hollywood, allegedly due to the fact worldwide diamond monopoly De Beers paid off filmmakers to create a intimate image aroundexpensive diamonds, using the slogan ‘a diamond is forever’.

The reality is that diamonds are not intrinsically worth really much at all, with a lot of folks who try to sell their expensive diamonds being shocked to discover that they can only get back a tiny proportion of what they originally paid for them. Even worse, many diamonds come from parts of the globe where the locals have been oppressed and native officers bribed simply so the company could set up a diamond mine, particularly in Africa.

For these motives – unjustified cost and ethical considerations – a lot of folks now prefer to use other gems in bands as an alternative fordiamonds. Lab-created diamonds with names like ‘eco diamonds’ and ‘Swarovski’ are popular options.

Regardless of what you think of diamonds, the financial burden may be too great initially and often times a diamond simulant can act as a beautiful placeholder if you must have a diamond in the future. As long as the setting is 14k, 18k gold, platinum or palladium it can be used for a lifetime. When purchasing online, be sure to only purchase from companies that have great pictures, product descriptions and a good warranty. You can save money and time by going this route, and she will not regret the cost savings when she can get the same thing for a 1/4 of the price. And the in-law’s will be happy knowing you didn’t break the bank!