for today's wedding wednesday, i thought i'd share a list of engagement / wedding rings. i know diamonds are really the standard when it comes to engagement + wedding rings, and that's fine - they are timeless and beautiful. i just decided that i didn't want a diamond in my engagement ring but when i looked for other rings, i couldn't find any alternative rings. so hopefully this is helpful for the ring-searching bride.
sometimes i see really beautiful diamond rings, and wonder if i should have got a diamond. sometimes when i show my engagement ring to people though, i get an "oh, thats .... nice." or literally no comment at all, lol. but i wouldn't change my engagement ring story for anything: i love that nicholas made me a ring and then later found me a really sweet ring on etsy.
anyway, i didn't mean to go into a whole explanation, and i hope i am not offending anyone but not putting any diamond rings in this list :) maybe i will post another list later but for now, here are fifteen beautiful non-diamond rings:
Lust for life by artisan look
Stylized Brass Leaf Wrap Ring by Brilliance Found
Rutilated Quartz Ring by kate szabone
Monogram Ring by bittersweets new york
Hydrangea Blossom Flower Ring by Patrick Irla Jewelry
14k Palladium White Gold Simple Hammered Band by esdesigns
bow ring by zoe chicco
Peacock Topaz - Gold Ring, Hammered Band by Clare Stoker
Sea Anemone Stacking Rings by Kira Ferrer
18k yellow gold heart atop a sterling silver ring by chris parry
Lemon Quartz Twig Ring by Sarah Hood Jewelry
Vintage Swarovski Bling Ring by jorgensen studio
Bow Tie ring by becca bobs
Silver Forget Me Knot Ring by White Fly
Natural Rough Diamond Ring by Janish Jewels
note: this has a diamond but how neat is the
raw + uncut aspect of this ring?! love love love.
hope you enjoyed the list! xo.
danni, these are all such lovely finds! i think i'd even want one whether or not i was engaged. :)
ReplyDeleteif my engagement ring had not been in b's family (it was his great grandmother's) i would not have opted for a diamond.
ReplyDeletethe choices that you have here are beautiful. i have a friend who is making our wedding rings and deals with recycled metals and conflict-free diamonds which is always another option if you're looking for a ethically conscious diamond.
you really have chosen some pretty options here and i think the peacock topaz is my favorite!
both my engagement ring and wedding band (the engagement ring is an uncut black diamond) are from janish jewels - i could not love them more, and wouldn't trade them for anything!
ReplyDeleteSo lovely! My favorite is the one with the heart on top :)
ReplyDeleteThese are all lovely. I think that an engagement ring most importantly should suit the woman whose going to wear it, not what type of stone is inside it. Good on Nick for getting something that's YOU, not what other people dictate!
ReplyDeleteI received a non-diamond engagement ring too: a beautiful pink quartz ring I simply adore, as everything pink!
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful. I wear one of esdesign's birch bark rings as my wedding ring, the only ring I wear, and I absolutely love it. It has only gotten more beautiful over time. I really like the idea of having a different kind of ring that is handmade, somewhat understated and elegant.
ReplyDeletebeing born in the month of april... i have always had a soft spot for diamonds since they are my birthstone... so my engagement and wedding band are both diamonds.
ReplyDeleteHowever, my wedding band was created by kate szabone (like the beautiful quartz ring above!) and it has blue diamonds set in it... I wanted something different and fell in love with blue diamonds and I'm glad I did! Best of both worlds, I think, still traditional stone but with a little twist!
I know the feeling of having other women give you the "oh, that's...nice" reaction to your ring. My fiance had me custom-design my ring with an Etsy jeweler (the lovely and talented Kate Szabone). It is so completely me; an ultra-thin grooved band so that I can continue to wear it on the left hand (even though I'm a professional violinist and most violinists will opt to switch the rings to the right), a teal diamond because it's my favorite color (I wasn't going to go with a diamond until my Kate showed me the teal one), a quirky setting (the oval shape is set sideways into a bezel because I was paranoid about prongs after his mom told me how her diamond once fell out of her ring while she was vacuuming)...everything about it is perfect. But, no matter how many giant, flashy, expensive rings I've seen, I will attest that mine is better than all the others. It won't catch your eye from across the room, but I can tell you even a year into being engaged, I'm still just as enamored of it as I was when he proposed. All the other women can have their Zales and "he went to Jared." I have a completely unique ring that I will treasure forever and never fall out of love with (just like John!)
ReplyDeleteawwww these are some beautiful ring finds!! i could see myself wearing these on my right hand (since i already have a diamond wedding ring). i really like the Rutilated Quartz Ring by kate szabone and Peacock Topaz - Gold Ring, Hammered Band by Clare Stoker ones!!
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful rings!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I bucked the trend with our entire wedding... including the rings (not so much him - he just has a plain silver band). I wear one ring, that my husband found at an antique store. It is a fine silver band, with an oval, fingernail sized black jet stone that has a very small pearl set into it. It is the most beautiful ring. We found out later it was a mourning ring, but 9 years later, and we're not mourning anything!
I didn't have an engagement ring, as getting married for us was a simple decision we made together (I sometimes wish I had had a romantic proposal!). When we had our 5th child, though, we decided she was definitely our last and to commemorate my husband got me what I call a 'baby' ring. It's silver, like my wedding ring, and I wear it on the same finger. I have my kids initials engraved on the inside of the ring, and their birth stones set into the ring. They stones are very small, but it's a very beautiful ring.
gorgeous rings!
ReplyDeleteThis is great. I'm all about the non-traditional marriage route...and not spending assloads of money. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteDanni--
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for giving a shout out to non-traditional rings...I do not want a diamond ring as well, but love some of the rings found on this site:
http://www.beckykelso.com/ShopCollections/
Thought I'd share in case anyone else is interested!
When we got married in '08 I wanted nontraditional for our rings. My husband ended up picking out a beautiful pink sapphire ring for my engagement ring and I love that it is different. Our wedding bands are argentium silver and I love them...they have literally lasted longer than the white gold of my engagement ring!
ReplyDeleteI've always thought diamonds are beautiful, but they're so white, and I love color! Plus I've always loved sapphires, so when my fiance (now husband) popped the question with a beautiful sapphire ring, I was thrilled! But I also soon found that it is difficult going against the wedding traditions--I always have to clarify that, yes, that is my engagement/wedding ring, and when we were looking for a wedding band the people in the jewelry stores kept trying to sell me diamonds! Plus, everyone keeps asking if that's my birthstone, and I have to keep telling people "No, I just love sapphires!" But I love the fact that my ring is unique, and colorful! Kudos to you for breaking tradition as well!
ReplyDeletegorgeous ring to have
ReplyDeleteI do have to say that love love love the idea of having a non traditional ring! These rings that you posted are so gorgeous. I do have a diamond in my wedding ring, and it is so lovely too but I have always felt that a ring is just a symbol...it is the love itself which is the most beautiful thing of all!
ReplyDeleteawesome..awesome..love it
ReplyDeletei think those are all so beautiful! i think it's really unique of you to go out of the norm, too.
ReplyDeletei really like these wedding bands: http://www.etsy.com/listing/34381609/set-of-two-double-print-sterling-silver
Love that silver, "Forget me knot" ring! Very lovely! Thanks for sharing. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the Hydrangea Blossom ring!
ReplyDeletewww.greenkarat.com is also a great website with lots of recycled gold options! :) We got our wedding rings (just white gold bands) from there. I *had* a small conflict-free diamond engagement ring, but lost it (a heartbreaking story). I just wear my thin white gold band now - and sometimes I feel like people think I'm less of a married adult because I don't have a huge diamond on my finger.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't we be less conventional??
such beauties and so dainty. Makes me want to go ring shopping again.
ReplyDeleteThese are all beautiful.. I love the idea of no diamonds. Great post! ;)
ReplyDeleteLove the one with the engraved initials and the ring with the knot.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of gem stones I've also always liked sapphires and aquamarines.
I couldn't agree more. I love the understated elegance of these rings, and the sweet rose rings that you are wearing. I think they are classy, they represent your personality and what marriage is really all about...loving each other, not flashy rings. :) HOwever, I won't say no to a lovely diamond ring from Tiffanys either. hehe
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love that your ring is not a diamond! It's very unique and very you! I don't want a diamond either haha ^.^
ReplyDeleteI love them and the idea of it! I always love a way to be unique!
ReplyDeleteDanni, this has to be one of my favorite posts so far. I don't want a diamond ring either; I want a pearl! I just think that they're classic looking, and I'm not much of a diamond girl anyway :)
ReplyDeletedanni, i love the idea of not having a traditional diamond ring. i actually kind of wish i had an unconventional one (though i love mine, just cause steven picked it hehe). this is my all-time fave: http://www.stkildajewelry.com/detail/1,12,2/ (it has two tiny diamonds on one side & has "loved" engraved on the other side). so cute, right??
ReplyDeleteplus, the fact that nick MADE your engagement ring makes it way more valuable than any diamond ring! :]
I, too, do not want a diamond ring and my guy knows I'd much rather he make one like your man did. My favorites have been made of wood and I once saw some silver rings made from old coins and the stems of silverware - and I loved both to bits. These are some wonderful alternative rings you showcased here!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a non-diamond engagement ring. I am divorced and had a diamond engagement ring, but it never felt like me. I was always admiring the girls who had non-traditional rings. If I ever get engagement again, I would like an aquamarine (my grandmother's birthstone) or a blue topaz (my mother's birthstone).
ReplyDeleteI have the oui ring by Dior in white gold, and I love it soooo much, it is the prettiest thing ever!
ReplyDeleteLove all your non-diamond choices, and I think more and more people are opting for less traditional rings. Either for the aesthetics, or because of the ethical issues with diamonds.
ReplyDeleteWe are using a family ring with a diamond, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have one otherwise.
I've had that forget me knot ring on my list for quite some time. It's so simple and classic. I love that you went against the norm with your ring. It's a great story and just another thing that makes you unique!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful rings! Such cute alternatives to a huge rock!
ReplyDeletexo,
Cassie
(Moon Face)
What beautiful rings! Such cute alternatives to a huge rock!
ReplyDeletexo,
Cassie
(Moon Face)
These are all really cute, and are great for girls who want something a little different.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to check out James Avery Craftsman for more rings like this. Hope this helps!
www.jamesavery.com
Megan@ www.smartdesignmatters.blogspot.com
My engagement ring is super simple and has a row of 3 sapphires and 2 diamonds. I'm not a fan of diamonds, but in this context I like them! :) But when I first got engaged, I had random strangers telling me I was wearing my ring on "the wrong finger" or "reminding" me that my left ring finger was supposed to be "reserved" for my engagement/wedding rings! Because it wasn't a diamond solitaire I actually had to explain to strangers that it was actually my engagement ring!!
ReplyDeleteThese are all gorgeous rings and I, for one, LOVE that they're not the "standard" engagement ring/wedding band!
I love the hydrangea ring, so lovely. And I too believe that an engagement ring does not have to be a diamond, though you have to admire the marketing ploy that made such a lasting effect. I mean diamonds were not a must prior to the 20th century, but then a company needed to offload a bunch of rocks and a "diamond is forever" campaign took off better then anyone could expect. Personally, I like sapphires more :D
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh, the first ring is gorgeous! and the hydrangea ring... swoon!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
lesley
I think your rings are truly lovely! When we got married we had no rings at all. We didn't have time to do it. (The hubs was transferred 2500 miles away so we got married 4 weeks later and moved a week later) We found lovely gold wedding rings from a custom jeweler in San Francisco but I am still awaiting my engagement ring 29 years later. I always thought I wanted a diamond. My husband and son are gemstone faceters now. We've since purchased a large perfect rough aquamarine from a reputable mine that he will cut. Girls: Everything in the film "Blood Diamond" is true so have a heart and rethink the "I gotta have a diamond" mindset.
ReplyDeletedanni, thank you so much for putting up this list! it drives me crazy that people can spend so much money on a ring that looks just like everyone else's. these are so special and i think they have so much more meaning than a typical diamond.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletehello danni, I am new to your blog. This post caught my attention because my fiance and I have been looking at wedding rings for a while. It's great to see what have other options other than diamond bands. The stone ones above are more my style. Thanks for posting more options for us brides-to-be. :)
ReplyDeleteI love each and every one of these rings you posted! Great alternatives!
ReplyDeleteI love each and every one of these rings you posted! Great alternatives!
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE!! i've been on a long search trying to find the perfect non traditional ring to replace my lost wedding ring. this is some great inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWow! That first bowtie ring and the sea anemone stacked rings - and the lemon quart twig ring - are TOTALLY rocking my world right now. My heart is melting, my mind is blown. Kudos to setting your own standard.... I got quite a few looks just because I used my great-grandmother's diamond ring instead of a brand new ring.
ReplyDeletei really really love the leaf wrap ring...i already have my engagement ring and it has a small diamond in it, but i think i want to find a wedding ring that is more than just a band. maybe something like this, but more simple?
ReplyDeleteso hard to choose...but i LOVE the bow rings, yes and yes!
ReplyDeletem.fay
http://www.amateurcouture.com
stop by and say hi, hope you do. xo
I've never gotten the whole diamond thing. Good on ya for pointing out choices.
ReplyDeleteall nice rings,,, i like the bow ring.
ReplyDeleteDon't you dare let anyone demean you for not having/wearing a diamond ring. If you don't like it, don't do it. AND don't apologize for it!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think diamond rings are overrated. (But this is coming from the girl who's not-been-married to the same guy for nearly a decade and is planning with him to go to a jeweler's and make each other's rings.)
-K
I know exactly how you feel. As beautiful as diamond rings are on other people, it just wasn't "me". I also have a hard time getting past all the ethical and environmental issues surrounding diamonds.
ReplyDeleteFor an engagement ring, I didn't want a ring at all, but ended up wearing my husband's engineering ring until the big day.
For a wedding ring, I went through Brilliant Earth. They use either sustainably-harvested Canadian diamonds, or synthetic diamonds, and recycled metals, which really appealed to me. I sent them a custom design and they executed it perfectly, all via internet. I get SO many compliments on my ring. Brilliant Earth also has lots of examples of non-diamond rings.
Tho I would rather wear something my husband made for me any day! You're a lucky lady!
i love rings!!!!! one of each, please
ReplyDeleteyay!
ReplyDeleteI hate all those over the top diamond horrorshows people seem to go for these days. I've seen rings with diamonds on them so big that I don't know how someone could go through the day not getting caught on something or injuring themselves.
I like these posted rings because they're not so boring! There is COLOUR! I like anything sparkly, diamond or no, but colours are necessary when we're living in grey hells!
absolutely gorgeous sweetheart!
ReplyDeleteThe blossom flower one is my fave, so feminine and delicate...
<3
Mila.
My hubby and I love all-things-antique so we wanted something special for my band set... we got a white gold ring with a filigree design on either side with a natural sapphire flanked by two diamonds for my engagement ring. It's unique, different, and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSwooning over all of these!
ReplyDeletebeautiful jewelery <3
ReplyDeleteLove those rings! I don't support the diamond trade, so my ring (one and only ring) has a moonstone. It's beautiful & handmade. Got it on Etsy!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, the leaf one is stunning! And the hydrangea flowers, and the bows ... love them all!
ReplyDeleteLove the Leaf Wrap Ring ~ so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI definitely think engagement rings should reflect the couple and be unique. Your rings are absolutely beautiful, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
Happy 4th of July :)
Great choices Danni! I have a pink sapphire engagement ring and love it. Most people love it (except for one snotty banker) and I mostly love that it's so us and me just like your ring and story!
ReplyDeletealthough i am saying that i am still too young to get married, i am sending a message to the potential prince!
ReplyDeleteMy dear prince. Take your time but when that time comes can i please have the Vintage Swarovski Bling Ring? :oP
danni, thx for giving us such nice inspirations! :o)
http://livingthroughthespiritofmydreams.blogspot.com/
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI really like the collection of non-diamond rings.specially Hydrangea Blossom Flower Ring,18k yellow gold heart atop a sterling silver ring and Lemon Quartz Twig Ring.
Diamond Jewelry
I would be happy with any of these! ;)
ReplyDeleteHey friend. I think your site is very interesting for me. Really it is a good colection of non-diamond rings.This rings looks so beautiful, Thanks a lot!
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful option for those who don't want to invest in diamonds. The most I loved in your collection are two of all first is "Lust for life by artisan look" and second one is "Natural Rough Diamond Ring by Janish Jewels." Especially, Lust for life by artisan look for its cool color.
ReplyDeleteVery nice designs. Very intricately done. Really a work of art. Every piece is a beautiful creation which is unique and elegant.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE your engagement ring story and the rings that your husband created and then selected especially for you. Anymore, I truly feel as though people get all balled up with the SIZE of a stone and how it measures the perceived "importance" of the relationship - the bigger the rock the bigger and more special the love.
ReplyDeleteNot so! It isn't the ring and the amount spent on it but the sentiment that surrounds the ring and the reason it was given - as a sign that two people want to spend their lives together as one. It doesn't take a diamond to do that.
I've never had a diamond and I've never felt, for one moment,that the love my husband felt for me when he put my wedding band on my finger was any less than had it been accompanied by a couple of big rocks.
These rings are beautiful and your wedding set glows with the love that your husband feels for you as does the wooden ring he made especially for you.
Great site! Really helped direct me to rings I loved!
ReplyDelete