part of a discussion that I was having

if you are thinking about wanting to have a nice stone/rock/gem AND you don't want to contribute to the bullshit ass suffering

wtf can you do?


go with some other stone?

go "Ethical"?

go lab grown?

Those earrings were a sign of prominence in old African Ghanaian times

this is dope on several levels. thanks

.

And I've made it clear there will under no circumstances be a diamond and she agrees.

She likes Australian opals and they're ethically mined and they're something of an homage to her heritage. So I'm shopping those.

I have no idea what I'm doing in terms of getting the right cut, getting it mounted to a ring, etc. tho.

so far all i have is a number I'm shooting for, outside of that I am lost AF.

But I guess that puts us in the same boat.

Australian opals are pretty damn cheap relatively so I just gotta find the perfect one (and determine for sure I wanna marry this chick)

you all the stuff about cuts, clarity, etc.

you can also look at bluenile.com for some info. its mostly diamonds tho. not sure about other stones.

When the jeweler finds out I have no interest in an exorbitantly priced diamond.

.

affordable. beautiful. durable. ethical.

http://www.brilliantearth.com/news/moissanite-vs-diamond/
http://www.doamore.com/diamonds-vs-moissanite/

i recommend working with a jeweler who will custom create a piece for you as well. my jeweler:
https://skylightjewelers.com/

---
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http://www.itsjusthair.com/
http://twitter.com/indigginus
http://bahai.us/

such as the bonds they symbolize,
and learn to symbolize those bonds
with other things if you must
symbolize them.

I know people ain't gonna do that... but it's
what I did, so I shared.
*shrugs*

Why take any "new" diamonds out of the ground when there are millions of "old" diamonds already mined that will be better color and clarity wise than a newly mined diamond of the same price. Vintage gets you no new blood shed, no new ecological damage and no guilt. Their unique and have a history.
I know so many people who've plunked down a good chunk of their savings for something that is essentially a large snotty looking yellowish/brown I3 rock that some kid born in 2005 probably lost a limb to retrieve.

My ring is almost a hundred years old and I love it! Women stop me on the street all the time because it's like a freaking disco ball.

Here are some sites I liked... $2000 to $12000+ price range. Warning, make sure your girl is into this stuff before buying.

http://www.langantiques.com/vintage-engagement-rings.html#limit=48&mode=grid&order=news_from_date&dir=desc&p=1&pid=32337

http://www.trumpetandhorn.com/vintage-engagement-rings.html

http://erstwhilejewelry.com/collections/vintage-engagement-rings

http://antiqueengagementrings.com/shopping/

If you're looking for less than $2000 try etsy or some local spots.
___________________________________________________________


DJTB YOMM

just gotta check the aesthetics first.

http://eragem.com/vintage-engagement-rings

http://eragem.com/vintage-engagement-rings

If you can only afford diamonds that were smuggled out of a warzone and used to fund the deaths of other humans then you can't afford a diamond.

Buy second hand.

Buy other types of stone.

Covet lifeless stones a little less and living people a little more.

You're the beholder, it's your eye you're pleasing - don't assume diamonds are the most beautiful stone or some sort of physical equivalent to love just because everyone told you so. It's just a hunk of rock.

http://www.miadonna.com/

they have nice rings...

emeralds from colombia, or a stone the colour of her favourite one... go semi-precious, rock will make more of a statement....