Diamonds. A lot can be said about them. “Diamonds are forever;” “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” “Blood diamonds.” For such a small item a lot of controversy surrounds them and the diamond industry.

But they’re so pretty and you’ve always envisioned getting a sparkly diamond engagement ring, right? Thankfully, there are ethical diamonds and diamond alternatives out there for all of you babes and dudes who want a pretty piece of bling but don’t want to support a problematic industry.

What’s the diff between natural and ethical diamonds?

I came across an article that goes in depth explaining the differences between natural and ethical diamonds. Ethical diamonds – or lab-created diamonds as the is the term the article uses – are real diamonds that are grown in a lab rather than being mined.

Ethical diamonds have been around since the 1950s but have grown in popularity in recent years. (Yay!)

Diamond alternatives

There are alternatives to natural and ethical (lab-created) diamonds, and I’m not talking about rhinestones or anything like that. Some alternatives are cubic zirconia, natural moissanite, and of course quartz.

The article mentioned above talks a bit more about the pros and cons of each of those alternatives. If you and your fiancé are leaning towards buying a diamond alternative, do yourself a favor and read the entire article.

Whether you want a natural, ethical, or alternative diamond, it’s important to do your research before making a purchase. And when you’re ready to do engagement ring shopping, communicate your diamond preferences to your jeweler.

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