Non-Traditional Engagement Ring Gems

Although Jewelry.com showcases jewelry from retailers that sell diamond bridal jewelry, we also recognize that there are alternatives for those who can't afford to purchase a diamond -- or would like to wear something different around their finger. Here are a few options to the traditional diamond engagement ring:

· Color -- Although colored gemstone engagement rings are somewhat unusual in the United States, they are a traditional choice for the royal families of Europe. Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson both received colored gemstone engagement rings, for example. Meanwhile, a growing number of famous women today -- including Ivana Trump, Kirstie Alley and Jane Fonda -- are wearing engagement rings featuring colored gemstones instead of diamonds. Sapphire is the most popular choice for a colored gemstone engagement ring, followed by ruby, emerald, tanzanite, and garnet. The main advantage of a colored gemstone engagement ring: each stone has a specific meaning, history and lore behind it, and a bride-to-be can truly express her unique personality and style by wearing it. If this sounds a bit too daring for you, consider a colored diamond. Diamonds come in many shades other than white. Indeed, the finest "fancy" colored diamonds are often more rare, expensive and sought after than their white counterparts. Some of the more common colored diamonds for engagement rings are yellow, pink, blue and green.

· Cubic Zirconia (CZ) -- CZ is perhaps the oldest and most established diamond simulant (man-made substitutes) on the market today. Available at only a fraction of the cost of a comparable diamond, this unique stone has become a fashion staple in its own right. CZ's physical properties are so close to that of a diamond, that most people couldn't tell the difference between the two by the naked eye alone. CZ has slightly less brilliance (sparkle) than a diamond, but it has more fire (rainbow of color). With a rating of 8.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, CZ is almost as durable as a diamond (the hardest known substance on earth, with a rating of 10). CZ is actually heavier than a diamond, giving it more heft. And since CZ is perfected in a lab, these stones have clarity and cut comparable to the finest diamonds.

· Moissanite -- This unique near-colorless compound was first discovered in a meteorite 100 years ago. With natural quantities too minute for use in jewelry, today's moissanite is produced in a lab. Moissanite has many qualities that compare favorably to diamonds: it has measurably more fire, brilliance and luster; with a ranking over 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, it is second only to a diamond; its heat resistance is greater; and it is considerably cheaper. It is gaining a following with the celebrity crowd; high-profile endorsers include actresses Brooke Shields and Vivica A. Fox; supermodel Niki Taylor; singing group Destiny's Child; and sports stars Mia Hamm, Bonnie Blair and Jackie Joyner Kersee.