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Are ethical engagement rings the right choice for you?

It is said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but shouldn’t your best friend have the same ethical values as you? The answer is simple, choose an ethical engagement ring! By doing so, you show your love for your partner and the Earth and its other residents. Here are some ways you can make sure your engagement ring is conflict-free without sacrificing beauty and saving money.

Choose Lab-Grown Diamonds

Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds! By replicating the Earth’s natural growing process in a controlled laboratory environment, pure carbon diamonds are created that are visually, physically, and chemically identical to earth-mined diamonds. They are the perfect choice for those who want to know the origin of their diamond, plus they come free of any human or environmental abuses. They are available in grades superior to natural diamonds and cost a fraction of the price (up to 40% less!)

Choose Lab-Grown Gemstones

Wanting some colour in your life? Lab-created gemstones come in a wide variety of hues and shapes. Just like lab-grown diamonds, these gems are identical in every way to natural gems. Who wouldn’t want real rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and alexandrites that don’t harm the planet? Plus, they are better in quality and colour compared to those found in nature.

Choose Diamond Simulants

If you’re shopping on a smaller budget, diamond simulants are a great option that give you room to upgrade at a later time. These imitation diamonds have the optical characteristics of diamonds but have entirely different chemical makeups. The most common diamond simulants are cubic zirconia, moissanite, and the Diamond Hybrid.

Choose Recycled Diamonds

Choosing a lab-grown diamond sounds great to some however, it might not be for everyone. Recycled diamonds, or heirloom diamonds, have been previously owned but are just as beautiful as they were when first purchased. By choosing a pre-owned diamond, you’re reducing the need to mine for more diamonds while simultaneously extending the life of another. Plus, you’ll be able to pass it down for generations as time goes on.

Choose Recycled Metals

Deciding on what kind of metal type you want is just as important as choosing your centre stone – but have you ever asked how that metal is sourced? Eco-friendly recycled metals like white, yellow and rose gold, platinum and palladium have been melted down to be reused. Unlike common scrap recycling, which can come from post-consumer products like technology, scrap waste metals and other sources, this kind of recycling is sourced specifically from metals that can be reused to make fine jewellery.

Still find yourself on the fence on whether to join in on the conflict-free movement? Here is our last ditch effort to describe the benefits of choosing an ethical engagement ring. By being a conscious consumer, you’re helping to eliminate the need to mine for diamonds and metals. In turn, you’re creating a solution rather than deepening the problem. To this day, communities, ecosystems and lands continue to pay the price for our love of fine jewellery, but it doesn’t have to be that way. By choosing conflict-free you become part of a movement for change and positivity. So what’s stopping you from choosing a beautiful engagement ring that you can look and feel good wearing?

 

Ms Zebra Says: Wow – who knew there were so many great alternatives to newly sourced and mined diamonds!? This is eye-opening and such a great movement to start being a conscious consumer. Thanks Anna for sharing your depth of knowledge on our alternate options.

About MiaDonna: We find that shoppers are becoming more conscious and want to purchase conflict-free diamonds and jewelry. As a MiaDonna consumer, you directly contribute to the funding of Greener Diamond projects that empower and restore these diamond mining communities.