Alternative wedding ring ideas?

**Jsteinkruger** · 07-24-2015, 12:26 PM

There are handmade wooden rings that are awesome looking.

**disneysteve** · 07-24-2015, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by tiffany85 View Post

the rock alternative to diamond (the name escapes me right now)

I think cubic zirconia is what you mean. The cz they make now is virtually indistinguishable from diamond (at least the good quality ones are) and cost a fraction of the price. So if you want a ring with a traditional appearance but not the cost, cz is a great way to go.

I would not be happy wearing thousands of dollars on my finger.

Nothing wrong with that at all. The ring is a symbol. It doesn't need to cost thousands to serve as that symbol. It should be something you like, something the buyer can afford, and something that fits who you are.

**JulieAlbright** · 07-24-2015, 01:29 PM

Are we talking for an engagement ring or a wedding band?

The ring that I mostly wear (I work too much with my hands for a diamond to be practical anyway) is a gold band with some Celtic symbols on it that I purchased from an estate sale. I bought it because I always felt kind of envious toward my friends who got family heirlooms passed down and I really did not want to pump more money into the retail jewelry conglomerates. We really aren't an inherited Grandma's rings kind of family so I just bought my way into somebody else's antique jewelry.

Personally I would have been happier with some sort of engraved pendant necklace but a ring on my left hand is important to my husband so I make sure to always wear one.

Really, just do what seems meaningful and appropriate for you.

**maryadavies** · 07-24-2015, 01:57 PM

I'd do with what is meaningful for you (echoing everyone else) but since my dad was a jeweler, I thought I'd share what he caught one woman with.

She'd actually gotten her wedding ring tattooed on because she was allergic to metals. Now, I wouldn't recommend this for everyone, because yes, this takes some serious commitment because tats are permanent. But yeah, whatever works!

**scfr** · 07-24-2015, 04:58 PM

Family hand-me-downs or buying second-hand can save you a lot of money.
I have a great Tiffany band purchased for a fraction of retail during a "divorce sale."

**doingitallwrong** · 07-24-2015, 06:33 PM

Tattoo was my first thought (ouch! was my second

) but these days there are tons of things you can have made into rings. My husband is a cyclist so our original wedding rings were titanium. Then I injured my finger and had to take that one off, and am still too fat to put it back on, so we got new rings (bigger size for me) made from carbon fiber. (Both titanium and CF are used to make bike frames, I don't know if that's 'common knowledge' or not.) So if there's something special you or he or both like to do, there's probably something representative that could be made into a ring. (A horseshoe nail is great if you guys are into horses, for example, or graphite if you're into golf, wood if you're outdoorsy, etc.)

**Drake3287** · 07-25-2015, 08:07 AM

Unless money isn't a factor, I agree about not spending a ton of money on a ring or wedding. I'd rather my kids use the money towards a house down payment. I think when I bought my wife's ring set in 1985 I spent what was then an average amount of money. Nothing over the top.

Just buy a nice simple ring such as a gold band. I also have a friend that had a tattoo of a ring instead although that was more because of the danger of wearing a ring at work then the purchase price itself.

**Tabs** · 07-25-2015, 09:39 AM

First of all, Congratulations! Yaaaay! (Hopefully)

Second of all, love your outlook on diamonds. Diamonds prices are utterly atrocious. Also love the fact that you've even considered 3D printed rings.

Now here's the thing about 3D printed stuff though. First of all, it's just a new way to apply plastic basically. So, the question isn't necessarily if you are OK with a ring that is 3D printed, but rather, are you OK with a plastic ring at all? And yes, I am well-aware that plastic isn't the only medium 3D printers are capable of using, but at the end of the day, that's basically what you are getting.

I am also well-aware of the intricate patterns that 3D printing is capable of, but if you think about it, all those patterns really just means you are going to get a structurally weaker ring than if it was a solid band.

Also, 3D printed material is still fairly rough in terms of resolution, though I admit, I am only familiar with the lower end, enthusiast printers. Maybe high end printers are much smoother... or perhaps you can have the plastic smoothed out afterwards.

Still though, it's my long winded way of saying I don't think 3D printed rings are ideal if you want something that will last what should be a lifetime.... Plus, no matter how durable the plastic is used, I don't think it is strong enough to not break when compared with traditional rings.

Now if you REALLY want to express your financial soul without spending a whole lot of money, how about a coin ring? Such a project is DIYable with the right tools, but they can also bought as for as little as $50 to $80 USD. Check it out!

Lots of small time artisans you can support over at Etsy!

**GrimJack** · 07-31-2015, 10:27 PM

While my ex and I were still thinking about getting married, I bought a couple of meteorites for about $8.00 each and was talking with some metal-workers on how to use them as wedding bands. We got a lot of good ideas before things went to hell. The stuff I found through google was disappointing since they were mostly just converted to a metal band whereas we wanted to keep the natural surface of the meteorite - I still have them somewhere in the mess I call home.

**tiffany85** · 08-01-2015, 08:04 AM

Originally posted by Tabs View Post

First of all, Congratulations! Yaaaay! (Hopefully)

Lots of small time artisans you can support over at Etsy!

Yeah, we'll see. I just like planning ahead.

Thanks for more great ideas. I'll definitely Google more about coin rings.

And all this is so much more exciting than just going into a jewelry store! Thanks, everyone!

**rennigade** · 08-01-2015, 09:25 AM

I saw there are now silicon wedding bands. Worst idea I have ever seen.

**AngelineRose** · 08-13-2015, 11:25 AM

Moissanite!!! I love moissanite.. they are a fraction of a diamond, and harder on the moh scale. They sparkle like crazy and a gem in their own right. After buying one, its not worth the differences in price of a diamond. the problem with Cubic Zicronia is that they scratch easily and fog up over time so not a lasting stone. Though, you could simply replace it with a new one ever so often for cheap.

The moissanite is why it seems the younger generations can afford bigger diamond rings because they arnt really diamonds and are much cheaper. If you put a cubic zicronia in a quality band, no one can tell its not a real diamond because its usually the setting that throws it off.

**tiffany85** · 08-15-2015, 06:00 AM

Originally posted by AngelineRose View Post

Moissanite!!! I love moissanite.. they are a fraction of a diamond, and harder on the moh scale. They sparkle like crazy and a gem in their own right. After buying one, its not worth the differences in price of a diamond. the problem with Cubic Zicronia is that they scratch easily and fog up over time so not a lasting stone. Though, you could simply replace it with a new one ever so often for cheap.

The moissanite is why it seems the younger generations can afford bigger diamond rings because they arnt really diamonds and are much cheaper. If you put a cubic zicronia in a quality band, no one can tell its not a real diamond because its usually the setting that throws it off.

Oh, I'll definitely look into this. Thanks!

Alternative wedding ring ideas?