Priceless Turned Affordable Engagement Rings through Modern Science

There are so many factors to consider when choosing an engagement ring for your loved one. Every couple has unique desires and taste preferences in rings, but some issues remain the same. Most brides-to-be want their ring to be beautiful, unique and its choice to come from the heart. With these basics in mind the number of choices is mind-boggling. However, finding the perfect ring may reveal common concerns around affordability. The engagement, wedding and marriage industry is booming, and consequently the costs are rising. The ring could just be the tip of the iceberg. In 2011, 12% of couples spent over £5,000 on their engagement rings. It would certainly be wise to research affordable engagement rings before going into debt before you walk down the aisle.

So if you don’t have a spare £5k sitting around, modern science thankfully has come to the rescue. New technology can help you and your fiancée chose a stunning, one-of-a-kind piece from a selection of affordable engagement rings that will satisfy her dreams and give your bank balance a break.

The idea of using a diamond look-a-like is typically met with distaste and disappointment. However, modern science has come a long way from the days of rhinestones and cubic zirconia. If that classic diamond look is the only way to go, then you should look into a diamond simulant. This is not your average faux-diamond, by any means. Affordable engagement rings, featuring a simulant, look just as amazing as any dazzling diamond that you might find on a celebrity’s finger. A simulant is a coated crystal that almost perfectly recreates the optical and physical attributes of a natural diamond.

The process of creating a diamond simulant sounds like an epic chemistry adventure with a splash of fairy-dust thrown in for good measure. Only scientific testing can prove the difference between a simulant and an earth-mined diamond. The miracle begins with heat of nearly 4,000 degrees to bring a proprietary cocktail of elements to a molten state called a ‘matrix’.

Crystals are encouraged to form as the ‘matrix’ is carefully cooled. The cooled concoction becomes known as a ‘boule’, and at this point the extraction process gets really technical. The ‘boule’ is literally whacked with a huge hammer to break it into pieces and reveal the treasures inside.

After being cut and graded, in the same process used with natural diamonds, the simulant then has a special coating applied. This is where a diamond simulant gains its superiority over other elements such as moissanite or cubic zirconia. The coating seals the surface and reduces the stone’s porosity. It increases its hardness and makes it more scratch-resistant. Your ring will be more durable. Most importantly, the coating adds the prized and distinctive diamond characteristics of brilliance and light dispersion to the simulant for spectacular sparkle and shine.

There are also many other benefits of choosing a man-made jewel for your loved one’s hand. Surely a lab-created gem is preferable, for many people, to one that may have been mined and created under extremely questionable and ethically deplorable conditions. It is also heartening to know that the ring that represents your love and future union is 100% environmentally clean.

Affordable engagement rings are available and can be just as stunning and full of sparkle as any natural diamond ring. By saving money on the stones themselves, you and your fiancée can then finance a special setting. And don’t worry-- even your gemmologist friends will not be able to tell the difference.

Frank L Orman is the founder of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From diamonds to a princess cut to a platinum band, we have ideas and opinions covering all the options. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose affordable engagement rings, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.