Inexpensive Wedding Rings – Cubic Zirconia
In today’s world, an engagement doesn’t necessarily equal “big diamond ring”. Many of you recessionista brides may be in the process of planning your wedding without a ring at all. The thought of synthetic diamonds might make you a bit uneasy, but hear me out – they may be the perfect option for you.
Synthetic diamond (or cubic zirconia) wedding rings are becoming especially popular in the current economy. Along with their popularity, the quality of these rings is also increasing. Now, cubic zirconia looks identical to real diamonds, for thousands of dollars less - most people can’t even tell the difference. Many jewelers will let you pick out the setting of your dreams and will replace the diamond with an equally gorgeous cubic zirconia piece; depending on the type of metal you choose (sterling silver is the least expensive, followed by yellow or white gold), you can expect to pay between $200-$500 for your perfect ring!
Purchasing a cubic zirconia ring now still leaves you with the option of upgrading to a diamond later on. But think about how wonderful it would be to begin your lives together and avoid the debt and monthly payments that a few-thousand-dollar diamond ring would cause! Consider purchasing your genuine diamond on an anniversary, birthday or Valentine’s Day some time in the future.
Though, because your cubic zirconia ring will look just as stunning as a real rock, you may just want to hold on to it. After all, diamonds are often mined in fragile, conflict-ridden environments and synthetic diamonds are thought to be much more ecofriendly. If and when you do decide to invest in a real diamond, make sure to verify with your jeweler that your diamond is ‘conflict-free’.
Here are a few of our favorite cubic zirconia diamond rings from Ross-Simons!
3.60 ct. t.w. CZ Ring In Sterling Silver – Only $100
This ring features a square CZ of 3.50 carats sitting pretty with .10 ct. t.w. of twinkling CZ rounds trailing along the band! Sterling silver ring. (CZ weights are diamond equivalents)
3.30 ct. t.w. CZ Ring In 14kt White Gold – $395
Sparkle, sparkle: This ring has a 3.00 carat CZ center with .30 ct. t.w. CZs all around our sparkle ring. Let them all wonder! 14kt white gold setting. (CZ weights are diamond equivalents)
3.80 ct. t.w. CZ 3-Stone Ring In Sterling Silver – Only $75!
Enjoy the look of luxe for less with this gorgeous 3.80 ct. t.w. CZ, three-stone ring! With a 2.00 carat center stone and 1.80 ct. t.w. on the sides, these CZ rounds will stop the show everywhere you go. Sterling silver ring. (CZ weights are diamond equivalents)
Categorized In: Rings
I’m Nicole, Creator of NO Knows Weddings. My goal is to provide you with tips, ideas and tricks on how to plan a beautiful but affordable wedding!
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My ring right now is a CZ stone that we purchased loose and had set in a custom compass setting- the whole shabang cost about $350 and I couldn’t be happier with my ring. My one problem with most CZ rings is they look obscene, ridiculous, and super over the top (in my opinion). Though we went with a CZ initially, we did it with the intention of replacing it eventually with not a diamond but moissanite, another pretty stone that is a fraction of the cost of a diamond (however, more than CZ) but still beautiful. If a couple does want to go the CZ route, I highly suggest doing A LOT of research on the quality of CZ stone that they’re getting- like a diamond or any other stone. They’re not all created equal!
Thanks so much for your comment, Amber. I agree, you should do your research before buying any type of stone to make sure that you are getting the best possible quality for the money!