Ring Judgement

Your engagement ring is absolutely beautiful!

I love your ring. I think it's really cool that people are moving away from diamonds and doing not traditional rings. As far as dealing with people who are rude about it there's a couple ways you can respond....

1. "We're not a traditional couple and we wanted my ring to reflect that. I love that my fiancé went the extra mile to get me a ring he knew I would love rather than something that just goes along with what everyone else has."

2. When they say something snarky, you could try just saying "That was rude of you to say." People get so uncomfortable when they get called out on their poor behavior. They're not used to someone actually confronting them and not accepting it.

Your ring is absolutely stunning! Nothing wrong with it.

That is so rude. My mom told me my sapphire was not a real engagement ring. It doens't look like one. My comeback was if it's good enough for the royalty, it's good enough for me. And I feel like I have the most beautiful piece of jewelry in the world. I love that my ring doesn't have a center diamond. Also--I love opals and I think your ring is gorgeous. YEs, it's a soft stone. So, I would if you want just be prepared to replace the stone and don't wear it in the shower, or at the beach, moving, and just be careful with it. etc. People are mean. Diamonds can be boring, and gemstones are much more interesting. I really don't understand what people get out of insulting you like that. I would just say, "how rude." I loved the thing about the cat thing though. Your ring is stunning and I'm sure you are too.

My ring is an opal ring, too. It is an antique, it was his great grandmother's ring and I would not trade it for any diamond ring. I love it and I joke: "Good luck cutting this off my cold dead hand!" LOL! My wedding band is a 1mm gold band and I get a lot of comments of how "non-blingy" my rings are. Yeah, well I don't need a lot of flash - my personality is enough, lolol!!!

Your ring is lovely. I would look right at them and say, "Why did you say that?" and "What do you mean by that?"

Seriously, I don't play.......

I have a very non-traditional ring also. The gem is a moonstone. I never wear rings so my BF knew he would need to pick something that I would actually wear and I am definitely not a diamond or any conflict-mineral kind of person. Last year we witnessed the solar eclipse at this amazing festival so the moon is really important to us....and I bought a bunch of moonstone on a trip to Peru last year as well, so it was perfect. The best thing though, is that he designed my ring in concert with my best friend who is a jewelry maker. She and I both love cats and work in animal rescue, and my man loves cats too....so my ring is actually a cat sleeping on a tree branch under the moon. It's one-of-a-kind and very me. And anyone who has seen it has understood that and loved the ring. It's so awesome that your fiance knows you so well.

Gabrielle, your ring is GORGEOUS!

Diamonds are not for everyone, myself included. I love the look of alternative, true gemstones, too. Your ring is beautiful, unique, and reflects YOU and your fiancé. So own it! And don't worry about the other's opinions on your wedding ring.