Show Me Your...Non Diamond Engagement Ring

Aquamarine... and I love it more than any diamond he could have bought me.

Non-traditional? Boom - it's a big rose. The sides are branches.

I don't get weird looks. I have people telling me that they love that it's vintage-looking/antique-looking. It'll be a great heirloom piece.

@Erica your ring is gorgeous!

Women around where I live are very materialistic. They are always like "what, he couldn't afford a diamond?" or "It looks like it came out of a bubble gum machine" My ring is exactly what I wanted since I picked it out.

I love you guys rings!

Ebony with white gold and malachite in the center. FH got me exactly what I wanted - something non-traditional and unique. Now to find a wedding band that goes with it.

Sapphire here I know it's a really popular non-diamond option. It's my birthstone, and I've been in love with all things sapphire for years and years.

I think that most people know it's an engagement ring.

Ah Erica, I just connected who you are! You used to have your ring as your avatar!

And I've always wondered, so I have to ask now....What's the story behind the design of your ring? I know your said it's a Tudor rose....are you an English history buff or what's that all about?

It's all in the presentation and attitude. When you show your ring off, be proud of it. As long as you do that, everyone will love it. I think your ring is gorgeous! What a phenomenal stone. Anyone who tells you otherwise is jelly.

Abby - yup on all accounts! I changed my avatar when I got married.

I'm a Tudor/Stuart history buff/nerd - I'm actually finishing my master's in European history, specializing in those time periods. I had a Tudor rose tattooed on my wrist years ago, and my husband had the ring designed to be similar. It's the same shape, although it's missing a layer. My tattoo has a red center, surrounded by white petals and then surrounded by red petals. He couldn't get all of it there without the ring being absolutely huge. So he just had the red center and white rose in there. And the sides are branches.

The gold and diamonds come from a piece of his family's jewelry, but the ruby and emeralds are new.

Amanda - people actually say that to you? Damn.

I also have an aquamarine. Its both of our birthstone. I love it

Just a plain silver band because my honey lacks creativity I get to pick my own wedding ring though and I have that all picked out

Erica, oh yes. The not being able to afford a diamond comment came from FMIL. Mostly because she hates the color purple. It's ridiculous.

I love all of the aquamarine! It was my original stone idea since it's my birthstone but purple is my favorite color.

Erica, I love that your ring is so unique to you and your hubby, and major props to him for designing it!

My DH and I are history nerds too. DH adores the Stuarts! I love reading/watching anything English or French history related. Did you see The White Queen tv show??

AmandaMarie, I love your ring. I am a whore for anything purple. Guess what my wedding colors were? LOL

Morganite pinkish heart with rose gold and I am getting a silver claddagh wrap.

Abby - no, but it's because I usually catch up on tv shows on netflix. But I love the Tudors, the Borgias, etc. My thesis is about King Charles I, and will read/watch anything about the Tudors, Stuarts, and also the Bourbons of France. History makes me giddy.

I'm getting into Italian history now. Fascinating.

Chantel - we must be soul sisters. Both of our birthstones are also Aquamarine, although we are both oddly March Aries. @Erica, I too am an anglophile. Love my WASP heritage and I'm proud to wear it on my sleeve. Sometimes people perceive it as being a snob, or worse, a bigot. I assure you that I am neither. I do love bangors and mash, and I also love pomp and circumstance.

It's technically supposed to be a promise ring but I'm fine with it being my engagement ring. In the future we plan on getting me a different one with a stone when we have the money. It has our names engraved on the sides.

Karen - I am such an Anglophile. If I hadn't met my husband when I did, I'd be living and teaching in England right now. Nothing wrong with being a WASP. There's culture in there.