Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Or, shall I say diamonds are some girls’ best friends.
I, myself, am not a diamond type of girl. Diamonds might be forever, but they’re also expensive and – I believe – just a tad boring. I prefer color.
Still, millions of men around the world are expected to give diamonds as gifts. Diamonds for birthdays. Diamonds for engagements. Diamonds for anniversaries. Diamonds for Valentine’s Day.
Instead of giving diamonds for Valentine’s Day, why not mix it up a little – and save a little money. There are lots of great alternatives to diamonds for Valentine’s day, and all of them are beautiful in their own way.
Cubic Zirconia
Cubic zirconia is one of the most common alternatives to diamonds. It’s actually a manmade crystal known as zirconium dioxide. Cubic zirconia isn’t as hard as a diamond, but it’s often just as sparkly. If you want a good alternative to diamonds for Valentine’s Day this year, a cubic zirconia is a safe bet.
White Topaz
I prefer natural stones, and white topaz is one of my favorite alternatives to diamonds. For Valentine’s Day, finding white topaz jewelry isn’t usually difficult. Any jewelry store should carry a selection of white topaz jewelry, or should at least be able to order it. You can also jewelry with this diamond alternative online. If you prefer color, like me, you can also look for different colored topaz, including yellow, red, blue, pink, red, and green.
Ruby
Bright red rubies are gorgeous alternatives to diamonds for Valentine’s Day! The bright red color is stunning and a perfect fit for the holiday of love and passion. Some even consider the ruby to be the most powerful gem in the world. Eat your heart out, Diamond!
Garnet
This is hands down my favorite alternative to diamonds! Garnets are generally deep red and have a slightly “denser” color and depth than rubies. The red color isn’t the only reason garnets make good alternatives to diamonds for Valentine’s Day. Garnets also represent love, passion, and stability – all good things to have in a relationship.
Amethyst
Amethysts are generally violet in color. If a lady loves purple, amethysts are great alternatives to diamonds for Valentine’s Day! Tumbled amethysts and amethyst crystals are quite common for those who prefer a more natural look, but it’s also possible to find faceted amethysts as well.
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz is a pink stone that has a milky appearance. Although rose quartz crystals and tumbled rose quartz stones are more common, faceted rose quartz stones are available and quite stunning. Rose quartz also represents love, so these stones make excellent Valentine’s Day gifts.
Birstones
Genuine birthstones make great alternatives to diamonds for Valentine’s Day. (Unless, of course, a woman was born in April, since April’s birthstone is…a diamond.) Birthstone jewelry, in my opinion, is more personal and sweet. You can find a list of birthstones and their associated months by doing a quick search on the Internet. If you want to add a little more bling, you can opt to buy birthstone jewelry with diamond accents.
