Most jewelry buffs have their favorite type of gemstone. For some it may be their birthstone or even a gem that has been in the family for a long time and holds nostalgic value. Yet diamonds (or stones that look like diamonds) might be required by some women but they may not be able to afford them. Keep reading to discover why lab created diamond simulants are more preferred than the real deal these days.

1. Price – At the end of the day, it’s the price of diamond simulant gemstones that make them so enticing. If you purchase diamonds you end up paying not only for it’s beauty but a lot of money goes into something so small. With the continued recession and problems in the economy, one of the best things you can do is be financially secure. A man-made diamond simulant will run you a 1/4 of the cost of a natural diamond and you can bank the savings. Savvy jewelry shoppers often will pick a diamond simulant if they are beside each other and when price comparing–nearly every time.

2. Value – Many jewelry enthusiasts regularly talk about the fact that people get the best price for their money with diamond simulants. One aspect of this, naturally, is the price but also because they can look stunning long term when set in high end materials. Ironically, a woman would need to wear her diamond engagement or wedding ring night and day for years in order to make up for the high price and get what she paid out of it. Diamond alternatives are simply gorgeous and women sincerely know they’re getting their money’s worth with their ring.

3. Beauty – There is no denying the ultimate beauty that any man-made diamond has, and this is due to the clarity and sparkle that a simulated gemstone always has. Some diamonds are rather cloudy in their appearance and although valuable, they don’t somehow look as bright and appealing. With diamond simulants, you can be guaranteed of no imperfections and the true beauty of a gemstone shines through.

4. Reassurance – Suppose your son just bought your future daughter-in-law a real diamond ring and she goes off to school or university with it. Next thing you know, its been lost/misplaced or even stolen. Can you imagine the heartache? All that money, just gone. However, with a diamond simulant you don’t have that same fear. It makes you feel much better knowing that lab or man made diamond simulants are considerably cheaper than a regular diamond and save yourself the stress and hassle.

5. No One Can Tell – A few women may wonder about buying lab or man made diamonds, yet it’s been my observation that it’s generally nothing to worry about since most people will never question your ring. With the modern technology, these lab or man-made diamonds are so close to looking like real diamonds that one would need to take it into a jewelry store to determine whether or not it was a diamond. Pair this technology with a 14K gold or platinum setting and no one will know. Women all over are excited to have expensive looking jewelry without paying for the diamond prices.

These tips should give you a place to start in learning about diamond alternatives and why they are preferred over mined diamonds. When friends and family start talking about engagement or anniversary rings, bring up the option of affordable alternatives to diamonds and use your money wisely.

Christina Evansen is a fashion editor and her articles on man made diamonds have appeared on magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Lucky and Infashion. She is a featured advisor to MSNBC’s fashion guide on jewelry and finance. Take a look at her blog to get the best information and tips on how to save big on engagement rings.

You’re a happy couple that is talking about getting engaged, and now you have decided to start window shopping for the ring. There are countless decisions to be made and also a budget price that a couple has decided to stay within. It can be a frustrating and complex process. But, where can a person find the best deal on engagement rings? Here are a few tips on how to save big:

1. These days we don’t need to go the usual route for shopping for rings–like the bricks and mortar stores or your old fashioned neighborhood jeweler. Today, you can hop online whenever you want to get great ideas. By doing this, you don’t have to go through traffic, deal with pushy salesmen, get hassled or talked into something–particularly avoiding expensive prices.

2. Engagement rings are much cheaper on the Internet because the middleman is cut out. A couple can buy direct from the company itself–and many of these companies make their own engagement rings and have guarantees in place. Most stores in your city will make you pay for a guarantee or warranty. Online it is extremely rare to see this. It is included in the price. Match prices and the exact style, cut, and gemstone or diamond word for word, material for material.

3. Some internet companies provide new types of diamond simulants, not hard labor mined diamonds like most bricks and mortar stores do. They create gorgeous lab made gemstones that are breathtaking and who would ever know the difference? The couple can save literally thousands and still be very pleased with getting everything the woman ever dreamed of.

Study the websites of these companies and you will quickly be able to determine who to purchase from before making the big decision. Steer clear of shabby designed sites which are confusing, not user friendly and do not have a good feel about them. An online business is legitimate and respectable if it has a polished and efficient presence about it. By following these steps, you will be able to save a great deal of money and end up with exactly what you are looking for.

Before you buy anything online, make sure you review Dr. Brett Mattock’s eye-opening free report on how to buy engagement ring, avoid fraud in the diamond industry, and find the best bargains on the Internet for man-made diamonds

Anniversary rings are a great way to mark the day you committed to your partner for the rest of your lives. It just means that you have something to mark this occasion that will last you a lifetime, and is by no means a replacement of your wedding ring, it is just in addition and something that is becoming an increasingly popular gift.

You will have noticed that the amount of couples getting divorced is increasing, but your love is still going strong and you will want something special to show this. As I have already said it is not necessary to replace the rings you already have, this is an option if they have become worn or have gone out of style. You don’t have to get rid of your old rings if you choose not to wear them and you could keep them close to your heart by putting them on a chain.

You will find that although there are many different designs and styles to choose from a traditional anniversary ring will have a pattern or have set in it diamonds or stones that continue all around the band of the ring, which symbolizes the ongoing love between two people.

There are certain stones that represent the years of anniversaries, for example if it is a year since you have been married then the most traditional gift would be gold but an alternative to this would be period. After you have been married ten years the gift that is most traditional would be a diamond or an alternative would be a blue sapphire.

If you would prefer you can go for a ring that does not have precious jewels you could perhaps have the date you were wed, or a message that is precious to you engraved.

It does not matter which design you choose for yourself or your partner, it will mean that you can have a special gift that can be taken with you always and kept with you at all times. Both women and men can enjoy wearing and owning an anniversary ring all that is left to do is choose the best one for you.

Amy Carrington is a fashion maven and an editor at SorellaJewelry.com. Sorella creates personalized jewelry with the names, words, dates and Chinese symbols that matter to you. Personalized wedding rings and anniversary rings are a specialty.