For most getting engaged means a beautiful solitaire diamond engagement rings and for many the bigger the better. And not just any engagement rings- diamond rings! Beautiful, lavish diamond engagement rings have long become the most popular type of engagement ring out there. People spend thousands of dollars for little diamonds just so that they could have that coveted engagement ring everyone dreams of. However, many people also feel that these diamond engagement rings have become so popular that they are not unoriginal. Yes, diamonds are pretty; yes, diamonds are hard; yes, diamonds are unique and stylish. But, at the end of the day, wouldn't you want your engagement ring to also be unique, to be "you," rather than "every girl"? Many girls do feel this way, and this is why they decide to go for alternative engagement jewelry and alternative rings in particular.

Alternative engagement jewelry would includes all that is not predictable the example being commonly seen solitaire diamond engagement ring. While you could go for a different type of engagement ring, some feel that they want to forego the whole concept of an engagement ring and go for something else, like necklace, bracelet, earrings and more.

There are some very clear advantages if you want to go this route. For one, whatever engagement jewelry you end up choosing will, most likely, be cheaper than a diamond engagement ring. There are stunning gold necklaces, white gold bracelets and even diamond stud earrings for much more affordable prices than regular diamond engagement rings. For the price you were going to spend on a stunning diamond ring, you can now buy a set of a gorgeous bracelet and necklace, and even save some money in the process.
Another great reason why you may want to consider an alternative to engagement rings is that with other types of jewelry you have much more room to be creative and to choose something that will really speak to her, that will move her and be personal to her. For example, if she is of Irish descent, there are some extremely unique engagement rings that might fit her style, like emerald rings. These rings are stunning and you are able to combine them with other gems and crystals, gold, and more. If she has a certain belief system that has well known symbols you could get her a bracelet or necklace that will bear that symbol. Another great idea which is harder to do with an engagement ring is by adding personal dedications and inscriptions. For instance, do you have a song? Do you love to dance to it? To listen to its lyrics? Does it take you back to a certain moment in your life, perhaps it was in the background when you proposed? Music is very powerful, and if you have a particular song that's especially meaningful to you, why not take a romantic line and engrave it on the bracelet? Sure, people may not immediately recognize that it is for her anniversary, but it will be very special to her and much more personal.

Alternatives to rings do not necessarily have to be jewelry. Some people feel that jewelry altogether is a waste of money and maybe she's the (rare) type of girl who doesn't like jewelry at all and would appreciate something else much better. You could try to write her a poem or make something yourself. Exploring the artistic side in you is always a good idea, and even if this side is very weak and the outcome will be something disastrous, she will appreciate the effort, because as we know taking time to think about what to make for our partners and then actually making it is something much more difficult than buying something from the store.