“I’m not a very traditional person,” Shoemaker said, tilting her hand to show off tiny diamonds that flanked the gray centerpiece on her white-gold band. She had gotten the extra stones from her mother. “I just never saw myself with the round, brilliant-cut white diamond, even though they’re absolutely gorgeous. It’s just not me.”
Growing numbers of couples seeking engagement rings are turning to coloured, lab-grown or semi-precious stones, as well as ethically sourced metals, for their jewellery. The trend is being driven by a growing number of people who want something more than the standard diamond ring and have been attracted by its perceived status symbol status.