Worth it? · buyer-reported · updated September 2026
Was the Engagement Ring Worth It? 1125 Buyers Who Have No Regret
Of 1759 buyers who said how they feel about a ring they own, 1125 (64%) have no regret. Their accounts are below in their own words, with what they paid where they said, and what they would tell someone still choosing.
64%of 1759 buyers have no regret
$5,350median paid by them (114 US prices)
87%of sapphire buyers have no regret
No regret by stone
Natural diamond buyers name a regret most often (50% of 139), sapphire buyers least often (13% of 139).
| Stone | Buyers who said how they feel | No regret | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moissanite | 265 | 171 | 65% |
| Lab-grown diamond | 225 | 143 | 64% |
| Other gemstone | 181 | 154 | 85% |
| Natural diamond | 139 | 69 | 50% |
| Sapphire | 139 | 121 | 87% |
What they had paid
Buyers with no regret had paid a median $5,350 (114 US prices); buyers with a regret, $3,500 (72). These are different people writing in different discussions rather than one ring priced twice, so the gap describes who tends to write about a ring, not what spending more does. The causes below say more than the amount: most of them cost nothing to avoid.
| Where the ring is now | Buyers |
|---|---|
| Kept the ring | 948 |
| Upgraded to another ring | 100 |
| Reset the stone | 16 |
| Sold it | 3 |
| Still deciding | 2 |
| Exchanged it | 1 |
| Returned it | 1 |
What they would tell a buyer
309 of the 1125 buyers with no regret left advice for someone still choosing.
| Ring | Stone | What they would tell a buyer |
|---|---|---|
| – | Moissanite | Chose moissanite over diamond for the extra sparkle and does not regret it |
| – | Moissanite | Check every detail on each CAD design and specifically request a stone check if it isn't offered automatically. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Trust a vendor with strong reviews from other buyers on their stone-selection judgment, even without extra photos, if you can't inspect the stone in person. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Doubts about lab-grown diamonds tend to fade once the finished ring is in hand. |
| – | Not said | Trust how the ring looks on your own hand rather than comparing it to oversized rings on social media |
| – | Not said | Trust a double-band stack even if you normally dislike the look; try it on together before ruling it out. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Check with a group-buy organizer for a custom lab diamond ring since it can beat the seller's normal storefront price. |
| – | Natural diamond | Lower clarity like I2 matters far less in a necklace than in a ring, since a pendant does not take the daily bumps a ring does |
| – | Sapphire | Push back on an early setting if the proportions bother you; reworking it later cost time and money but produced a piece she says she's still obsessed with years on. |
| – | Not said | Try on a range of carat sizes in person rather than assuming bigger is better; a smaller stone can look more proportionate on a small ring size. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Own the choice confidently and don't feel obligated to explain the price to anyone |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Wear a big stone if it makes you happy and let remarks that it looks like costume jewelry go. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Finding a community focused on this style of ring made a long-dreamed custom design achievable |
| – | Natural diamond | A jeweler's trade-up program can restore and reuse your original setting instead of buying an entirely new ring when upgrading the center stone. |
| – | Moissanite | Consider moissanite if size matters and budget is tight, since it looks just as beautiful for less money. |
| – | Not said | Pick the stone size based on the wearer's lifestyle and how active she is with her hands, not just what looks biggest. |
| – | Moissanite | Pick round brilliant, emerald, princess or step cuts over crushed-ice cuts for the best sparkle. |
| – | Natural diamond | A store trade-in program can be worth using if you're not sure you'll love your first stone forever. |
| – | Moissanite | Buy several inexpensive generic moissanites with a good return policy, compare them, then return the ones you don't like. |
| – | Not said | Size isn't everything; the memories attached to a ring matter more than its carat weight. |
| – | Not said | Trust your own taste in a setting you love rather than worrying it doesn't match how you see yourself. |
| – | Not said | A light weekly clean or just hand-washing keeps it looking sharp. |
| – | Not said | Cleaning roughly every two weeks was enough, less than expected. |
| – | Not said | A weekend clean with a store-bought jewelry cleaner (about 10 minutes) handles visible fingerprints. |
| – | Not said | Scrubbing occasionally with dish soap and hot water restores the sparkle. |
| – | Not said | Cleaning about once a month is enough if it isn't worn every day. |
| – | Not said | Don't let a salesperson steer you toward a different cut than the one you actually want. |
| – | Not said | If you want more sparkle, wear a separate small round diamond or moissanite ring on your other hand. |
| – | Not said | Try on rings first; the double-halo premium may not be worth it. |
| – | Not said | If you both love the exact design and can afford it, let go of the guilt and enjoy it. |
| – | Not said | Don't compromise on what you actually want just to get the Tiffany name, but if this design is what you'd pick anywhere, go for it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | A lower color grade like J can still look great in person, and it's fine to keep a sentimental original ring instead of trading it in. |
| – | Not said | Avoid wearing lotion with it on to cut down on how often it needs cleaning. |
| – | Not said | A size that feels too big at first can feel perfect after you live with it |
| – | Not said | A smaller stone can feel more comfortable day to day than a bigger one |
| – | Moissanite | Expect noticeably less faceting and more windowing on the cheapest under-$15 stones versus paying $50 or more |
| – | Moissanite | Only pick moissanite if you prefer it; talking yourself into it breeds regret |
| – | Moissanite | Buy what you like best; crushed-ice cuts give a softer sparkle than brilliant cuts |
| – | Moissanite | Buy both and return one, or see stones in person, since photos flatter both |
| – | Moissanite | Set it in platinum and wear it everywhere |
| – | Moissanite | Order a cheap moissanite online to see how it behaves in different light |
| – | Moissanite | Only regret risk is talking yourself into moissanite |
| – | Moissanite | If you want something that passes as diamond, look at lab diamonds |
| – | Moissanite | Choose moissanite because you like it, not as a cheaper diamond |
| – | Moissanite | Try on both stones in person before deciding |
| – | Moissanite | Do not go too big and buy from a reputable jeweler that also sells lab and mined stones, not a random Etsy seller |
| – | Moissanite | Moissanite works best as a round; for oval or marquise consider lab |
| – | Other gemstone | You can upgrade or swap stones later |
| – | Moissanite | Do not go too cheap on moissanite |
| – | Moissanite | Follow your own taste, not what others will think |
| – | Not said | Try both stone types at a reputable showroom before deciding |
| – | Moissanite | If nobody must know it is not a diamond, buy a diamond |
| – | Moissanite | See several moissanite quality levels first |
| – | Not said | A larger ring size can carry a bigger stone well, so don't assume a smaller carat is needed just because the finger is larger. |
| – | Not said | Soap while washing hands keeps it clean; a jewelry cleaner is on hand but not needed yet. |
| – | Not said | Pick a classic style for the original engagement ring, then add inexpensive moissanite or colored rings and bands over the years to satisfy the urge for variety. |
| – | Not said | Getting a ring remade in a better metal can cost less than you fear — trust your gut instead of assuming it will be too pricey. |
| – | Not said | Pick a stone size that fits your lifestyle and profession, not the trend. |
| – | Other gemstone | A colored stone like tanzanite can be just as beautiful as a large diamond; don't measure it against this sub's biggest posts. |
| – | Not said | Comparing your ring to a friend's flashier one right after getting engaged is normal, but not a reason to doubt your own choice. |
| – | Not said | Jewelry-store lighting makes stones look their best, so judge the ring again once you're home, and remember the ring's meaning matters more than its grade. |
| – | Other gemstone | A ring doesn't have to be a traditional diamond engagement ring to mean something; what matters is the commitment behind it. |
| – | Moissanite | Expect a noticeable rainbow sparkle different from a diamond, not a perfect diamond look-alike |
| – | Moissanite | Go with a lab diamond instead if you wouldn't feel comfortable telling people your stone is moissanite |
| – | Moissanite | Consider moissanite first, then upgrade later now that lab diamond prices have dropped |
| – | Moissanite | See the exact cut in person before buying since antique cuts look very different from brilliant cuts |
| – | Moissanite | Try rings on in person first to find the size that suits you, not just what's cheapest to size up |
| – | Moissanite | Skip moissanite if you'd feel like an impostor wearing it |
| – | Moissanite | Know that moissanite sparkles less in dim lighting than in bright, varied light |
| – | Moissanite | Go with moissanite if you'd get sticker shock upgrading a natural diamond to a bigger size |
| – | Moissanite | A secure setting matters more than carat size for everyday comfort. |
| – | Moissanite | Setting security matters more than stone type for everyday durability. |
| – | Moissanite | Triple-check sizing and CAD details before ordering multiple rings overseas. |
| – | Not said | Pick what you personally like rather than chasing what everyone else is doing. |
| – | Not said | If unsure about a full colored stone, consider putting the color in the wedding band instead so it can be worn facing in or out. |
| – | Not said | Consider making the center stone stand out from the side stones so the ring doesn't blur together. |
| – | Sapphire | A toi et moi can be hard to match a wedding band to and may need a custom band. |
| – | Sapphire | Shop with a local jeweler carrying many stones so you can see how the color reads in different lighting. |
| – | Sapphire | Block out outside opinions and picture how you'll feel about the ring years from now. |
| – | Not said | Try different shapes and research how durable your preferred stone is before committing. |
| – | Sapphire | Some colored stones lose color or chip more easily, so research durability before choosing. |
| – | Not said | Pick the shape you personally love rather than chasing or avoiding a trend, since you'll be looking back on it decades later either way. |
| – | Moissanite | If a ring doesn't make you happy it's okay to change it, since stone preference is personal |
| – | Moissanite | If a diamond is out of budget, look at different moissanite stones since quality varies and not all look cloudy |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Prioritize cut quality and certification over carat size, and consider lower-karat gold to afford a better-cut stone. |
| – | Sapphire | You can always change the stone later, but pick what you want now; consider gemstones in the wedding band too. |
| – | Sapphire | Don't let a partner steer you away from the stone you actually want. |
| – | Sapphire | Get the stone you'll love seeing every day, regardless of trends. |
| – | Sapphire | Add a diamond band alongside the sapphire ring for extra sparkle if wanted. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | IGI grading is a solid choice; shop around since the same diamond inventory often gets resold with different markups across sites. |
| – | Natural diamond | Buying a Tiffany ring secondhand through an estate jeweler can cost a fraction of retail. |
| – | Not said | Try both cuts on in person before deciding, since online photos flatter emeralds more than they look in real life. |
| – | Not said | See emerald cuts in person since certificates don't always show windowing or inclusions. |
| – | Not said | See the stone in person or ask for videos in different lighting before buying online, since emeralds can show dark spots on camera. |
| – | Other gemstone | Don't worry about trends for a ring you'll wear the rest of your life; pick what you love. |
| – | Not said | Pick a style that represents you rather than the trend of the moment, since any ring eventually goes out of style. |
| – | Not said | Go with your gut reaction rather than chasing trends. |
| – | Sapphire | Don't worry about trends; get the one that calls to you. |
| – | Moissanite | See the stones in person before deciding if you're worried about it not looking like a diamond |
| – | Not said | Only pay the Tiffany premium if your partner specifically wants that brand. |
| – | Natural diamond | Fluorescence can make a stone glow under UV light, but that alone doesn't mean it will look hazy in normal light, so it may not be worth worrying about. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Switching to lab lets you afford pieces you could never justify in natural |
| – | Natural diamond | You can keep a sentimental natural ring and still choose lab for every purchase going forward |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Buy jewelry for what it means to you, not as an investment, since resale value is low regardless of stone type |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Buy what you want to wear rather than treating jewelry as an investment |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Lab-grown stones can get you more carat and clarity for the money than a natural stone at the same budget. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Pick the color grade you personally find prettiest rather than chasing the whitest grade. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Don't pay for color differences your own eye can't see. |
| – | Natural diamond | Keeping the original setting across multiple stone upgrades preserves the sentimental value while still letting the diamond itself improve over time. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | A quiet swap can work if you're confident your partner won't scrutinize the details, but his views on the stone type may shift anyway once he lives with it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Rotating between several rings instead of committing to one upgrade can satisfy the urge to change things up without guilt. |
| – | Natural diamond | Pick the ring together as a couple rather than one partner deciding alone. |
| – | Not said | Remember the sentimental value in the ring, like helping design it, instead of chasing size |
| – | Other gemstone | Add pave diamonds around the stone or setting if you still want more sparkle. |
| – | Sapphire | You can set diamonds around a colored stone to get both the color and diamond sparkle. |
| – | Other gemstone | A cheap moissanite travel ring can stand in for the real ring if you feel any regret risking it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Stick with the size that feels right instead of chasing bigger stones seen online; you get used to it and people still notice |
| – | Not said | Find a jeweler willing to redesign around your existing stones rather than starting over from scratch |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Get a whole second, different ring for the upgrade instead of replacing the sentimental original |
| – | Not said | Keep the original ring as a keepsake rather than selling it, in case a daughter wants it later |
| – | Not said | Keep the original stone intact in its own setting so it can be passed down later |
| – | Not said | Reset old stones into a separate cocktail ring to keep their sentimentality after choosing a new engagement ring |
| – | Not said | Prioritize a design that will hold up long-term over following salary rules. |
| – | Natural diamond | Keep the original set as-is and add a separate anniversary piece instead of replacing it |
| – | Natural diamond | Have an old center stone reset into a pendant instead of selling it for little money. |
| – | Natural diamond | Keep the original ring if your spouse is sentimental about it rather than swapping the stone or center design. |
| – | Natural diamond | Keep the natural stored safely as a backup and just wear a lab diamond day to day. |
| – | Not said | Pick the ring you'll love for years, since 'engagement ring' is a subjective definition |
| – | Other gemstone | A damaged pearl can be replaced fairly easily and cheaply, even by the wearer |
| – | Other gemstone | Pick a stone rated 8 or higher on the Mohs scale for daily wear |
| – | Not said | Go with what you want even if it takes a few tries |
| – | Other gemstone | Take a soft-stone ring off for showering, cleaning and the gym to protect it |
| – | Not said | Feeling comfortable with your own choice matters, since people will give unsolicited opinions either way |
| – | Sapphire | Try on rings in person; the one that feels like 'yours' may not be a diamond |
| – | Not said | Check the Mohs rating and take extra care with softer stones |
| – | Not said | A 2-3 carat range gives a noticeable wow factor without becoming cumbersome for everyday wear |
| – | Not said | A stone that feels oversized at first can feel normal within weeks of wear |
| – | Not said | Buying a large enough stone upfront can remove the temptation to upgrade later |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Consider lab over natural for a large stone if cost savings and ethics matter more than resale value. |
| – | Not said | Grade a stone's own measurements against AGS ideal proportion charts rather than relying on a retailer's cut claims. |
| – | Not said | Upgrading over the years does not diminish how you feel about the original ring; wear them as a stack instead |
| – | Not said | Upgrade gradually as you can afford it rather than all at once |
| – | Not said | A separate anniversary ring can scratch the upgrade itch without replacing the original band's meaning |
| – | Not said | It's fine to upgrade a modest starter ring if both partners are comfortable with it |
| – | Not said | Don't upgrade a sentimental ring just because in-laws or others push you to |
| – | Natural diamond | Resetting a halo into a bezel can make a colored diamond much more satisfying to wear |
| – | Not said | Don't go into debt buying a ring you can't afford right now |
| – | Not said | Give an unexpected metal a chance before assuming you'll dislike it |
| – | Moissanite | Don't rush an upgrade; there's no timeline requirement, just keep your finances in order first. |
| – | Not said | Trust your own gut on cut and stone size rather than deferring to others' opinions. |
| – | Natural diamond | Carat size matters less than color, clarity and overall quality; don't chase bigger stones |
| – | Not said | Pick the style you personally love rather than following online trends against halos |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | A lab-grown center stone paired with natural accent diamonds can look great even if resale runs lower. |
| – | Moissanite | Choosing moissanite over diamond can free up money for a low-cost wedding or a house down payment without giving up a ring you love. |
| – | Moissanite | Be glad you didn't overspend early since taste changes over time |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Put the money saved by going lab toward travel or real estate instead |
| – | Not said | Trust the instinct to swap a band right away if it does not feel right. |
| – | Not said | Ring size or cost doesn't reflect how much your partner loves you |
| – | Not said | A four-prong floral design lets more light through for better sparkle |
| – | Not said | Keep the stone clean and well cut so sparkle isn't affected by the basket |
| – | Not said | Stop comparing your ring to oversized rings shown online; judge it on how it looks on your own hand. |
| – | Other gemstone | Don't let others' opinions stop you from getting the shape you actually want |
| – | Not said | Make sure you like the specific heart shape of the stone |
| – | Sapphire | Voice a stone preference before the proposal rather than hoping the partner guesses right. |
| – | Sapphire | Choosing a color already loved reduces the odds of tiring of it. |
| – | Sapphire | A tougher color-change sapphire can be a safer daily-wear pick than alexandrite for someone hard on jewelry. |
| – | Sapphire | Check the Mohs hardness of a colored stone before choosing it for everyday wear; sapphires and rubies hold up well, emeralds less so. |
| – | Sapphire | Colored stones need frequent cleaning since even lotion film dulls their color, and most are softer than diamond so expect wear over a lifetime. |
| – | Natural diamond | An engagement ring can be any color that fits the wearer; just be sure it's the ring actually wanted. |
| – | Other gemstone | A fragile centerstone like tourmaline may need a simpler band worn daily instead, saving the statement ring for occasional wear. |
| – | Sapphire | Pair a colored-stone engagement ring with a plain diamond wedding band for a traditional touch if wanted. |
| – | Other gemstone | Opals are soft and need gentle handling to stay secure and smooth. |
| – | Not said | Satisfy any lingering urge for a diamond with a separate right-hand ring instead of changing the engagement ring. |
| – | Moissanite | Moissanite and sapphire are the most durable colored-stone options after diamond for daily wear; softer stones will likely need replacing eventually. |
| – | Natural diamond | You may grow tired of a stone or you may not; buy what you love now and adjust later if needed. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Check a stone's millimeter dimensions carefully before buying at this size. |
| – | Not said | Pick the size you personally like on your own hand, not what others think looks too big. |
| – | Not said | Keep paying for the insurance rider even when it feels pointless, since the one time you need it makes it worth it |
| – | Natural diamond | Insure an antique ring immediately after purchase and keep the appraisal updated every year. |
| – | Not said | Prioritize gold content for resale value over stone expenditure |
| – | Natural diamond | Get an insurance appraisal rather than a costly lab report if the stone itself isn't high-value; document your collection for your heirs. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Educate people who ask rather than feel insecure about choosing lab |
| – | Not said | A partner who researches your actual taste, even secretly, tends to land on a ring you'll love more than one based on their own preference |
| – | Not said | A partner who researches your preferences and practical needs before proposing shows real care. |
| – | Natural diamond | It's fine to love a modest ring bought when money was tight and upgrade later once you can afford more. |
| – | Not said | Ignore online trend chatter and judge the ring by whether you personally love it. |
| – | Not said | Give a large stone a few months before deciding it's too big |
| – | Not said | Let a detailed statement ring stand alone rather than adding a band that could compete with it. |
| – | Not said | It takes about a month for a new ring's size to feel normal |
| – | Not said | Part of the appeal of a less common shape is that it still feels distinctive years later. |
| – | Not said | Bringing her husband along to try on shapes together helped settle the choice with no regrets since. |
| – | Not said | Choosing a shape rarely seen on others, rather than a fully custom design, was enough to keep it feeling special. |
| – | Not said | Wear a new ring for a day before deciding, and trust your own reaction over trend opinions online. |
| – | Not said | Picking a shape before it was trendy meant still loving it years later, independent of fashion cycles. |
| – | Not said | Make sure the proportions are correct |
| – | Not said | A well-cut smaller stone can still look bigger and draw more compliments than raw carat weight |
| – | Not said | Bigger isn't always better; a modest stone can still feel meaningful. |
| – | Not said | A good local jeweler can make quality bands for roughly half of what a luxury brand charges |
| – | Other gemstone | Do not let critics of large stones bother you. |
| – | Natural diamond | Trust your own preference for warmer, characterful stones even if some jewelers rate that color grade as lesser quality. |
| – | Not said | Regret comes more from choosing what you think you should like than what actually catches your eye; also watch how the setting and band thickness change how the stone looks. |
| – | Not said | Wear the heirloom on the right hand and still get your own dream ring for the left. |
| – | Not said | Consider incorporating the heirloom's stones into a new ring that suits you better. |
| – | Not said | Get your own ring when you can afford it; consider combining the heirloom's diamonds with the sapphire you want. |
| – | Not said | Wear the heirloom now and plan a benchmark-anniversary upgrade once you can afford it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | A lab diamond eternity band can look larger than its carat weight and is a good value against current gold prices. |
| – | Natural diamond | Get the diamond settings inspected and repaired periodically; platinum holds up well for daily wear, even at work. |
| – | Sapphire | Co-designing the setting with your partner helps you land on a stone you'll still love a year on. |
| – | Moissanite | Frame the upgrade as reflecting how far you've come financially together, not a complaint about the original ring. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | A vendor who explains lab vs natural without pushing a sale is worth seeking out |
| – | Moissanite | Turning your original stone into a pendant lets you keep both looks instead of picking just one |
| – | Not said | Building a rotating collection of rings can satisfy a growing love of stones without giving up the original ring. |
| – | Natural diamond | Buy it if you love the understated look, not for future investment value |
| – | Natural diamond | Go for it if you love it |
| – | Natural diamond | Decide whether you're paying for the diamond itself or for the brand experience; a bigger diamond was possible elsewhere for the same money, but the proposal experience made it worth it to him. |
| – | Moissanite | A large moissanite can sparkle more than a diamond and lets you afford a much bigger stone than the same budget would buy at Tiffany. |
| – | Not said | Don't let a critical relative change your mind if you love the ring |
| – | Not said | Unique will always beat simple if that's what you love |
| – | Other gemstone | Go with what makes you happy and has meaning to you |
| – | Other gemstone | Go with something you know you'll wear every day |
| – | Other gemstone | Don't worry what friends think, since they don't have to wear it |
| – | Other gemstone | Go with what makes you happy |
| – | Sapphire | Do what you love |
| – | Sapphire | Get the ring you love, not the one others would like better |
| – | Moissanite | Get something that feels like you |
| – | Natural diamond | Buy a separate piece of jewelry, like a tennis bracelet, to satisfy the urge to upgrade instead of replacing a sentimental ring. |
| – | Natural diamond | Your ring should look like something you'd want to use every day for the rest of your life, nothing else |
| – | Not said | Stick to lower-karat gold, comparison shop before joining, and measure existing jewelry to judge proportions first |
| – | No stone (plain band) | A plain band leaves you free to wear other statement rings picked up along the way. |
| – | Not said | Pick the ring style you love from the start rather than one you think you're supposed to want. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Research lab options before assuming natural is the only respectable choice |
| – | Not said | Don't rule out gold or two-tone out of habit if you like both metals. |
| – | Natural diamond | Do not talk yourself out of the piece you actually love because you assume it is out of budget; ask and let a friend push back if you start settling. |
| – | Natural diamond | Skip jumbo push backs and silicone discs; earring-lift style backs support bigger studs comfortably without droop |
| – | Not said | Trust a proven custom setting maker even when ordering sight-unseen; the finished piece can still exceed expectations. |
| – | Not said | Spending years testing shapes, sizes and colors on your own jewelry before a big upgrade can make the final choice feel obviously right. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Make sure the upgrade is something your spouse wants before surprising them with it. |
| – | Natural diamond | Research proportions patiently before an upgrade; comparing ratios across many other rings helped her land on a combination she has no urge to change. |
| – | Not said | Sparkle comes from a properly cut stone, not from the setting type. |
| – | Not said | A sparkly stone will still sparkle in a bezel; look up how light enters a stone before worrying. |
| – | Not said | Bezels suit a clumsy or active lifestyle well. |
| – | Not said | Look for an open-gallery bezel rather than a closed one if you're worried about a bulky side profile. |
| – | Not said | Pair a bezel-set engagement ring with a simple, thin wedding band so the stack doesn't add bulk. |
| – | Not said | A custom dupe of a designer bezel style can cost thousands less than the branded original. |
| – | Other gemstone | The ring you can't stop thinking about is the right one; you'll regret playing it safe more than picking unique |
| – | Not said | An old, handmade antique ring beats paying for a designer name. |
| – | Natural diamond | A big anniversary can be a good moment to upgrade to a larger, whiter stone, especially if the original ring gets repurposed instead of sold. |
| – | Natural diamond | A well-cut stone in a warmer K color grade can still face up white, so don't rule it out for the cut quality alone. |
| – | Natural diamond | A lab-grown stone set into your old band makes a low-worry travel ring instead of selling the setting after an upgrade. |
| – | Natural diamond | Good certificate specs alone can be enough to trust a stone even without an ASET image or in-person viewing before buying. |
| – | Natural diamond | Do not settle for a diamond if something about it still nags at you; wait until one comes along that fully satisfies before committing to an upgrade. |
| – | Moissanite | A maker who shares CAD renders and videos before shipping helps avoid surprises. |
| $9 | Not said | Focus on the relationship, not the ring's price or authenticity |
| €15 | Moissanite | AliExpress vendor Kuololit is reliable for cheap moissanite jewelry worn daily |
| $18 | Other gemstone | Prioritizing being debt-free matters more than an expensive ring |
| $40 | Other gemstone | A cheap placeholder ring is a fine way to enjoy being engaged while you save for or decide on the real one. |
| $40 | Moissanite | Ask the jeweler to show stones in varied light, since store LEDs boost fire |
| $50 | Not said | A cheap placeholder ring can stay sentimental even after you upgrade to the real one |
| $100 | Other gemstone | It is just a ring; the sentiment matters more than the stone |
| £200 | Not said | A ring under budget is fine as long as both partners love it. |
| $300 | Other gemstone | An upgrade ring doesn't erase the sentimental value of the original one |
| $300 | Not said | The price matters less than who picked it for you. |
| $300 | Natural diamond | Talk it over and consider a redesign rather than just a bigger stone, since the original ring may not fetch much money anyway |
| $600 | Lab-grown diamond | Lab-grown diamonds can get a large stone for little money |
| $700 | Lab-grown diamond | A cheap lab-grown set early on doesn't rule out commissioning something more sentimental later, like a custom ring with family birthstones. |
| $790 | Lab-grown diamond | Get multiple setting quotes; even the lowest of three can still run a bit more than expected |
| $800 | Not said | Get the cheaper ring now; you can save for a better one later. |
| $800 | Moissanite | A well-cut custom moissanite solitaire from a trusted vendor can rival much pricier chosen stones |
| $813 | Moissanite | A custom Etsy maker can deliver a similar look to a pricier retail listing for far less |
| $865 | Lab-grown diamond | Go noticeably bigger than your old stone or the upgrade won't feel like one |
| $960 | Lab-grown diamond | Order a couple of candidate stones to compare in hand under different light before committing to size versus color/clarity trade-offs. |
| $1,000 | Not said | Don't dismiss Macy's outright; the rings can be lovely and draw compliments. |
| $1,000 | Moissanite | Moissanite is a great choice even setting ethics aside; she'd pick it again over diamond. |
| $1,200 | Lab-grown diamond | You don't need to spend $4500 to get a good-looking 2ct lab diamond ring. |
| $1,200 | Moissanite | A moissanite center with lab-diamond accents can look stunning for a fraction of a mined-diamond budget. |
| $1,500 | Not said | Getting an old ring reappraised years later can reveal real appreciation before deciding whether to sell or upgrade |
| $1,600 | Moissanite | Heavy anxiety and back-and-forth during custom ordering faded once the finished ring arrived and got steady compliments. |
| $2,000 | Moissanite | A moissanite can be a practical, guilt-free choice if you'd rather put money elsewhere. |
| $2,000 | Lab-grown diamond | Lab-grown diamonds make a bigger anniversary upgrade affordable that would have been out of reach as a natural stone. |
| $3,000 | Not said | Chicago's wholesale jewelers' district can get a beautiful, sparkly stone under $3k with good service. |
| $3,000 | Not said | A modest ring bought thoughtfully and paid off over time still gets worn happily years later |
| $3,000 | Lab-grown diamond | Lab-grown diamonds make it possible to get a much bigger stone than a natural one would allow on the same budget. |
| $3,300 | Lab-grown diamond | State your ring budget clearly, but appreciate a partner who wants to give more than asked |
| $3,500 | Not said | It's fine to start with a modest ring when you're young and upgrade together later as you do better financially. |
| $3,800 | Lab-grown diamond | A custom-made ring from a diamond-district jeweler can match a retail design's look for a lot less money |
| $4,600 | Lab-grown diamond | Prioritize diamond cut quality and optical performance over certificate labels alone |
| $4,900 | Lab-grown diamond | Look at several diamonds in person before choosing one |
| $5,200 | Lab-grown diamond | Get outside opinions before the proposal when unsure about a custom design; a subtler pave can still read as elegant and won't compete with a large center stone. |
| $6,000 | Natural diamond | An antique pear cut can look noticeably bigger than its actual carat weight, so a smaller stone can still make a strong visual impact. |
| $7,500 | Lab-grown diamond | Give a crushed-ice cut stone a look in person and in good lighting before assuming something's wrong; video and forum lighting can make it look hazy when it isn't. |
| $9,000 | Not said | Trading up gradually with your own savings can get you to a stone you love |
| $10,000 | Lab-grown diamond | Save money on the stone for things that matter more |
| $11,000 | Natural diamond | Skip insurance if you could still afford to replace the ring and rarely wear or lose things |
| $14,000 | Natural diamond | A natural stone holds and can appreciate in value compared to lab-grown |
| $16,667 | Lab-grown diamond | A lab diamond gets the same compliments as natural for a fraction of the cost |
| £20,000 | Not said | Decide what you want first and make the budget fit that, rather than tracking every line item |
| $20,000 | Not said | Spend what you want and can afford, don't downsize and regret it later |
| $22,000 | Not said | Keep a separate wedding fund so you're not dipping into other savings |
| $22,500 | Not said | Prioritize a house over a big wedding if you have to choose between the two |
| $22,500 | Not said | Book a cheaper venue and a smaller guest list to free up budget for other vendors |
| $25,000 | Not said | Choose vendors based on price without sacrificing your vision |
| $25,000 | Natural diamond | Prioritize an ideal cut over color grade since a well-cut stone faces up white regardless of body color |
| $30,000 | Not said | Spend on the wedding if you can comfortably afford it |
| $30,000 | Not said | As long as you're not going into debt, spending on the day is worth it |
| $30,000 | Not said | Plan earlier if you can, rather than deciding just two months out |
| $30,000 | Not said | Look into other countries for the venue, since US wedding costs are inflated |
| $40,000 | Not said | Money is just money; it's gone but the memories remain |
| $40,000 | Natural diamond | Buy on approval when the price feels big; testing the stone at home with a return window still open helps you commit with confidence. |
| $60,000 | Not said | It's worth it as long as it won't harm your personal finances |
Questions about whether it is worth it
Do most people think the engagement ring was worth it?
64% of the 1759 buyers who said how they feel have no regret at all, and 948 of them still have the ring they were given.
Is an expensive engagement ring worth it?
Buyers with no regret had paid a median $5,350 (114 US prices); buyers with a regret, $3,500 (72). These are different people writing in different discussions rather than one ring priced twice, so the gap describes who tends to write about a ring, not what spending more does. The causes below say more than the amount: most of them cost nothing to avoid.
Which stone do buyers regret least?
Natural diamond buyers name a regret most often (50% of 139), sapphire buyers least often (13% of 139).
Is a $30,000 engagement ring too much on a $105k salary?
Nearly every reply said yes: 30k is close to 30% of a 105k gross income, and even the asker's 15-17k cap (about 15%) was called generous, especially with a house purchase planned the same year. Nearly every buyer said yes: by the one-to-two-months rule a $30k ring fits a $180k-$360k income, and others suggested one paycheck at most; a $550k earner kept his ring at $15k and a couple on over $400k spent $2,500 on ring and band.
Is jewelry insurance worth it for an engagement ring, and how much does it cost?
Multiple owners pay roughly $48-$110 a year for standalone jewelry insurance, through insurers like a Bright policy or a State Farm personal articles policy, covering loss, theft and damage, and most said it was worth it versus paying to replace a ring outright. One buyer recommended Jeweler's Mutual, saying her policy costs about $180 a year to insure a $17,000 ring and that it replaced her ring quickly with no issues after she lost it.
Is jewelry insurance worth it for an engagement ring?
Buyers said yes if replacing the ring out of pocket would cost more than roughly $1,200, since a policy priced around $25 a year is cheap by comparison. Nearly everyone who replied said yes, especially for rings appraised over about $5,000, citing peace of mind and full replacement coverage versus paying out of pocket.
Do people regret choosing a moissanite engagement ring instead of a diamond
Most owners here report no regrets, some after 6 to 17 years of daily wear. The regretters mostly wanted a diamond look and swapped to a lab diamond within about 6 months to a year. The overwhelming majority said no, often citing money saved toward a house, honeymoon or family trip, while a smaller group described regret over a poor-quality stone, a colorless choice that felt fake, or wishing they had gone straight to a lab diamond.
Do people regret choosing a small diamond for their engagement ring
Some do: a 0.7 ct owner sometimes wishes for bigger after almost 3 years, a 1 ct on a size 4.25 wanted 1.5 ct once the band was added, a 2 ct owner thinks 3 ct would have suited better, and a 2.8 ct owner still wishes she went bigger. One who lost a 0.25 ct ring says trying rings on first would have spared her the remorse. Most buyers who had a yellow or other colored diamond said they had no regrets and loved the uniqueness, while a couple of others described mixed feelings from having played it safe with a traditional white diamond and later upgrading to the color or shape they originally wanted.
Am I paying too much for a 3.5ct lab radiant ring at $5,500 from a local family jeweler?
Near-universal consensus in the answers is yes, significantly overpriced; a comparable stone-plus-setting bought online and price-matched typically runs $1,500 to $3,000, with local or in-store jewelers often charging two to five times more to cover overhead.
Are big-box or mall jewelry stores worth it for a diamond ring?
One buyer says brick-and-mortar big box markups are dramatic; the local jeweller price they paid came in about 40% below what a bigger retailer (SPENCE) had quoted for the same natural 1ct diamond ring.
Are budget lab diamond vendors like Luvansh or StarsGem worth it for earrings?
One buyer said that for stud earrings, general sparkle and coverage mattered more than perfect cut specs, and cheaper vendors delivered good value for that purpose.
Are cheap giant (9-10 carat) lab diamonds with visible inclusions worth it for the size and sparkle?
It depends heavily on cut: emerald cuts show inclusions far more than round or oval cuts, so low clarity is riskier there, while an oval or radiant can hide inclusions better even at a lower grade.
Are lab-grown diamonds cheaper than natural diamonds in South Africa and worth it?
One buyer had a stone replaced with a lab-grown diamond through a Rivonia jeweler and says it is a lot cheaper with no noticeable difference from a natural stone.
Every account
| Ring | Stone | Where it is now | What they said |
|---|---|---|---|
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Obsessed with her new 2.5ct moissanite and diamond-accent ring from Flawless Moissanite, paired with her older diamond wedding band |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Writer calls this 25th-anniversary upgrade ring from Keyzar a ring she loves. |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | 10-year anniversary custom moissanite ring and band from Golden Bird Jewels; early doubts from mixed online reviews gave way to being thrilled with the stone and the service. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | After 20 years of marriage, upgraded her wedding set with a stateside maker instead of her usual overseas vendors, flip-flopped on stone shape several times over two months, and says she has no regrets about the route she took. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | The person asking was initially unsure about picking a lab diamond for her 10-year anniversary ring but ended up thrilled with the custom finished piece. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | The person asking worried her 1.3ct VVS1 stone looked too small after seeing large rings online, but said the reassurance from buyers resolved her doubts |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Reset an inherited stoneless family band with a new 5.67 carat Pakistani peridot and says she couldn't be happier with the result |
| – | Moissanite | Still deciding | Has been very happy with her 1-carat moissanite bought six years ago and is only curious whether an antique-cut lab diamond would look or feel different |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Buyer second-guessed whether her stacked wedding bands looked too busy next to her newly upgraded 2.1ct radiant center stone, but ended up happy and kept the full stack. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Longtime moissanite collector's first lab diamond ring, a custom 1.6ct solitaire from a group buy; calls it her dream ring and loves the proportions and daily-wear durability. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Still adjusting to how large her 5ct upgrade feels some days, but stays happy because of its meaning representing her 5 kids; kept the original ring too. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | The person asking worried he made a mistake buying an I2 diamond pendant after reading warnings aimed at rings, but was reassured and kept it, relieved |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Wife ordered a custom 3-stone oval trilogy as a 15-year upgrade to her original engagement ring, her first lab diamond and first online jewelry purchase, and is thrilled with it. |
| – | Sapphire | Reset the stone | Almost 2 years married and 3+ years after getting an unusual bicolor sapphire, she says she's still obsessed with it; the original mounting left gaps by the side stones, so it was re-set repeatedly over about 18 months until she was fully happy. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | The buyers is thrilled with her 2.5-carat marquise and its detailed band on a small size 4.5 finger, having found stones up to 4 carats looked ridiculous on her by comparison. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | The person asking is obsessed with her lab diamond upgrade but anxious about friends judging it as not 'real' |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Ten-year anniversary upgrade combining her original heirloom stone with a topaz and alexandrite into a custom toi-et-moi; she loves the new ring. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | The person asking says she is obsessed with her new 1-carat engagement ring right after being surprised with a proposal; no price or stone type given. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Received a 12.95 ct G VVS2 emerald-cut stone from Aurelinne (lab, per the community) to set as a right-hand ring in a 10k yellow gold bezel; happy, only rarely insecure. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | 25th-anniversary upgrade to a custom 5ct low-set radiant ring from an Etsy maker; writer is thrilled with the stone and rose gold setting |
| – | Sapphire | Upgraded to another ring | Married at 18, given a surprise sapphire ring upgrade with moissanite accents by her husband after 10 years and feels it suits her better now |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Chose a smaller 1.5ct natural diamond at engagement to prioritize paying off a house, then got a 5.3ct sapphire upgrade once the house was paid off |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Ten years after her original 0.7ct round purchase, traded up to a 2ct GIA 3EX I SI1 round through Ritani, keeping the restored original Shane Co setting; thrilled with the result. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Bought a diamond ring described as 9 carats and felt the price matched other listings, but buyers argue the pictured stone is far too small to be 9 carats, likely under 1.5 carats. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Chose moissanite over diamond and reports zero complaints with the choice. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Asked for no bigger than .75 carat so it wouldn't look like costume jewelry, and says she loves staring at her ring. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Says zero regrets and loves her moissanite engagement ring. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Two years in and has never once wished she had chosen a diamond instead of moissanite. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | No regrets with her 1-carat round brilliant moissanite in a palladium setting that has held up without warping. |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Bought a small pear-shaped diamond ring for herself at Shane Co. years ago, upgraded it a few times since, and still loves it |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | Recently upgraded her wedding ring set to a white gold moissanite set and says it outshines diamonds; doesn't see herself going back. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Buys cheap non-branded moissanites ($5-$80 each), finds them extremely sparkly under kitchen lighting, and keeps her favorites while returning the rest. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | An inexpensive precision-cut 'power behind' moissanite that throws rainbows in every lighting she's tried; loves the sparkle despite it not looking diamond-like. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Her original 0.5-carat ring made her happy for years before she later upgraded to a much larger 4.23-carat stone. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Received her moissanite ring the day before and loves it; glad it isn't a diamond since she wanted something with practical value, not just expense. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Had a wave of self-doubt about an expensive pear-accented ring due to body-image feelings, but ended up loving it and going ahead with the purchase |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 2-carat emerald cut worn 5 months; still finds it dazzling and not dull. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 4 months in, still in love with her emerald cut. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 2.4-carat emerald cut, half a year owned, considers the upkeep worth the sparkle. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 1.42-carat J color emerald cut, almost two years in; never looks dull to her even when dirty. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | East-west set emerald cut; had to adjust to how visibly smudges show from the top, but wouldn't switch cuts. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 2ct emerald cut owned about a year, wouldn't trade it for anything. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 4 years with her emerald cut, still loves it and rarely cleans it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Owns an emerald-cut emerald and loves the mirror effect with a gold band, despite noticeable smudging; dips it in cleaner often. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves how sparkly and unique it looks, though the large table makes it more of a pain to keep clean. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Jeweler tried to push her toward a radiant cut instead; she chose emerald anyway and has no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her emerald cut and cleans it often, same as she does with all her jewelry. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Was nervous about the cut at first but it became her favorite stone she's ever owned. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Simply states no regret about her emerald cut. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 17 years with her emerald cut; the lack of sparkle compared to brilliant cuts was actually a plus for her. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her emerald cut but suggests a second sparklier ring for variety instead of switching cuts. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Salt-and-pepper emerald cut diamond; cleans it every couple months and says it never looks dull since it's already dark-toned. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Noticed fingerprints show easily when trying one on, but felt she'd regret NOT choosing the cut, calling it stunning. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Traded in her original ring for 100% of its value toward an upgrade; wasn't sentimentally attached to it since her wedding band mattered more to her. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Decided the Tiffany Soleste premium wasn't worth it and bought from Frank Darling instead; only complaints about her ring are unrelated to the vendor. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Custom cushion Soleste made in an alternate metal almost 5 years ago with her now-husband; still no regrets, enjoys the free cleanings. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Took her husband's Tiffany budget and bought elsewhere instead, getting a bigger emerald-cut stone with better clarity and warmer color for the same money. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Got engaged with a budget-friendly moissanite, later upgraded to a Tiffany diamond ring; a huge expense still being paid off but worth it for the service and stone quality. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Tiffany Legacy set with a 1.4 ct center worn for 20 years; zero regrets, recommends also getting a matching eternity band for later. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Paid a large brand markup (about $10-15k on a 1 ct ring) to avoid shopping stress and worries over craftsmanship or a jeweler swapping the stone; money they'd never miss. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Partner had a Soleste-inspired design custom made by an independent designer; still loves the halo ring five years later despite halos being unpopular on the sub. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose Tiffany while living abroad for trusted after-sale service, kept the stone under a carat to limit markup, and loved the in-store proposal-shopping experience. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Was nervous about the J color grade on her 3ct lab diamond upgrade but ended up loving it, and kept her original 1.33ct mined ring instead of trading it in. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets on her emerald cut diamond; doesn't wear it all day every day. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Only briefly felt bad upgrading from the modest ring bought when the couple was broke; her husband was glad to upgrade her, and she keeps the original insured and locked away for her daughter. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from about 0.65ct to 1.21ct after the original stone chipped and both partners had better jobs; plans to reset the old stone into a necklace with other special stones. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Feels no guilt keeping several ring sets built up over 20 years together, and still wears an older set sometimes just for sentimental value. |
| – | Not said | Reset the stone | Loves her upgraded ring; after leaving the old ring in a box for two years, had its diamond reset into a bezel pendant on a thin chain so she can still enjoy it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Upgraded her wedding set 13 years ago, kept the original .80ct princess ring in a safe, and is now considering resetting it as a toi-et-moi alongside her newer stone. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Keeps both the original and upgraded ring sets, switching between them depending on mood, with both still special to her. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Went from a three-stone 3/4ct to a 2.40ct solitaire for an anniversary, thought it looked too big at first but now finds it perfect |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Had a 2ct ring and had it changed down to 1.50ct, and recommends the person asking would be happier at a smaller size too |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Owns several cheap silver rings from the brand; noticed lower cut quality than pricier options but has no complaints given the low price |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Upgraded from 2ct to just under 4ct; husband thought it was too big but they both love it now |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Moissanite since a college engagement over a decade ago; when restyling the ring she could afford a diamond but stayed with moissanite |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Compared both at a jeweler and found moissanite prettier; never wanted it to pass as a diamond |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Insisted on moissanite over diamond; strangers take it for a diamond; loves the double refraction |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Wore a moissanite wedding set for over 10 years and is buying another; a lab stone is only a maybe |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | About 1.5 years in; a diamond this size was unaffordable and losing it would not be devastating |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 2.5 years with frequent compliments; wanted moissanite from the start |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 2 ct-equivalent marquise Charles & Colvard stone; her favourite stone, nobody has told it apart |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Chose moissanite for ethical sourcing; might ask for a lab diamond at the 10-year anniversary |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 2.5 years of near-constant wear, still in perfect condition |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Worried by dull pre-shipment photos, but the ring looks great in person |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Would never change it; likes the ethics, lower cost and colourful sparkle |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Custom moissanite ring bought January 2020, worn daily for about 3 years; only a jeweler has noticed on their own |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Third marriage; after a 2 ct emerald diamond and a grandmother's 1.5 ct diamond, a roughly 3 ct-look moissanite is her favourite |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Never a diamond fan; strangers assume diamond, she can spot the difference and does not mind |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Preferred moissanite sparkle; a lab ring would have cost less but she did not want to source and set a loose stone |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 3 years in, still delighted and never asked whether it is real |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Moissanite eternity band as her wedding ring beside a costly custom engagement ring; the diamond version cost thousands |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Prefers moissanite, step and antique cuts and coloured stones over diamonds |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Moissanite center in a diamond Verragio setting, 8 years; wanted a bigger center without her partner spending that much |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | Moved from a natural diamond set bought for a 2007 wedding to a rose-gold moissanite set; also ordered a small Ritani lab stone for a pendant |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Prefers moissanite on its own merits |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves the rainbow sparkle; warns it is not a diamond dupe |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 2 ct moissanite; lower cost makes daily wear worry-free; would stay moissanite even without a budget limit |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Moissanite ring and band worn 6+ years; did not want to raid the house down payment; skips insurance as it is easy to replace |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Cannot tell it from a diamond and calls it worth it |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 2 ct moissanite, not cloudy, draws regular compliments |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Just over 2 years, cleaned once, still looks like a diamond to her |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Could not be happier and has no wish to switch to a diamond |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves how it shines and that it was affordable and ethical |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Firmly no regret about her 2 ct moissanite |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 1.5 ct moissanite from Kobelli, 2.5 years without anyone questioning it |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Bought a size she could also have afforded in natural diamond, so nobody questions it |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Finds moissanite sparklier than diamond and does not regret it |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 8mm round Charles & Colvard hearts-and-arrows stone with plenty of depth; chose it for rainbow, cost and environment |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Colour-change alexandrite center with moissanite accents; the savings paid for nesting bands she wanted |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Small moissanite on a gold band stacked with another Etsy gold band; loves both |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Bought from about the priciest moissanite brand; many assume it is a diamond |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 0.5 ct 5mm round from Etsy maker Sapheena on a size 3 finger; chose it for ethics and a white look; never plans to upgrade |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Wanted a larger center that diamonds put out of budget; prefers the rainbow flash |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Fire and Brilliance stone whose cut looks close to a diamond |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Preferred moissanite side by side with diamond and did not want an expensive stone anyway |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Over a year in, still thrilled; chose it for price and for how it throws light |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Compared both side by side and much preferred the moissanite |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | UK buyer delighted with her ring and service from Lilly Arkwright's Manchester showroom; stone type not said |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 3 ct-equivalent stone chosen for size without a huge price |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Chunky moissanite in a setting her partner designed; adores it |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Recently engaged; ruled out CZ, then moissanite, then mined for ethics and cost though they could afford it; thrilled with a 2 ct lab diamond |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from her original diamond ring to moissanite by preference; it cost less than a month of her kids' school tuition |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 2 ct-equivalent moissanite regularly complimented as a diamond |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Olive Ave ring with Charles & Colvard stones; colleagues were surprised it is not a diamond |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Ruby center with moissanite around it, chosen for ethics and sustainability |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Budget was no issue; picked a flawless moissanite after researching both; worn daily without scratches |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Owner with a 7 3/4 ring size chose a 2.5 carat diamond and says it looks well balanced, adding that even 2 carats would not have looked too small. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | One month in, no cloudy or dirty look yet; likes that fewer people have this cut. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 1 ct moissanite solitaire worn through a 2-year engagement and 15 years of marriage without comment |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | After 36 years of marriage owns six different engagement ring styles and about twenty bands in various metals, rotating combinations almost daily instead of regretting any single ring. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Remade a white gold wedding set into platinum after growing tired of repeated rhodium replating and other structural issues; ended up cheaper than expected |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Chose a dainty floral sapphire ring, the only one left in the country, and loves it just as it is |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | A former NYC lawyer chose under half a carat on purpose to avoid a flashy ring and still loves it |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | A 0.75ct emerald-cut ring with a hidden-halo bridge design felt right after a 1ct stone looked too big on her hand |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Proposed to at 18 with a 0.3ct ring, later upgraded to 2 carats, but still wears the original ring 25 years on and never wants to remove it |
| – | No stone (plain band) | Kept the ring | Skipped a stone entirely for a plain textured band that suits her active outdoor and healthcare work |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Has worn a half-carat emerald-and-diamond ring for 24 years and says she wouldn't want a different one even with $5-10k to spend |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Buyer felt self-conscious about her tanzanite engagement ring after joining the sub, then decided it's just as lovely as a big diamond. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Buyer briefly doubted her own vintage-style built ring was 'enough' after a friend got engaged with a trendier big-stone ring, then let it go. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | A 1ct colorless moissanite in 14k rose gold from GoldenBird turned out fine and was gifted to a friend with no complaints |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves her elongated cushion moissanite ring from GoldenBird despite many others' bad experiences with the same vendor, though notes the stones lean slightly warm |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Never upgraded and is still wearing her original small stone after more than 28 years. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Still loves the ring her husband proposed with 4 years later and says no other ring could carry the same sentimentality. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Got exactly the setting and diamond she wanted 43 years ago and has never thought about upgrading since. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Could afford a bigger diamond now but says her 0.6ct stone is still perfect for her and she'll never change it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has a 2ct stone that looks big on her small hands; people comment on the size but she'd rather it be too big than too small |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Writer didn't even realize her own stone was I color until much later; over 20 years on she still loves the ring, the setting and the man who gave it to her. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Writer never got a formal engagement ring at all; she wore a mystic topaz ring her husband had already given her while dating, and they've been married nine years. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Writer says her own 2.5-carat ring sparkles and she loves it, encouraging the person asking to keep his ring as it is. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 0.75 ct solitaire picked over a diamond that fit the budget but was not what she wanted; savings bought a nicer band |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Gets constant compliments and nobody has ever asked if the stone is a diamond |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Wears it daily since she's clumsy and not comfortable with pricier jewelry; sees it as its own gem, not a fake diamond |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | No one has ever asked if the stone is real; likes being able to afford multiple styles to swap between |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Choosing moissanite let the couple make a house down payment about two years sooner |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Preferred a bigger moissanite over a smaller diamond at the same budget and dislikes the idea of wearing something that costly |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | Loved her original moissanite ring for a decade despite occasional comments from older relatives; getting a lab diamond in a new design for their 10-year anniversary |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Saved a large sum versus her original budget by choosing moissanite and put the savings toward a family trip |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded her original one-carat-equivalent moissanite to a larger 2.5-carat-equivalent one plus a moissanite wedding band |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Brief no-regret comment with no further detail |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Would have been happy with just moissanite, but her fiance wanted to spend more on a diamond so she ended up with both |
| – | Moissanite | – | Keeps buying more moissanite pieces for anniversaries and calls it an ongoing happy obsession |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Chose the sparklier stone and put the money saved toward the wedding and honeymoon instead |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Doesn't care what the stone is as long as it's pretty |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | Never regretted the original moissanite; it's now her casual travel ring after upgrading to a lab diamond |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Had some doubt right around getting engaged but now wouldn't trade the ring for anything |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves her moissanite and still wears it sometimes even after getting a diamond ring this year too |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Got lucky that her cushion cut sparkled the way she wanted; other online moissanite purchases looked different than expected |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Has three high-quality moissanite rings from early Charles & Colvard days and only bought a lab diamond separately out of curiosity about old European cuts |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Over ten years old and still sparkles like new; owns a diamond too and loves both |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Brief no-regret comment |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Tried rings on in person and picked a smaller stone that suited her small hands rather than maxing out size for the price |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Worn a moissanite set for eleven years and later added several lab diamonds too, preferring different stones for different cuts |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves the ring enough to recommend moissanite to everyone |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Gets compliments on it regularly with no regrets |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Considers diamonds overpriced and is fully happy with her moissanite |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Prefers moissanite's extra fire to a diamond's look |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | He and his spouse have consistently chosen moissanite for their jewelry since learning about it |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Got the ring about a month before commenting and is still in awe of its rainbow sparkle |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wore a three-stone diamond ring for ten years, then bought a 2.5ct cushion cut for their anniversary with no regrets |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Only had the ring a few months; likes not worrying about losing an expensive stone |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves the stone's fire and dislikes diamond marketing |
| – | Moissanite | Reset the stone | Her original diamond cracked further after being dropped, so the same ring was reset with a cushion cut moissanite she now wears constantly |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Chose a bigger moissanite specifically because it cost a fraction of an equivalent lab diamond |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Brief no-regret comment |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Held up well over seven years and never comes off her hand |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Has worn only moissanite since marrying in 2005, calling it the best value for the money |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Wears several moissanite rings daily and keeps her actual diamond ring in a firebox instead |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves her moissanite and plans to add a lab diamond eventually too |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Chose moissanite partly because natural moissanite's meteorite origin appealed to her |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Prefers moissanite's sparkle to a diamond with visible inclusions at the same price |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Brief no-regret comment |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Picked moissanite for ethical reasons and to get a bigger, flashier stone; added moissanite wedding bands too |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Owns multiple pieces in different styles since they're inexpensive enough to collect |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from a half-carat natural diamond to a 2ct moissanite solitaire and eternity band after natural diamond prices at that size caused sticker shock |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Her new Asscher-cut moissanite from her current fiance draws only compliments; the money saved is going toward a house |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Still obsessed with her 2.76ct antique-cut moissanite six years later; prefers it over flawless diamonds because she can't get past visible inclusions |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Regrets not buying one sooner; got it as a stand-in after losing her original ring and wants an emerald cut one next |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Got a larger stone than an equivalent lab diamond would have allowed and still loves it |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Values not having to worry about wearing an expensive stone day to day |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Worn daily for over seven years with no regrets |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves telling people about her ring |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Owns two moissanite rings and two sets of earrings with zero regrets |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Ended up with double the stone size for half of their planned budget after deprioritizing the ring until later in the relationship |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Got constant praise on the ring from a small maker she was happy with |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Has owned several moissanite rings over the years and loves the fire and sparkle; currently awaiting a custom 3.7ct solitaire |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves her 3.5ct moissanite and has no regrets; credits the secure setting for making it comfortable to wear daily |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Owns both a moissanite ring and a diamond ring and has no regret about either choice |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves her roughly 3ct moissanite ring; a prior 1.2ct diamond solitaire from an earlier marriage came loose twice and needed repair |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Never regretted choosing a nearly 7ct oval moissanite over a smaller diamond; side stones are diamonds and people assume the center is one too |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Chose a 3ct moissanite over a smaller lab-created diamond and isn't mad about it; gets frequent compliments and most people assume it's a diamond |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Chose a vetted Chinese vendor over a local quote and saved about $2,000 across her ring and both wedding bands; no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | A Provence ring in 10k gold was serviced by a local jeweler with no issue, unlike big-box stores that refuse outside rings. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Engagement necklace and wedding ring came from two Chinese vendors, Kuololit and StarGems; both have held up about three years. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Ordered her ring overseas from Mona Fine Jewelry and adores it, getting many compliments. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets, says she likes what she likes. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Blue main stone in her engagement ring, loves it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Blue diamond center with clear side stones; her partner talked her into color and she feels certain about it every time she looks at the ring. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets and loves her gemstone, but jokes that asking the question at all might be a sign of doubt. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Colored stone ring believed to be amethyst per the discussion; no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Lifelong pink lover; ring has a diamond center with purple sapphire side stones, would never regret it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Husband proposed with an aquamarine in 2021; still no regrets. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Dark pigeon-blood ruby with small diamonds around the band; feels uniquely hers, zero regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Center oval diamond with a blue sapphire on each side, gold band; still loves it after 35 years. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Peach sapphire three-stone ring still loved four years later; the soft color pairs with her usual wardrobe. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Just bought the loose Montana sapphire for her future ring and is thrilled with the choice. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets at all with her gemstone ring; points out diamonds only became the 'classic' choice after heavy De Beers marketing. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her sapphire ring, no regrets at all. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Blue moissanite; originally wanted a sapphire but the sparkle and color won her over, very happy. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Montana sapphire ring, always wanted one, no regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Custom-made ring with a light yellow Ceylon sapphire and diamond halo; no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Green stone ring; traditional parents worried it wouldn't match her outfits, but she has no complaints. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Lab-created sapphire, no regrets after more than a year of wear. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Montana sapphire that shifts color with the light; glad she trusted her gut over a regular diamond center. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Teal sapphire, smaller than some other stones but picked specially for her by her fiance; no regrets. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Lab sapphire center with white topaz side stones, worn 16 years and still loved just as much. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a traditional salt-and-pepper diamond for her engagement ring fearing regret, but it's the colored-gemstone anniversary ring she got later that she hasn't taken off since. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Lab-made emerald, no regrets. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Tanzanite center with diamonds on the sides and in the wedding band; never regretted going blue. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loved her first colored engagement ring; after a second engagement chose a classic princess-cut diamond and is equally happy with it. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Blue sapphire worn 15 years, still loves it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Toi et moi pairing a black diamond with a colorless diamond to symbolize both partners; no regrets, says she's obsessed. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Ruby ring; three years engaged and two years married, never regretted it, calls it perfect for her. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Not a single regret with her alexandrite ring. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Pink morganite with side diamonds in a rose gold band; loves it more every day. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her morganite-and-diamond rings. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Teal sapphire; loves it more every day and always wanted a non-traditional ring. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Aquamarine ring; was initially worried about picking a softer, non-traditional stone but doesn't regret it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Wanted a natural emerald but her jeweler warned it's too soft; went with a CZ solitaire and a lab emerald wrap, later upgraded the center to a larger moissanite. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Blue-green Montana sapphire that sometimes reads grey; no regrets. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Lab alexandrite, no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Currently wears a small diamond ring; husband plans to upgrade her in a few years to a blue sapphire, their child's birthstone. No regrets about the diamond and excited for the upgrade. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets, though sometimes curious what her set would look like with white stones instead; happy with the unique result. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Three-carat blue topaz matching her wedding dress from their Vegas elopement; almost 20 years later still loves it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Aquamarine matching her husband's birthstone; 20 years on she still loves it and thinks diamonds are overdone. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Fancy intense yellow diamond with a white diamond halo; no regrets, feels the halo adds versatility. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Flawless pear-cut sea-foam-green sunstone with champagne/cognac hints; no regrets, gets asked about it constantly for its uniqueness. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | East-west emerald with diamonds on either side; glad her husband added extra sparkle to her original plain-emerald idea, gets frequent compliments. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Ceylon sapphire with diamonds, no regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her sapphire anniversary ring. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Deep grey salt-and-pepper diamond with tiny red flecks; loves the unconventional look, skipped blue only over worry it wouldn't match outfits. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Seriously considered green Montana sapphires but chose a classic lab diamond solitaire instead; five years in, glad she picked something timeless since her taste has shifted. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Green sapphire from a small maker, loves it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Ruby ring, never regretted it; notes both their mothers also wore colored stones so it wasn't unusual for her. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her ring, says it matches her personal style down to her car and hair color. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Montana sapphire chosen as a surprise by her now-husband; expected a diamond but loves the sapphire far more. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Also has an inherited heirloom ring but reaches for her sapphire; almost 30 years married, never regretted choosing it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Pink diamond center stone; thinks she'd have felt a tinge of regret with a plain clear diamond instead. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has multiple engagement rings, no regrets on any of them. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Teal sapphire sourced from Sri Lanka since Montana stones are hard to get locally; loves it and gets lots of comments. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Debated keeping her original colorless three-stone diamond or going bolder for a replacement ring; chose a vintage-style aquamarine and would use the same jeweler again. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Natural padparadscha sapphire picked by her partner; can't imagine ever tiring of it or regretting it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Emerald main ring, never regretted; also owns sapphires and often prefers them to diamonds. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | London blue topaz; two years in, no regrets, says it sparks more interesting conversations than a plain diamond would. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Brown diamond center with two slightly yellow diamonds on the sides; loves it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Lab-made alexandrite, loves it. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Teal sapphire, her husband's birthstone and her favorite color, set in rose gold; loves it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Knew clear stones weren't for her; other colors she tried faded in appeal within months, but her preference for champagne lasted years before she committed. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Colored moissanite; loves that the color won't fade and it comes in many shades. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Purple sapphire chosen after comparing shades together in person; six years in, no regrets, knew instantly it beat a diamond for her. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wanted a blue gemstone but her husband chose a lab-made diamond with sapphires instead; she loves it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Teal is her favorite color and her ring matches; no regrets. |
| – | Other gemstone | Upgraded to another ring | Original 1-carat amethyst solitaire held up 15 years of constant wear with no problems; only stopped wearing it after an upgrade ring. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Wears her topaz ring daily doing hands-on work; it can turn cloudy from lotion but cleans up fine, and she's fine replacing the stone in about a decade since topaz is inexpensive. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Ended up with a family diamond reset into a turquoise setting rather than their original colored-stone-with-diamonds plan; likes the white-around-color contrast. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Green emerald, her favorite color; nine years on, loves it just as much as day one. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Blue sapphire chosen with a low profile so it wouldn't snag on things; likes that it reads elegant and classic yet unique. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Blue is her favorite color; chose a sapphire and never regretted it for a second. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Montana sapphire; knew she didn't want a diamond, and the stone search led her husband to start a colored-gemstone business. Still loves it years later. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Pink/purple sapphire, no regrets. |
| – | Other gemstone | – | Dislikes plain clear stones as too common; currently wears a rhodochrosite garnet center and plans to upgrade to a sapphire next. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Sapphire ring, no regrets, calls it beautiful. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Sapphire ring for 13 years, still loves it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her colored stone ring, finds colored stones unique. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Antique green tourmaline ring, no regrets, gets many compliments. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Switched from oval moissanites to an oval lab-grown diamond and has zero regrets, preferring its depth and sparkle in that shape. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Received a Tiffany wedding band as a gift years after the wedding; calls the quality noticeably good and customer service impeccable |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Owner of an oval ring says she would have chosen the shape regardless of it being trendy, since it simply matches her own taste |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Ended up with an oval-cut colored sapphire center stone despite originally preferring marquise or emerald, but says she loves it regardless |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose her oval ring purely because she liked how it looked on her hand, not because it was trendy, and has no regrets |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Engagement ring and wedding band both from Golden Bird Jewels; very happy with both despite feeling nervous after seeing mixed reviews from other buyers. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Says she loves her own moissanite rings, meaning the stone simply wasn't the right fit for the person asking |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Got a similarly large cushion-cut anniversary upgrade and says the stone's imperfections don't matter because he loves the ring. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Owns both diamonds and moissanite, says her moissanite is not cloudy at all and has no complaints about it |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Owner is happy with his 1.26 carat princess lab diamond in 10k gold with black rhodium, chosen partly to keep price down and afford better cut quality. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Owns a sapphire ring and says she could not be happier, receiving only compliments. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Wears a peridot engagement ring and has never had anyone say anything negative about it, only compliments. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Has worn a sapphire engagement ring for ten years of marriage and has never wanted to upgrade or change it. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Says questions about why she doesn't have a diamond only make her double down on loving her sapphire choice. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Recently bought a 2.99 ct sapphire from a local jeweler after another customer backed out of buying it; loves that it's rare and doesn't show dirt like a diamond. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Has a sapphire engagement ring and says she's gotten nothing but compliments on it. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her sapphire engagement ring with zero regrets and is stacking it with a plain gold band and a diamond curved band. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Chose an IGI-certified lab diamond over GIA after debating the price gap, found a cheaper listing through a vendor paired with James Allen; partner loved the ring. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Loves her Tiffany ring, bought secondhand through an estate jeweler for a fraction of retail; later upgraded from .56 ct to .96 ct |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Planned on an emerald but fell in love with a radiant cut in person and has no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has always loved her emerald cut's understated 'hall of mirrors' flash instead of typical brilliant sparkle. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Started with an emerald cut moissanite engagement ring, upgraded to an emerald cut lab diamond, and has no regrets about staying with the same cut. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Answered simply that she has no regrets about her emerald cut, without elaborating. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Says she's never regretted her emerald cut and finds it sparkly in its own way. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Was sure for months she wanted an emerald cut from online research, but preferred brilliant cuts in person and ended up choosing and loving an asscher cut instead. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Says emerald cuts flash rather than sparkle and calls them the most elegant cut, with no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Says she has no regrets about her emerald cut and is in awe of it daily. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her emerald cut's hidden, understated beauty and calls it classic and classy. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Didn't think she'd love it but is glad she chose an emerald cut over a radiant. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Her 2.14ct round looks much bigger set than loose, and she wouldn't want anything larger. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Worried a 1ct loose stone would look small, so sized up to 2ct per stone for her toi et moi ring and has no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Still loves her ring, styled like Princess Diana's, and gets compliments on it seven years later. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Married 6 years with an amethyst and white-gold ring; still loves it even as gemstone rings have become more popular since. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Chose a salt-and-pepper diamond because it felt right for her personal style, regardless of outside trends. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Has had her champagne diamond for 8 years, still loves it, and says she never cared about it being trendy. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Loved her princess-cut ring from 20 years ago and, though nervous about getting new rings, ended up upgrading just the center stone in the same princess cut. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Kept coming back to the same antique-looking ring after visiting multiple stores, went with her gut, and has no regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Has had a pink sapphire pear-shaped ring for a while and still can't stop looking at it, valuing how different it is. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose an oval stone and rose gold band because she likes how they look on her hands, unconcerned that they're trendy. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Has a similar two-ring set of rubies, diamonds, and yellow gold bought separately at different stores; loves the rings and gets many compliments. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Marked her 20-year anniversary with the most colorful gemstone upgrade she and her spouse could find, and loves it. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves her moissanite engagement ring; says it looks and sparkles exactly as she wanted |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Chose a morganite center stone instead of diamond and has never regretted it |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Very happy with her well-cut moissanite engagement ring and doesn't mind that it isn't a diamond |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her one-year-old Tiffany proposal ring, says it still sparkles without ever being cleaned |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Tacori rings worn daily and roughly for 6 years with no bends, chips or loose stones. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Found out after the fact that a grandmother's diamond reused in her engagement ring glows under UV blacklight; doesn't bother her since it's not visible in normal light |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | – | Was staunchly natural for about 20 years before switching to lab over the past year and has zero regrets |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Kept her original 1.5 carat natural solitaire engagement ring for sentimental reasons but is fully satisfied choosing lab for any future pieces |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Loves her natural antique old mine cut ring bought before lab diamonds were readily available, and would have chosen lab without question had it existed then |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Has zero regrets choosing lab, since it buys noticeably more stone for the money than natural would |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Got the tennis necklace and bracelet of her dreams in lab, pieces that would have been out of reach buying natural |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | She sourced a 4.20 ct lab emerald-cut diamond to match her existing wedding band and had a local jeweler set it for their 20th anniversary; loves the result. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Has a G color lab diamond and loves it, no concerns or disappointment. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Chose G over E for its slight warmth, a personal preference, no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | A G color marquise center stone; prefers G's depth and personality over what she sees as icy D-E white. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | An I color diamond bought before learning about color grades on these subs; wouldn't trade it for its sentimental meaning. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Chose G to avoid paying for specs she couldn't visually tell apart, no regrets. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Picked a natural G over an F to get the antique 8-main cushion cut she wanted, loves it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has an H color stone set in yellow gold to get warmth affordably, loves it even though it's not a higher grade. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | A 3.5 carat H color round set in yellow gold looks stunning to her; prefers the extra glow of a slightly warmer stone. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Bought a lab stone last year to maximize size within budget and has no regrets even though prices have since dropped by roughly two-thirds |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Has no regrets about her lab diamonds and feels mined diamonds now seem overpriced by comparison |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has no regrets since the ring was a gift from her partner and she treasures it regardless of cost |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Does not regret paying more for lab diamonds in the past and is glad prices have since dropped, letting her buy more pieces |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | A decades-old gifted Swarovski necklace still looks new near age 50, though writer feels current pieces are overpriced for the quality. |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Over 27 years she moved from a natural half-carat princess to a three-quarter-carat natural princess for her first anniversary to her current 1.5ct near-flawless natural stone, all reset into her original ring with her husband involved each time. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Replaced her whole ring, stone and setting, with a lab diamond through a jeweler called Provence without telling her husband; he never noticed, and his opinion of lab diamonds later warmed up. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Buys herself ring upgrades often and keeps the older ones in a jewelry box; her current favorite among five rings is a 2.85ct lab diamond. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Husband and wife chose a mined South African diamond together within his budget and both remain happy with it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | About a roughly 1ct ring on a size 4 finger; let social media influence her briefly but reaffirmed love for the ring she helped design |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Felt her same-size stone was too big at first but got used to it over time |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Owns a ruby engagement ring and says she has zero regrets |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Emerald engagement ring paired with a diamond wedding band, zero regrets |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Ruby center stone chosen because she never wanted a big sparkly diamond; says she knew it was the ring as soon as she saw it |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Chose an aquamarine center stone; six years married and still no regrets |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Alexandrite center stone; loves it every time she looks at it even though friends have bigger diamonds |
| – | Sapphire | Upgraded to another ring | Wore a diamond ring for 20 years and loved it, then upgraded to a pink sapphire cluster ring with diamonds around it and loves that too |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Ruby center stone, calls it gorgeous and eye-catching with zero regrets |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Green sapphire chosen instead of a diamond; only engaged about three weeks and has had only positive reactions so far |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Ruby engagement ring, married over 30 years, never regretted it and says people love its uniqueness |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Opal engagement ring, says she is obsessed with it |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Ruby engagement ring with small leaf-shaped diamonds around it, loves the flower-like design |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Considered a bigger 1.75ct stone after seeing large rings on the group but kept her 1.5ct lab diamond and no longer feels it looks too small |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Pink sapphire engagement ring, says it makes her smile every time she looks at it |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Emerald engagement ring, describes loving it |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Received a sapphire engagement ring and says she would not trade it for the world |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Owns both a round solitaire and a halo-set ring, and prefers wearing the halo ring for its sparkle and design |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Rotates her new 20th-anniversary set with her original and other anniversary rings, says the original holds more meaning than any ring since |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wears her original and her 10-year upgrade set on opposite hands, jokes that her husband married her twice |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Loved her original ring but its stones started coming loose; a jeweler traded it toward a full redesign using the same stones and later swapped a cracked one cheaply |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Too sentimental to part with any of her rings, rotates her original, 10-year and new 25th-anniversary rings across different fingers |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Still wears her original after last year's upgrade because she finds it too pretty to retire, though she may reset it eventually |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Her husband drove hours before the proposal to source her original natural stone; they agreed to always keep it even after her natural upgrade, now worn on the other hand |
| – | Not said | Reset the stone | Reset her original small marquise stone into new jewelry after each of five upgrades over 30 years, ending with a stone chosen to match her anniversary date |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Still wears her original ring from 1991 after 34 years of marriage; her husband was the one who suggested an upgrade, not her |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Says her 3-carat old mine cut diamond sparkles just as much as moissanite, with chunky facets giving beautiful fire and rainbow flashes, and considers it worth choosing |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Wears her natural half-carat original as a right-hand ring alongside her new 25th-anniversary lab upgrade on her left hand, loves both |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Alternates her yellow-gold original with her new white-gold upgrade depending on her mood, and separately upgraded her wedding band |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves her 2.75ct moissanite; most people can't tell it apart from a diamond |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from a vintage .4 carat natural diamond to a custom 1.5 carat ring, loves it, and still wears the original ring too |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Already upgraded once with a lab stone for more sparkle and plans to upgrade again, keeps her original natural ring which she says she'll be buried in |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Upgraded from about 0.6ct to 1.92ct at her 9-year anniversary; still has and occasionally wears the original ring, loves both |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Surprised with a 10th-anniversary upgrade from under 1ct to over 3ct; kept the original stone, possibly for a daughter someday |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Husband surprised her with an upgrade from under 1ct to over 3ct after 10 years of marriage; she kept the original boxed and still wears its band |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Upgraded 1.5ct to 2.5ct in the same setting style, keeping the original stone intact to pass down to a daughter |
| – | Not said | – | Upgraded 1.6ct to 2ct and felt it was totally worth it, already eyeing a further upgrade down the line |
| – | Not said | Reset the stone | Got the engagement ring of her choice and reset diamonds from her wedding set and grandmother's ring into a cocktail ring instead |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a mostly-metal ring with a small stone after discussing the 3-months-salary pressure with her partner; loves the result. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Husband gave her a chevron ring with small real diamonds for their 10th anniversary; still thrilled with the choice decades later |
| – | Natural diamond | Reset the stone | Upgraded a 30-year-old 1ct natural solitaire to a 2ct lab ring, then had the original stone bezel-set into a necklace she wears daily. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Buyer is attached to her own Tiffany-style ring (just under 2ct princess cut, IF clarity) and says she'd never let her husband upgrade it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Sees no reason to replace rings that were blessed at her wedding and chosen by her husband, and doesn't feel the need for a bigger lab-grown stone. |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Put her natural diamond in the safe and now wears only a lab diamond instead. |
| – | Natural diamond | Sold it | Recently sold a natural ring she rarely wore for close to what was originally paid, and plans to replace it with a lab diamond without rushing. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Never wore jewelry before, so it's obvious to people who know her that the ring means she's engaged |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets; believes the definition of an engagement ring is subjective |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Finds traditional diamond rings boring and has zero regrets choosing sapphire instead |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Chose a pearl with amethyst side stones instead of an expected diamond; worn daily for 2+ years with no regrets, and she taught herself to replace the pearl if needed |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wrote a photo of her non-traditional ring with a simple 'no regrets' |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets on the practical, hardy diamond band she designed together with her partner |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Still loves her ring seven years on and the meaning behind it |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Knowingly chose a soft stone and accepts she may need to replace it someday; no regrets since life is too short to worry about tradition |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Wanted an emerald first but chose a greenish sapphire for durability; no regrets on the celtic-style band |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Never a diamond person; happy with her ruby, though it's fairly traditional within her own family |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | No regrets on her teal sapphire |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Engaged this year; picked sapphire for hardness and durability and has never regretted skipping diamonds |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Always wanted a non-traditional ring; her custom-designed and custom-made ring is her dream ring with zero regrets |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Traditional trilogy design but with salt-and-pepper diamonds; zero regrets, believes the ring should please the wearer, not others |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her vintage opal and specifically asked her husband to avoid a diamond or diamond-like stone |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | On her third ring now; a big sparkly stone never felt like her, but a mixed-metal boho salt-and-pepper diamond finally does |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | No regrets on her teal sapphire, and likes sharing the stone choice with her grandmother |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Engaged about five weeks; chose an intentionally non-sparkly sapphire and has no design regrets, only a minor sizing issue pending a resize |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Her non-traditional ring feels like her, even though it's not what most people would pick |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Picked her ring out in 2022 and loved it even more once she got it in 2025; open to a 10-20 year upgrade someday but no regrets now |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets ever, loves that her ring was custom made for her |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Adores her raw, opaque emerald on a yellow gold band despite worrying about its durability; takes it off for rough activities |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | 32-carat citrine is too big to wear daily, so she saves it for special moments and protects it carefully; no regrets despite the softness risk |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her padparadscha sapphire ring every day |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Simple no-regrets comment with a photo of her ring |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her non-traditional ring despite others' unsolicited opinions |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a colorless stone in a bezel setting before it was trendy; still happy with it years later and expects to be for a long time |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Tried on diamonds and several sapphires before a blue-green sapphire pear felt like hers; no regrets |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | No regrets on her Montana sapphire; says no one has ever asked if she'd have preferred a diamond |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has a non-traditional ring and no regrets, noting rubies, sapphires and emeralds were the historical norm anyway |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her moss agate and rose gold ring, gets frequent compliments, and values that her fiance put thought into picking it |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets at all, shared a photo of her halo ring |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | No regrets with a marquise-cut green sapphire on a gold band |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Diamonds were never her favorite; after a year with her ring she has zero regrets |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Only ever gotten compliments on her ruby |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Never wanted a traditional ring; loves her emerald paired with a family heirloom band |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Says she'll never regret it; still her favorite piece of jewelry |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Zero regrets on both her non-traditional engagement ring and wedding band |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Does not regret asking for a Madagascar sapphire center stone instead of a diamond |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Likes that her ring isn't exactly traditional; no one has told her it looks unlike an engagement ring |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets with a low-set, salt-and-pepper, rose-cut pear diamond that suits her lifestyle |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | No regrets with a purple rose-cut sapphire in a signet-style bezel; says it's exactly her style |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Got her alexandrite ring almost two years ago and has not had a single regret |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her sapphire ring |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Could never regret a ring her partner chose knowing her favorite stone |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Simple no-regrets comment with a photo |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets, shared a photo |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Always knew she wanted a sapphire and works in jewelry, so tradition never mattered to her; no regrets |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a 3.6ct oval over a 5+ct option after comparing side by side; still feels like the right size every day |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Only asked her now-fiance to avoid a mined diamond; couldn't be happier with her citrine and diamond-accent ring |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Stares at her non-traditional ring dozens of times a day and loves it regardless of others' opinions |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her non-traditional ring more than anything |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Zero regrets; even had her wedding band custom designed to match the engagement ring her fiance designed himself |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 2.5ct oval ring felt big and awkward when first worn but she adjusted quickly and now calls it perfect |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Declined her husband's offer to upgrade after 15 years because of the ring's sentimental proposal value; he got her a separate ring for her right hand instead |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Already has her dream ring and carat size since her fiance was more financially stable when they got engaged, so she sees no reason to ever upgrade |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Husband saved up so they could buy a bigger stone from the start, so she wouldn't be tempted to upgrade later |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Wore a cubic zirconia for 10 years hoping for a real diamond eventually; custom-made the upgrade in the same style, melting down the original metal for sentimental value |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Turned her promise ring into her wedding ring and won't upgrade it, but plans to add extra wedding bands on special anniversaries instead |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Doesn't want to upgrade; loves what her husband chose on his own and wouldn't feel right replacing it |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Never had any regrets and no one has ever been confused about whether her set is an engagement ring |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Also bought a ring from the same group buy and loves how it turned out. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Joined the same group buy mainly for the setting rather than the stone and says it was well worth it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Bought a lab diamond ring with claw prongs and is obsessed with it, agreeing the price was a great deal. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Chose D color and says she couldn't be happier with how stunning it looks. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Loves her D color stone and regularly gets compliments on it from strangers. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Owns a D color marquise stone and calls it stunning with no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Both of her rings are 2mm bands and she finds them extremely comfortable, unlike the thinner 1.5mm option being discussed |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has a 2mm band and says it still looks plenty dainty, contrasting it with concerns about thinner 1.5mm bands |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Has a 5 carat D color stone in a white gold setting and loves how clear it looks, feeling the metal suits the color well. |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Chose D color for her first natural mined diamond and liked it enough that she's picking D again for the lab diamond upgrade. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Chose a D color, IF clarity stone and says she has no regrets, often getting unprompted compliments in public. |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | Her original moissanite-center ring, bought about 13 years ago because it was what the couple could afford, is still loved and worn on her right hand after upgrading to a larger stone. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Owns her own 5ct oval lab diamond and is glad big diamonds are now attainable at a lower price point. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Just received an 8ct lab diamond and loves it, still finalizing the setting. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Upgraded to a 4.2ct emerald-cut lab diamond for her 20th anniversary and has zero regret, loving the cost savings and meaning. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Buyer self-graded a 1.5ct H VS2 60/60 stone against AGS ideal charts before buying and has no regret; it was priced lower for the 60/60 style and slight fluorescence. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Intentionally chose H color for two rings (an oval and a radiant), finding they have more depth than a D color pear stone she also owns. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Still extremely happy with a colorless diamond. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has a D VVS2 diamond and loves it. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from a G color diamond to a D and is happy with the more colorless stone. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regret over choosing D color, which she prioritizes over carat size. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her D color diamond, especially the contrast against tan skin in certain lighting. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a smaller, higher-quality D diamond over a larger less-perfect stone; no regret. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her D color diamond against her tan skin. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Married at 20 with a basic channel-set band, added a 1/2 and then a full-carat channel-set band as a stack over 21 years |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded her whole set gradually over 25 years of marriage and had her original 1/2ct stone made into a pendant she wears daily |
| – | Not said | Reset the stone | Reset her rings twice and upgraded again over the years, all in natural diamonds since lab wasn't available then; now experimenting with lab stones for fun |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Didn't want to replace her original wedding band's symbolism, so she kept it and got a separate 10-year anniversary ring worn on the other hand |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Upgraded after 18 years together; kept the modest original ring and wears it on her other hand for sentimental reasons |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Refused mother-in-law's repeated pressure to upgrade; kept her original wedding ring and bought a separate cheap ring for rough wear |
| – | Natural diamond | Reset the stone | Reset her natural champagne diamond from a halo into a bezel setting and could not be happier |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded the ring after several years of marriage and says she loves both rings for different reasons, with no regret about either |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has no desire to upgrade; her engagement ring stays sentimentally special to her as-is even though she says she could afford a bigger diamond herself |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Proposed with a clearance Macy's ring, upgraded before the wedding, and is already planning another upgrade around year ten |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Started with a tiny stone in a 10k white gold band, added bands over the years and upgraded the center stone at fifteen years; couldn't be happier with the resulting set |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Expected to dislike rose gold but has loved her ring ever since; says the diamonds show far more than the metal color |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has worn her white-gold ring for 12 years with no replating needed and no disappointment in the metal |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Also assumed she disliked rose gold but loved the proposal ring and paired it with a yellow-gold wedding band |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Normally wears gold but her silver/titanium engagement ring from her fiance has never disappointed her |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Recent upgrade; needed a few weeks to get used to the larger size |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Moved from a 0.5 ct princess on a thin band to a much bigger set; the jump felt strange at first and she loves it now |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | Wore a 2ct-equivalent moissanite in 14k white gold for 20 years before finally receiving an upgrade, with no regrets about the wait |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Impulsively bought a 5ct oval bezel despite not planning to go that big, and loves it |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Her first lab diamond ring, a 4ct oval on a 3.5 ring size, and she loves it despite some saying it looks large |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from a 2.09ct to a 4.52ct oval and is happy with the change |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Nearly chose round under peer pressure but went with an emerald cut and a larger 2.07ct double-prong stone over a smaller single-prong option, with no regrets. |
| – | Natural diamond | Reset the stone | Has an oval natural diamond, D color, VVS1, about 1.78ct, originally in a Tiffany setting and later reset into a twist bezel after a divorce; loves it and would never go bigger |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a halo ring despite many online disliking halos, and gets frequent real-life compliments with no regrets |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | No regrets about her lab diamond ring and has no plans to ever upgrade or trade it in. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Put the money saved by going lab toward the wedding instead, has her dream ring, and isn't worried about resale or upgrading. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Loves her lab diamond, likes avoiding what she calls an artificially inflated natural diamond market, and doubts natural diamonds resell for much anyway. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Loves her lab diamond, gets frequent compliments on it, and likes that a future bigger stone would not be a huge expense. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | No regrets at all about her moissanite ring, loves it completely. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | After getting only lowball offers on her natural diamond ring, kept it and bought a separate lab-grown stone in the size, color and specs she wanted for a great price. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Upgraded to a 3ct pear diamond; its perceived size swings from too big to too small but she can't stop staring at it and loves it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Feels the same size back-and-forth about her 3.2ct oval diamond as the person asking does but considers it perfect either way. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Owns a 4ct lab diamond and loves it; feels less anxious about damage or loss than she would with a natural stone and chose not to insure it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Chose a lab-grown cushion cut for affordability and ethics; says natural and lab diamonds share the same chemical makeup so it's a genuine diamond either way. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Loves her large lab cushion-cut diamond and estimates a natural equivalent would run about $30,000, more than she'd want to wear every day anyway. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Her jeweler warned lab-grown may resell for less, but she says she'll wear the ring forever regardless and loves her lab center stone with natural accents. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Says a natural-diamond version of her ring would have cost about $30,000 in 2022; loves her lab ring and notes money invested instead has grown to roughly $50,000. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Her 5.02ct oval diamond felt huge at first but she adjusted within a day or two and calls it her dream ring. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Chose moissanite for ethical and financial reasons 8 years ago; still loves it after 7 years married and says it helped them afford a home. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Original set became too tight and she wanted a different style; upgraded and now owns four sets worn depending on outfit. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Still adores her original engagement ring; husband plans a new diamond ring for their 25th anniversary and she intends to pass the original down to one of their children. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | After years preferring white gold she was drawn to yellow gold; kept her original 0.4ct three-stone diamond but got a new 0.7ct solitaire on yellow gold for their 7th anniversary. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wears her own wedding set and an inherited grandmother's wedding set with pride almost daily, price not stated |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Upgraded to a 4.01ct diamond and has no regret, though she still wears her original 0.75ct ring most days for everyday use. |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Loves both her original natural engagement ring and the lab diamond she added as a 15-year anniversary upgrade |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Prefers her lab-grown ring, saying it let her get the look she dreamed of within her budget |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | Went through three rings over 15 years and is happy with the final moissanite upgrade, glad the first ring wasn't expensive |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Chose moissanite over diamond this time around and is happy with the choice |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Says no one has ever asked about her ring and she has no regret over choosing lab |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Loves the extra sparkle lab let her afford and would never have gotten it with a natural stone |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Openly tells people her ring is lab-grown and got repeated compliments on it from a family member at a wedding |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Switched from natural to lab after being impressed by the quality and plans to only buy lab going forward |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Says choosing lab saved thousands that could go toward travel or real estate |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Writer says she loves her original ring from the proposal moment and would never trade it or her wedding band |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Writer's husband upgraded her ring for less than the original cost thanks to falling diamond prices; she wears both rings |
| – | Not said | Exchanged it | Exchanged her own wedding band almost immediately after buying it and has had no regrets almost a decade later. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Her ring is on the smaller side but she loves it because it's what she actually wanted |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Went without a ring at engagement since money was tight, wore only her band; husband bought her a ring years later once he could afford it, and she never doubted his love |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No complaints with her six-prong tulip setting on a large oval stone; can't tell it blocks any light |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her marquise tulip setting; says it adds subtle style without being too much |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her four-prong floral tulip setting; ring feels stable and diamond still sparkles well |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves the tulip setting and appreciates the extra security it gives the stone |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves how simple the setting looks from the top and detailed from the side, no sparkle issues |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Loves her round solitaire with pear side stones in a tulip setting; sits low enough for a band to still sit flush |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her tulip setting with small diamonds added into the petals for extra detail |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Simply says she has one and loves it, no complaints given |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | The person asking worried her 1-carat princess cut looked too small after seeing huge stones online, but within days decided she loves it and would not change anything. |
| – | Other gemstone | Upgraded to another ring | Wears a garnet heart as her 10-year upgrade ring since 2017 and would choose another heart again despite being told hearts were tacky |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Married 25 years with a heart solitaire she always loved; later upgraded to a round pink sapphire only because the original stone was tiny, not out of shape regret |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Surprised with a heart-shaped ring at 40 and paired it with a custom wedding band; wouldn't change it |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has worn her heart-shaped engagement ring for 24 years with no regret |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has had her heart-shaped ring for 21 years and does not regret it |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Wanted a heart shape but her lapidary couldn't cut one, so she chose a different stone shape instead and has no regrets almost two years later |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Shared a photo of her heart-shaped ring saying she loves it |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a heart-shaped ring nearly identical to one discussed and has no regrets |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Asked for a heart shape when proposed to 26 years ago and has never regretted it |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Engaged at 26, now 44, still loves her heart-shaped diamond ring |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her heart-shaped ring, says it was the only shape she really liked |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Almost three years with a Montana sapphire from Oore Jewelry and still loves it. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her dark deep blue sapphire. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her alexandrite because it changes color and pairs with everything. |
| – | Sapphire | Reset the stone | Was unsure about a family heirloom sapphire sprung on her at the proposal, but fell in love with it within a week; almost ten years in, no regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Always wanted a sapphire and is glad she spoke up instead of risking a diamond she didn't want. |
| – | Sapphire | Reset the stone | After decades married with a small diamond her husband could afford at the time, later received a pink padparadscha sapphire reset with her grandmother's diamonds; still loves it 20 years on. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Had her green sapphire ring since roughly May with zero regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Happy with her blue sapphire; wears her grandmother's clear diamond ring on the other hand. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her Montana sapphire, says it feels personal and authentic. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Five years on, no regrets about her colorful ring. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Has a colored sapphire and has never regretted it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Loves her lab-grown blue diamond, no regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her color-changing teal sapphire that matches her outfits. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Chose a sapphire instead of a diamond after a breakup so it wouldn't remind her of her ex; happily worn for over 15 years. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | A moss agate ring she's loved more over the past year, now planning a leaf-themed wrap with small sapphires. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Just got engaged with a pink tourmaline and white sapphire ring; happy despite a few critics. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Chose a light grey moissanite for its rainbow flashes and has zero regrets going nontraditional. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Has a blue moissanite and has never wished for a diamond instead. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Chose alexandrite, her birthstone, over diamonds; adds meaning that it also ties to her partner's name. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Has a brown sapphire and no regrets, says a diamond wouldn't feel like her. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Under a year in with an alexandrite and loves it; always knew she wanted a colorful stone. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Very happy with her ring. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Just got engaged weeks ago with an Oore parti sapphire ring and doesn't foresee regretting it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Four years with a color-changing synthetic sapphire heirloom, still loves it despite being fairly neutral on diamonds generally. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Four years in, has never regretted her colored stone. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Simply states she loves her ring, no regret. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Thought diamonds were boring, chose alexandrite with accent diamonds and is glad she did despite worrying it wouldn't look bridal enough. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her green sapphire, chosen because green is meaningful in her marriage. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | In her second marriage, five years with a London blue topaz and moissanite halo ring she finds sparklier than her first diamond and has no regrets. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Never once regretted her vintage emerald. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Four years with an opal centerstone, never wanted a diamond and doesn't regret it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her ruby from Oore and gets frequent compliments. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Says she doesn't regret her colored stone at all. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her sapphire. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Never regrets her pastel blue sapphire. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her stone, chosen for her and her husband's birth months. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets; finds her color-change stone more interesting than a diamond. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Husband picked a dark stone ring entirely on his own and she loves it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Chose alexandrite as a tribute to her grandmother, who had one she lost in a flood; loves the color change. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her Montana sapphire and never gets tired of it. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her pink sapphire and always loved pink, so no regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Wanted alexandrite but chose a more durable purple color-change sapphire instead and is happy with it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her fiancé-chosen alexandrite, which happened to be her late grandmother's favorite stone. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her ruby centerstone, no regrets. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her alexandrite that flashes purple, teal and red depending on light. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her star sapphire and moonstone ring her husband designed. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | She and her spouse have matching alexandrite rings for ten years and have never regretted skipping diamonds, though they plan diamond wedding bands as a compromise. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her Oore alexandrite; had a brief moment wondering about more sparkle but it passed quickly. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Also has a lab-created blue diamond and loves it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Just married, no regrets over her colored stone choice. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her green Australian sapphire with two baguette diamonds. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves how her onyx looks with rose gold. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Hasn't had a single day of regret choosing a sapphire over a diamond. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Never regretted her September sapphire choice. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her sapphire, though she'd consider a pink diamond if she ever replaced it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Two months engaged with a blue stone ring she'd wanted for ten years, loves it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | A month into having an alexandrite ring and still can't stop looking at it; feels more her than a traditional diamond would. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Never regretted her pale pink sapphire, glad she didn't go darker. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her turquoise-toned sapphire but notes it lacks diamond's sparkle, dulls easily, and is less durable for daily wear. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Doesn't regret her peridot at all, prefers colored stones as statement pieces over diamonds. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her black diamonds and the many compliments on how unique the ring is. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | A few months into a ruby ring she wouldn't have picked herself, loves it more each day. |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | After three earlier white-diamond rings, upgraded to a fancy yellow diamond with white side stones eight years ago and wouldn't trade it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her chocolate-brown toned stone. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Bought the garnet ring herself to continue a multi-generation family tradition and has no regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her sapphire ring and is adding a sapphire half-eternity wedding band. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Couldn't choose between pink or green so got a bi-color tourmaline and loves it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her aquamarine ring, wanted something different. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Custom garnet-and-emerald ring; never wanted a diamond and nobody mistakes it for not being an engagement ring. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves her gray moissanite from GrayGirlJewelry, says it feels uniquely her. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her green sapphire from Oore, no regrets. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her alexandrite partly because it means her ring isn't like everyone else's. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her amethyst with white gold and accent diamonds. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Never heard of alexandrite before her partner picked it out; loves it and has never regretted it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Doesn't regret her alexandrite one bit. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | A multi-gem ring with tourmaline, sapphire, garnet and ruby; no regrets, but she avoids daily wear because the tourmaline is fragile for manual work. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | A 4-carat natural cornflower-blue sapphire she still loves even after the marriage ended; plans to reset it in a new setting. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Gets frequent compliments and questions about her ring, exactly what she wanted. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Still loves her colored stone ring after 18 years of marriage. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her green peridot with a diamond halo and matching engravings; gets many compliments. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Zero regrets on her green stone. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Admires her non-traditional ring often and never regrets it. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Got an Oore sapphire-and-black-diamond ring in October and loves the non-traditional look. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Never regretted her teal sapphire on a diamond band. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her Oore colored-stone ring, her favorite color and totally unique. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Always wanted a colored stone and has zero regrets over her star sapphire. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Chose a large jade centerstone and has no regrets regardless of others' opinions. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Two years in with an opal she still admires; it has stayed secure with care. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her purple sapphire and gets frequent compliments; let her partner choose it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Over 30 years wearing her emerald, still loves it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her green tourmaline. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Has an Oore alexandrite wedding ring plus a non-Oore alexandrite engagement ring and won't regret either. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Stares at her Oore green sapphire ring daily with zero regret. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | A Madagascar sapphire under half a carat that doesn't read as a typical engagement ring to some, but she loves the color shift regardless. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Has a topaz and may upgrade to a sapphire someday since blue is her color, but no regrets now. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets at all; uses right-hand diamond rings to scratch any diamond itch. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | He and his wife both have colored stones (hers alexandrite) and neither regrets the choice. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her lavender sapphire, no regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her sapphire regardless of others questioning the choice. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Will never regret her peachy pink morganite. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her Oore colored-stone ring. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Picked her sapphire-and-diamond ring eleven years ago and still adores it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | No regrets choosing alexandrite as her centerstone. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Twenty-one years with her sapphire, no regrets. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves her grey moissanite. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her deep green Montana sapphire, gets constant compliments. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her Stormlight-cut alexandrite from Stag and Finch and its shifting teal, emerald and purple hues. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her emerald. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves her green moissanite, calls it unique and reassuringly close to diamond in durability. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Her teal sapphire from Oore is her most prized possession, no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has a blue color-changing centerstone and no regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her bi-color sapphire flanked by two pale yellow diamonds. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Twenty-four years wearing her blue sapphire and two diamonds, never regretted the choice. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Fiancé chose a diamond with celtic-knot details for her; no regrets, and she's planning a separate alexandrite-and-moissanite wedding band. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her alexandrite, designed by her fiancé. |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Went through a pearl replaced four times after breaking, then a purple sapphire, and now a 2.25-carat diamond, keeping the same setting each time; no regrets over any version. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Always wanted a green stone and has never regretted it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Adores her opal-with-moissanite-halo ring, chosen because her fiancé knew she loved opals like her late grandmother's. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Five years with her alexandrite, still gets compliments on the vintage design and color shift. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Fell for a pink morganite in rose gold instead of the emerald she originally expected to choose. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her peachy pink diamond. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | A year and a half with her Oore sapphire, still in love and finds it a great conversation starter. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Two years with her garnet birthstone ring, still loves it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Relatively new ring, doesn't expect to ever regret the color it shows in sunlight. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | On her second ring, a paraiba tourmaline that shifts blue-green, less than a year in and doesn't expect to stop loving it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her morganite-and-diamonds ring more each day. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Three and a half years with an Oore alexandrite, no regrets, frequent compliments from strangers. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Never regretted her ice-blue sapphire. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her lavender sapphire, which shifts from nearly clear to pink depending on lighting. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Adores her Oore Umba sapphire, zero regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets on her colored ring. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her opal, which picks up seasonal colors, plus green sapphires in her elopement band. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Just received a color-changing sapphire ring the day before and doesn't think she'll regret it, though it still feels surreal. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | A few years in with her sapphire and still loves it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Thirty-six years in, still loves her emerald. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her colored-stone ring. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Has an Oore ring with peachy pink side stones and doesn't regret the colored accents at all. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves that her colored stone ring is unlike anyone else's she's seen. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her citrine centerstone and gets frequent compliments. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her alexandrite, chosen as her fiancé's birthstone. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | A 1915 Edwardian filigree ring with a raspberry-colored ruby, zero regrets. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Never regretted her ruby, her birthstone, and says her husband loves it too. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Loves her salt-and-pepper diamond, likens it to looking into a galaxy. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her ring, no regrets at all. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Thirty-three years with an emerald-cut emerald and channel-set diamonds, never one regret. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her Oore ring and its colored stones, gets many compliments. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her green-blue Montana sapphire more than expected; had to reassure her fiancé after a stranger's comment made him briefly self-conscious about going nontraditional. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her yellow sapphire from Oore, no regrets. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Never liked diamonds and has no regrets over her lilac-pink toned stone. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her alexandrite specifically because it's non-traditional. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Never a regret, and feels colored gemstone jewelry is becoming more popular generally. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Loves her sapphire with rose gold, no regrets. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Expected to want a gemstone but ended up choosing a lab-grown diamond instead, and has no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 4 ct stone in a custom half-bezel/bar setting she designed with a local jeweler; no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Doesn't wear the ring daily for practicality but wears it about 80% of the week, zero regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 3 ct stone in a bezel setting with rounded corners; says it doesn't interfere with anything and feels perfect. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Was shocked by the size right after getting it, but now says she's obsessed and loves it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Just received a 4 ct 21st-anniversary gift; was worried it would look too big beforehand but says it feels perfect. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 4 ct on a size 6.25 finger, no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Jokes that her diamond 'gets smaller every year' as she's adjusted to it; no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wears her 5+ ct stone daily even working in a lab/hospital setting with gloves; calls it pure obsession, no regret. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 5.89 ct stone, no regrets. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Just upgraded to a 3.07 ct lab diamond; has large size-10 fingers and feels it's the perfect size for her. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Just under 4 ct on a size 6.5 finger; still very much in love with it, wears it daily with no problems. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 5.82 ct stone worn 24/7 with no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 2.87 ct stone on a 6mm band; no regrets. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | 3.01 ct natural pear shape; no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 3.02 ct stone; says she has never regretted the size. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 4.06 ct on a size 7 finger; jokes that her diamond 'feels like it's shrinking' as she's adjusted to the size. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 2.6 ct center with side stones bringing total weight over 3 ct; wears it daily, says it doesn't get in the way. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 3.26 ct center oval on a size 5 finger; loves it. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Wears both a 3 ct natural square radiant and a 4.53 ct lab round on a size 6 finger; loves both, no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 5.06 ct pear, her 4th and final upgrade for a 30th anniversary; the design ties gem counts to her age at marriage and her husband's birthday. Zero regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wears her 4.25 ct stone daily and loves it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 3.09 ct marquise worn most of the day; zero regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 3.07 ct marquise, an upgrade after 10+ years together, having a child, and beating cancer; never regretted it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | 4.75 ct lab-grown marquise on a 6.5 finger; loves it and recommends checking dimensions before going this big. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Wears a 7 ct natural diamond daily, including around young grandchildren, after earlier converting a 3 ct natural ring into a pendant; no regrets as a small, 5-foot person. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 5+ ct on a size 6 finger for a 20th anniversary; zero regrets, worn with a thin diamond band almost daily except during weight-training classes. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Stone is over 10 ct, worn every day with no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Added a sapphire halo around her existing solitaire for her 25th wedding anniversary; says she has zero regrets. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Proposed to with a 2 ct she joked felt like it was shrinking, then was surprised with a 5 ct upgrade on a size 4 finger; loves it, no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Daily-wear ring has a 3.6 ct center emerald cut with side stones; never regretted it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wears her own 5 ct diamond and loves it, offered as reassurance that a big stone isn't inherently too much. |
| – | Not said | – | Over 5 ct elongated cushion on a size 6 finger, not yet set into a ring; already sure she has no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from 0.8 ct to 3.09 ct D color in a simple gold setting; took only four days to adjust, now thinks it's perfectly sized. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Married in 1989 with a 1 ct solitaire and wrap, never upgraded, still loves it; has since added a few colored lab diamonds separately. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Wears a 3 ct elongated cushion on a 4.5 finger herself, matching the asker's size and specs, and loves it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wears her own 5 ct radiant on a size 6 finger, unbothered by others' opinions about a big stone; chose the size she liked on herself. |
| – | Not said | – | Wedding and 25th anniversary ring sets disappeared during a move; insurance replaced both and handled everything with the jeweler |
| – | Not said | – | Recipient of a 2.6-carat pear diamond ring defends the design after critics noted no protective tip and crooked prongs; still loves it, cites annual jeweler checks under a lifetime warranty. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Chose a lab-grown ring through a vendor where she could see all stone and setting options in person, and doesn't regret it at all. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Owns two Andria Barbone antique rings worth about 32k combined and says nothing else compares; considers them heirlooms that hold value. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Has the same setting and size as the asker's ring and loves it, agreeing that anything bigger would get in the way. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Loves her lab diamond engagement ring as-is and doesn't want a toi et moi style ring to replace it |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from a natural 0.91ct cushion to a lab 3ct marquise; happily answers 'yep, sure is' when asked if it's real |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | 10-year upgrade to a 2.5ct lab stone after husband found a mined one he liked; completely happy with the lab choice |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a ring with high gold content over an expensive diamond by mutual agreement with partner; not planning to ever sell it |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Bought a heavily included star ruby ring at a pawn shop; despite learning it has little intrinsic gem value, she loves it, is keeping it, and just wants it appraised and documented. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Had to talk mother-in-law out of thinking lab diamonds were cubic zirconia; no regret over choosing lab despite being able to afford mined |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Husband quietly researched her style (found her Pinterest board), skipped the plain solitaire he wanted, and got an antique yellow and rose gold ring instead; she loves it |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Fiancé researched shape, cut and setting around her medical job and eczema; she contrasts this with a past marriage's careless ring choice. |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Loved her modest vintage-style solitaire from when they were broke; got a bigger platinum ring with side stones at their ten-year anniversary. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Custom Tacori cushion-halo setting flush to a 1.12ct round H/VVS2 stone, chosen low-profile for wearing gloves at work; online halo hate made her second-guess it but she now loves it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | 3.7 ct stone, no regrets, says she's obsessed. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Thought a 2.2ct elongated cushion was way too big on a size 6 hand at first but grew to like the size after wearing it for months |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Shocked by how a custom-designed ring looked once finally on the hand after months of design work, but grew to love it more than expected within weeks |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Felt self-conscious after upgrading from a 3ct to a 5ct diamond in a simple classical setting, feared looking brash, now wears it with pride |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Redesigned her own ring with her husband for their 20th anniversary using a split shank so it would feel complete on its own; loves having just one ring. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded her ring more than once over 50 years of marriage, eventually choosing an all-in-one design; valued wearing just one ring while working as an OR nurse. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Had a 'what are we doing' moment with a big diamond at first but settled into it more with wear, and it felt more balanced once paired with the wedding band |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Was very self-conscious about a 1 carat ring's size 18 years ago; after about a month of wear it felt normal and beautiful |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Second-guessed her own halo ring after seeing online hate, but says she loves the sparkle and how the prongs fade into the background rather than looking bulky. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose an emerald cut, arguably only mildly non-traditional, and has never regretted the choice. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has worn a round ring happily for a couple of years and is now adding a second ring in oval. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her emerald-shaped ring partly because it is less common than round or oval choices. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a pear shape, which remains her favorite, with no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose oval over pear with her husband's input after trying both on in the store. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a triangular trillion cut a couple of years ago and remains happy with it, even without certainty about decades from now. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has worn a micro-pave halo bought in 2008 that online opinion now calls an outdated style, but says she loves it and would not change it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her double halo through this wave of online 'halo hate,' saying she has spent hours over the years just admiring it and it still brings her joy. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Panicked over online 'halo hate' right after her husband's anniversary upgrade and ordered a backup solitaire, but after wearing the halo ring all day decided she loved it and cancelled the second ring. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Picked a princess cut before it fell out of popularity and still loves it 2.5 years into marriage. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Just got engaged and second-guessed the halo ring she picked herself after seeing online criticism, but decided her own opinion is the only one that matters. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets after 25 years with her heart-shaped ring |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Has a similar ring size but a much smaller quarter-carat moissanite and loves it, though she plans to upgrade to a larger stone eventually. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Kept a 1.22ct yellow diamond over a larger stone and gets constant compliments on its color and sparkle |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose an under-1-carat pear-cut diamond for its look; tempted by big lab stones now popular but decided upgrading would not add value or sentiment |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Still loves her 1 carat ring after 5 years and just added a matching eternity band for the anniversary |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has a roughly one-carat ring and could have gone bigger but is happy she didn't, valuing the memories made over a larger stone. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Owns Cartier wedding sets and other Cartier pieces and says for her it was never about value, just loving the iconic brand |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a local jeweler over Cartier for about half the price and says the bands have held up beautifully with no regrets |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Wears an 8 ct coloured gemstone as her engagement ring and says she has only ever received compliments on it. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded her ring but kept the original setting and used her original solitaire as a side stone; very happy with the result |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Worried some jewelers see the warm N-P color grade as lesser quality, but bought the antique trilogy ring anyway and loves it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Worried a pear shape would feel too different from round, but it ended up feeling more like her than a round stone would have. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from a half carat to 1.5ct for her 10th anniversary and is happy with that size after trying on larger stones that felt too flashy for her |
| – | Natural diamond | Still deciding | Loves her original pear-shaped mined diamond and is undecided about upgrading to a larger lab stone for her 30th anniversary |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Says paying more for the lab diamond over moissanite was justified |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Was originally going to upgrade her engagement ring but grew attached and decided against changing it. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Waited over 20 years of marriage to buy a new ring once it was affordable, keeping the older piece for a different finger. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wears an inherited grandmother's ring together with her own ring in a toi-et-moi style on one hand. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Keeps a late grandmother's ring for sentimental value without wearing it every day. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves a free 1920s great-grandmother's ring and is instead spending an engagement-ring budget on custom-made wedding rings; will store the heirloom for a future relative. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wears her grandmother's ring daily as a right-hand ring; her grandmother wore it from 1945 to 2019. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wears both late parents' wedding bands plus an added band on her right hand for decades; had her father's ring resized to fit. |
| – | Not said | Reset the stone | Grandmother's small diamond was reset with jade into a newly made engagement ring by her now-husband; treasures it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wears an inherited grandmother's ring daily in place of an engagement ring even though not yet engaged herself. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Keeps several inherited family rings for special occasions rather than daily wear out of fear of losing them; wears a separately bought moissanite ring as her everyday 'dream ring'. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Doesn't wear her grandmother's ring because it's too worn to use safely, but loves it and keeps it anyway. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose to wear her grandmother's ring now with a plan for a future anniversary upgrade; no regrets about the plan. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Used her grandmother's ring as her engagement ring while paying for college, bought her own dream ring around year 15, then passed the heirloom to a niece. |
| – | Not said | Reset the stone | Wore an inherited 22-karat grandmother's ring on the right hand, then combined it with her mother's and her own rings into one new ring after her mother died. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Glad a family ring wasn't used as her engagement ring after all; still loves having it as a separate gift alongside her own ring. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Has worn the same moissanite ring for almost 10 years and still loves how it sparkles in sunlight. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Has had several moissanite pieces since the early 2020s that still look the same as new. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wears her grandmother's wedding band daily and says she is deeply thankful to have it. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Worn a couple of moissanite rings set in 10K gold nearly daily for 5 years with no scratches, cloudiness or complaints. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose to get her own parti sapphire engagement ring instead of an offered heirloom and never regrets looking at it every day. |
| – | Moissanite | Reset the stone | Loves her multi-stone moissanite ring with zero issues, though had it reset with extra prongs after the smaller stones weren't held securely enough. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | At 54, is grateful to have inherited her mother's engagement ring since her own tastes changed over the years. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Owns a 1 carat Luvansh anniversary band bought about a year earlier; calls it well made and pleased with the look |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Wears her early-1900s platinum antique engagement ring every day, including at a lab job, with no regret after getting the settings checked. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Picked a Montana sapphire and designed the ring with her partner; a year later she still loves staring at the color. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Her oval three-stone sapphire ring already reads as classic, so no regret. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Says she falls more in love with her sapphire ring every day, no regrets. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | A green sapphire in a gold setting suits her personality better than a traditional diamond would have. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Blue stones feel more personal to her than the usual clear stone look. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Her teal/green stone ring feels more fun to her than a traditional pick. |
| – | Other gemstone | Sold it | Loved her first amethyst ring; the marriage ended, not the ring, and she sold it before remarrying with a classic solitaire |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Married in 2022 with a blue diamond ring and aquamarine band; still loves it though considering a 5-year-anniversary upgrade. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her blue ring with a Portuguese cut that only really shows its color in sunlight. |
| – | Sapphire | Returned it | About 5 years in she realized it wasn't the sapphire ring she regretted but the relationship; both ended |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Chose alexandrite to represent the month their romance began; still loves it a year out. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Engaged in 1997 and still loves the ring almost 30 years later; considering a bigger stone now that prices feel more reasonable. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | No regret on her sapphire; feels a plain diamond would have been more basic. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Calls her ring choice the best decision ever, no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | A fantasy-cut colored stone feels far more unique to her than a plain diamond would have. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | An aquamarine wedding band and emerald engagement ring feel more meaningful to her than an ordinary diamond would. |
| – | Moissanite | Reset the stone | Proposed with grandma's heirloom ruby, later reset into a stormy gray moissanite solitaire in rose gold; no regrets about either |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her blue diamond and is adding a pink diamond band to match it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Chose an aquamarine engagement ring meaningful to her and her husband's shared zodiac sign; often asked why not a diamond but has no regret. |
| – | Moissanite | Reset the stone | Reset her moissanite engagement ring with a bigger lab diamond once they could afford it better; husband was fully supportive and proud |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Has had her blue-green sapphire ring about two and a half years and still finds plain white stones boring by comparison. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Simply says she loves her lab diamond, no further detail given |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Chose a lab stone, says it looks amazing and no one can tell, no regrets; vendor walked them through lab vs natural without pressure |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | Switched their ring's center stone from a 1.3ct oval lab diamond to a 3ct round moissanite and kept the original as a pendant, calling it the best of both worlds |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Still loves her original ring even though her taste in stones has grown since buying it; plans to eventually reset the stones in platinum. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Bought the ring through Rare Carat after price-matching the stone; still loves it more than a year later |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Owns a small black diamond ring, says it did not cost much where she lives, and loves its understated vibe despite knowing it has little resale value |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Simply says she loves her black diamond piece |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Her engagement ring and wedding band are both black diamond; loves it and gets a lot of compliments for looking different from typical rings |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Owns a black diamond ring, loves it and says it still has plenty of sparkle |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her 1.5-carat blue diamond in yellow gold and says she'd never change it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Keeps and wears the original mined center plus two later lab-diamond rings, loves all of them |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Chose a lab diamond for a 25th-anniversary upgrade over the original; calls it a no-brainer for the clarity and color per dollar |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded a 0.75ct original to a 1.75ct lab center plus a 0.75ct lab side stone, keeping the original stone too; calls it the best decision |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded a 1.5ct natural to a 2ct lab-grown stone and loves it, still surprised it's a real diamond |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Owns a 3ct marquise and says she loves it with no issues whatsoever. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Proposed with a Tiffany ring bought mainly for the brand experience, including sizing at the Fifth Avenue store; calls it one of the best memories of their relationship |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Money saved, described as tens of thousands, is going toward the wedding and an earlier retirement instead |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Happy with choosing lab over natural, no regrets |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Owns both natural and lab stones and says they're indistinguishable |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Switched from a damaged sapphire ring to a lab diamond and loves it, drawn to the lower price and durability |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Still no regrets five years after buying |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Considers it identical to a mined diamond and is thrilled with it |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Sees no reason to regret it since lab and natural are chemically and visually identical |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Paid well under $25,000 and has no regrets, citing ethical sourcing and lower cost over a natural stone |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | No regrets, and friends selling natural diamonds from first marriages were shocked at how little they got back |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Chose a lab sapphire after being told a mined equivalent would cost about 10 times as much |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Put the money saved toward the wedding instead |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Short, emphatic no-regrets response |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Pleased with both a radiant cut bought 1.5 years ago and a bezel pear bought since |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Short, emphatic no-regrets response |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Got engaged with a Tiffany diamond and loves it; a jeweler friend quoted a much cheaper lab diamond alternative but she felt the Tiffany markup was worth it specifically for the engagement ring |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Glad to have more money left over to spend on the setting |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | No regrets on the diamond itself, just occasional annoyance getting jewelers to tighten a prong |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | No regrets so far |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Sells lab diamonds professionally and recommends them to customers, but personally prefers and owns only natural stones |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | No regrets over a 5-carat lab stone bought for his wife |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | At ease knowing the stone wasn't mined under exploitative labor conditions |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Loves the ring and felt no difference choosing lab over natural |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Has worn a 2ct mined marquise with a round and a baguette on either side 24/7 for nearly 30 years and says it has never once caught on anything. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Cares only that the diamond sparkles and is pretty, not which type it is |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Has a 1.5ct Tiffany diamond and says she's extremely happy with the quality and service despite the brand markup |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Chose a Tiffany-style ring set with a 3ct moissanite instead of a diamond, saying it sparkles more and let her afford a bigger stone than Tiffany pricing would allow |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Sleeps well knowing the ring was ethically sourced |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Just upgraded to a marquise and says she's obsessed with it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Bought her yellow diamond ring five years ago and has no regrets, noting warm-toned diamonds have since become much more popular than she expected. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has a yellow diamond engagement ring and says she loves it with no regrets. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Chose a citrine instead of a diamond and says she loves it. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Wanted a pink diamond or sapphire but chose a 1920s Art Deco ring with blue sapphire accents instead and loves it, though she still hopes for a pink stone piece someday. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose an unusual brown diamond over a classic white one and is very happy, saying it feels more personal and draws lots of compliments. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her yellow diamond and says she wouldn't change a thing, despite some critical comments from others. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a pink diamond instead of a traditional white one and says she's obsessed with it for being unlike anyone else's ring. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wanted a simple design with a colored stone instead of a plain white diamond, chose a custom 2 carat champagne diamond in a halo setting, and has no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has a champagne diamond with just a hint of gold color and says she loves it as an alternative to a plain white diamond. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Keeps her original 0.70 ct stone her husband picked, even though they could now afford bigger; says she'd never trade it in |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her similar asymmetric curved-band ring with a floating pear diamond and is happy wearing it solo without a stacked band. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose a less traditional ring style; aside from a judgmental mother-in-law, everyone else compliments it and she has no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | No regrets choosing her unique ring design; says it can also be worn inverted for a different look. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Always prefers unique designs over simple ones; had a custom curved band made to hug her unique custom ring and loves the combination. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Chose a sapphire center stone instead of a diamond; says it gets lots of compliments and she thinks it's very pretty. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Received her husband's grandmother's three-pearl flower-shaped ring; her mother disliked that it wasn't a diamond, but she loves its family meaning and gets many compliments. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Wife doesn't like diamonds, so he chose a lab-grown green moissanite resembling an emerald in a bezel setting; says it turned out better than he imagined. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Pear-shaped green sapphire, had it about 4 months; loves how different it is from others' rings and plans to consider an anniversary ring later if her taste changes. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Aquamarine center stone in an otherwise conventional setting; says she still admires it every day. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Pearl ring with three small diamond shards; her father said it didn't look 'engagement-y' enough, but she paired it with a curved diamond band and loves the set, especially since she and her husband picked it together. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Husband chose a pear-shaped alexandrite with diamond accents; she adores it, likes that it changes color with lighting, and isn't worried about durability given its hardness. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Moissanite center stone with alexandrite side stones from an online jewelry seller; still loves it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Amethyst teardrop ring with crescent moons and small amethysts; can't think of anything about it she'd regret and isn't concerned about non-diamond rings reading as less of an engagement ring. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Center stone is a color-changing alexandrite (teal to forest green to purplish blue); says she doesn't regret it at all. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Chose a blue sapphire over a diamond partly because diamonds were prohibitively expensive in her home country; 4 years later still adores it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Kite-shaped morganite center stone; says she gets compliments on it all the time. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Chose sapphire, her September birthstone, and loves it even more after having a September baby. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Art deco style band with a black moissanite stone instead of a diamond, which she finds boring; gets quite a few compliments. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Conventional-style ring with an alexandrite center stone; no regrets at all and gets many compliments. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Pear-shaped pink sapphire ring; says she is very happy with it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Pale pink morganite on a slim rose gold pave band, picked out by her now-fiance; was gobsmacked and loves it. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Family heirloom sapphire ring with jewels arranged in a flower shape, from her husband's side; loves it more than anything. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Color-changing alexandrite (aqua to blue to purple); says she has no regrets at all and doesn't care if it doesn't read as an engagement ring to others. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Light blue sapphire paired with a wedding band with larger diamonds to make the set look more traditional overall; loves it. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Emerald ring with side diamonds reset from her great-grandmother's earrings; 2 months in, still looks at it in awe. |
| – | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Rare lavender sapphire she hadn't expected to want, but it felt special the moment she put it on; not concerned that some don't recognize it as an engagement ring. |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Moissanite in an enchanted-garden-style rose gold setting with peach sapphire side stones, from an online jewelry seller; loves it every day with no regrets. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Pear-shaped London blue topaz instead of a diamond; loves it and gets compliments all the time. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | The person asking decided the sentimental value outweighs upgrading; plans to get a tennis bracelet instead and admits feeling swayed by trends toward big lab stones |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Vintage diamond cluster ring loosely resembling an infinity symbol; has heard it's too big and doesn't look like an engagement ring, but loves it more over time. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | A roughly 17th-century antique ring with an aged, rustic look; says she still loves it with no regrets. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Chose a 3 ct lab solitaire anniversary ring over a natural that would have cost $50k+, loves it |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Reset a 45-year-old wedding set from a 1 ct mined stone to a 2.6 ct lab stone, very happy with it |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Switched plans from a costly natural to a 2 ct lab diamond, saving about $48,000 |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Got her yellow diamond the week before posting and has no regrets, saying she originally wanted an emerald but is glad she chose the yellow diamond instead. |
| – | Moissanite | Upgraded to another ring | Her oval solitaire from this maker held up well for a year, prongs still tight, but she later upgraded the center stone to a lab emerald |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has loved every group-buy piece she's bought, crediting being very selective about which group buys she joins |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loved almost every group-buy piece under $400 in 10ct gold by comparison shopping first and knowing her preferred bezel-mount style |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has a diamond and an iolite both set in bezels and is happy with both |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Loves her natural alexandrite set in a half-bezel |
| – | No stone (plain band) | Kept the ring | Chose a plain wedding band with no engagement diamond and has no regrets, valuing the freedom to wear whatever ring she likes. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has worn the same diamond engagement ring for 15 years with no desire to change or update it. |
| – | No stone (plain band) | Kept the ring | Chose a plain band instead of a diamond ring as her engagement ring and has no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Wrote about her own ten-year anniversary upgrade set with Leon Mege's tapered French cuts and said she now wears it without a band since one would clutter the tapered shape. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Bought a lab anniversary band after research, glad it did not delay retirement |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from mined to lab, no regrets |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Already on her second lab diamond upgrade |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Chose lab exclusively for 1.5 years; four lab pieces so far including a second ring upgrade in progress |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Moved from a poor-quality 1ct mined diamond in 2004 through moissanite to a 1.62ct lab upgrade, now working toward a 3ct lab stone; plans to reset the original as a pendant, resale never a concern since pieces will be passed to kids |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from a Whiteflash ACA to a bigger GCAL 8X lab diamond with better color and clarity, not worried about resale since she got her dream size |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from a 22-year-old 1ct mined diamond to two 3ct lab stones after comparing in person with her husband; has since bought several more lab pieces |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from a 1.6ct mined radiant to a 3.72ct lab stone plus a 4.7ct antique emerald cut lab diamond on order; not planning to sell, keeping as dream sizes |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Owner loves her ring's gold body with platinum baskets and says she has no regrets about the metal mix. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | After years in all-platinum rings, she switched to two-tone and in hindsight doesn't know why she resisted gold so long; finds two-tone more unique and romantic. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Ring has an 18kt yellow gold shank with platinum prongs; owner says definitely no regrets over that metal combination. |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Switched from a 2.01 ct F IF Adiamor stone to a Whiteflash A Cut Above 2.07 ct F VS1 hearts-and-arrows diamond in a custom rose gold setting and was thrilled with the sparkle before it even arrived |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | 20th-anniversary upgrade to an antique two-stone Belle Epoque ring; almost passed on it assuming it was unaffordable, went for it after a friend's encouragement, and has no regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Husband's 11-year-old 1ct cushion/round/asscher-style ring is still loved by his wife; he is now weighing an upgrade or second ring for their 10th anniversary |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded stud earrings from 2 ctw (1 ct/ear) to about 3.8 ctw (1.9 ct/ear) and loves them, barely feels them; only regret is not sizing up even more |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has 3.0 ctw stud earrings and calls the size and weight perfect |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | A 10-year-anniversary upgrade to a 2ct oval diamond in a custom Victor Canera setting arrived after a 6-week wait and the owner was thrilled despite anxiety about spending sight-unseen |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | After a year and a half wearing her 4.2ct custom-cut upgrade, she still loves the size and light performance and never feels the need to go without it. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Her original stone was moved into a pendant and a much larger lab-grown diamond placed into her original setting, at her own request, within their first decade of marriage. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | 26th-anniversary upgrade from a 1.66ct solitaire to a 1.71ct three-stone ring with two 0.46ct side stones; says she would not change a thing and feels done upgrading. |
| – | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Went ahead with a final 2.5-carat, G color, VS1/VS2 clarity upgrade at Whiteflash after confirming the stone's inclusion issue was minor and encouragement from her husband |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has worn an oval diamond for almost 20 years and says out-of-favor shapes eventually come back around. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Chose her mother's passed-down round diamond ring, just under 1ct, over a bigger new ring and is glad she kept it modest for her lifestyle. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Owns both bezel-set and prong-set rings and prefers her bezels; says they snag less and she never worries about the stone loosening. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Says she'd never consider a different setting type. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Has worn a bezel-set three-stone ring for over 20 years and still loves it; says it never looked bulky to her. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Self-described as clumsy, has built a whole collection of bezel-set rings she loves. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Owner of an open-gallery bezel setting says it doesn't feel bulky and she has zero regrets. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Prefers the peace of mind of her bezel setting over the 6-prong setting she also owns whenever she bumps her hand on something. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Answered the regret question with a simple no across two comments and photos of her ring. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her sparkly bezel and deliberately chose a plain gold wedding band to keep the pairing low-profile. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Owns two emerald-cut bezel travel rings (one lab diamond, one moissanite), one open and one solid bezel; loves the low, easy-to-live-with profile of both. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | About a year into owning a pear-shaped sapphire ring with diamond side stones, she loves it even more than the day she received it. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her half-bezel, a custom dupe of a Frank Darling design that cost about $2,500 less than the original. |
| – | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Chose moonstone; sometimes mistaken for a cocktail ring but she loves that it reminds her of their engagement trip. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Still loves her unique ring with no regrets, and says she isn't swayed by social-media opinions on style. |
| – | Not said | Kept the ring | Owns a 1920s antique ring that is not a designer brand and considers it a better buy than a luxury-house piece. |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Her husband surprised her with an anniversary upgrade to a larger round brilliant in a custom halo; she kept her original 1.07ct Asscher stone to reset into a pendant rather than parting with it. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Upgraded to a 2.148 ct K SI1 branded ideal-cut stone for a 10th anniversary and stayed thrilled with it, later adding two more stones to the ring over the following years. |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Traded in a 3.39ct stone for a 5.33ct antique-cut upgrade from the same dealer who sold the original diamond and felt an immediate emotional connection to the new stone |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Traded a 15-year-old 1.58 ct diamond toward a 2.02 ct natural upgrade and had a similar lab diamond set into the original band as a travel ring; thrilled with the smooth process. |
| – | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded from an original round brilliant to a 2.01 ct pear diamond bought sight-unseen on specs alone; thrilled with the fire and shape once set. |
| – | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | After a run of trade-in upgrades over roughly 8 years, she calls this 2.61 ct E VS1 stone her final upgrade and says she is completely at peace with its size, color and clarity. |
| – | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Still obsessed with her 0.80ct lab diamond ring a year after getting engaged and marrying two months later |
| – | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Buyer says all three custom moissanite rings from Provence Flora look even better in person than in the maker's preview videos |
| $9 | Not said | Kept the ring | Got engaged with an $8.88 ring in 2012 and says the relationship mattered more than the ring's value |
| €15 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Happy with a cheap moissanite ring from Joyce Jelly on AliExpress and with Kuololit jewelry worn daily |
| $18 | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Thrilled with an $18 Amazon ring bought after catching up on rent and medical debt; plans to upgrade to a moissanite ring at a future vow renewal |
| $40 | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Bought a gold-plated CZ marquise placeholder ring under $40 and says she doesn't care about the price tag while she saves for the forever ring |
| $40 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Diamond wedding set plus moissanite anniversary rings that match it well; one 1.5 ct DEW solitaire cost 40-plus |
| $50 | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Wore a 50 dollar Amazon ring through the engagement, upgraded to the real ring before the wedding, and still keeps the cheap one for travel |
| $60 | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Opal engagement ring, no regrets after about 26 years married |
| $75 | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Bought an almost identical green-and-blue vintage turquoise ring about 20 years ago for around $75 and still loves it |
| $100 | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Rotates three wedding sets under 100 each: lab emerald, lab sapphire and black moissanite, all with clear moissanite accents |
| $103 | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Loved her tiny first diamond bought when broke just as much as the costlier Tiffany ring her husband later gave her on their 25th anniversary. |
| £200 | Not said | Kept the ring | Fell in love instantly with a secondhand ring under £200 and is still obsessed 13 years into marriage; would have been furious over a 3-months-salary ring. |
| €200 | Not said | Kept the ring | Bought a tennis bracelet in Portugal for 200 euro (partly offset by a VAT refund); considers it worth it even for occasional wear. |
| $250 | Not said | Kept the ring | A gifted ~$250 tennis bracelet still looks brand new after being worn nearly daily for years with basic jewelry cleaner. |
| $300 | Other gemstone | Upgraded to another ring | The person asking still treasures her original $300 opal ring even after her husband surprised her with a $1,600 upgrade seven years later |
| $300 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Very happy she chose a $300 stock 4ct emerald-cut moissanite piece instead of an approximately $8,000 lab diamond of the same size |
| $300 | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her $300 ring and never cared that it wasn't expensive; valued that her husband chose it himself. |
| $300 | Natural diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Kept the sentimental $300 original stone and reused it while getting an entirely different antique-style upgrade ring |
| $400 | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | Still loves the original $400 ring bought while broke in their 20s, and now also has a flashier 1.5ct anniversary upgrade |
| $519 | Not said | Kept the ring | Loves her $519 1-carat stock diamond ring from Louvansh in 14k gold, feels it looks far pricier than it cost. |
| $600 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Bought a 2-carat lab diamond ring for $600 and calls lab-grown diamonds inexpensive |
| $700 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Paid $700 total for her lab-grown ring and band as a young, budget-conscious couple; still happy years later despite now earning much more. |
| $700 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Writer says she was thrilled with her affordable moissanite ring despite caring little about jewelry |
| $700 | Not said | Kept the ring | A simple 1920s-style oval halo ring bought for $700, called the deal of the century; wouldn't change a thing about it. |
| $790 | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | Upgraded mom's 36-year-old ring with a new lab diamond and basket; both were thrilled with the result |
| $800 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Ring and band set for about 800; clear and sparkly, nobody has questioned it; would pick moissanite even with more money |
| $800 | Not said | – | Only expense was professional photos after a courthouse wedding |
| $800 | Not said | Kept the ring | Thrilled with her roughly $800 Etsy ring; also cherished an earlier $200 promise ring for a couple of years. |
| $800 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Very happy with a custom Starsgem hearts-and-arrows solitaire, calling it as well cut as a $10-20k chosen stone |
| $813 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Custom 3.5ct stone in an antique setting made through Orbion for $813; happy with the process and the value |
| $865 | Lab-grown diamond | Upgraded to another ring | After a jeweler warned against matching her old cluster's size, she sized up and is thrilled with the princess-cut result |
| $960 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Kept the larger 2.16ct H VS1 HPHT lab stone over a smaller 1.82ct E VVS2 rival for her 25th-anniversary upgrade and was thrilled with the finished custom ring. |
| $1,000 | Not said | Kept the ring | Writer loves her heavily-discounted Macy's engagement ring and wedding band and always gets compliments |
| $1,000 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Writer bought a moissanite ring under $1000 from an Etsy shop and says she'd choose moissanite over diamond every time |
| $1,100 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Partner paid about 1100; nobody has asked what the stone is; glad there was no debt and an upgrade stays possible |
| $1,200 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Writer paid $1200 for a 2ct radiant lab diamond and holds it up as proof of a good deal |
| $1,200 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Talked her fiance down from a $7,000-$10,000 mined-diamond plan to an 18k gold ring with lab-diamond shoulders and moissanite center for about $1,200; thrilled with it. |
| $1,250 | Not said | Kept the ring | Engagement ring chosen together with her husband, still finds herself admiring it |
| $1,300 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | No regrets about the $1,300 ring, comparing it favorably to other money she's wasted; says she probably won't return to this jeweler though |
| $1,400 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Considers her 1.40ct pear lab diamond ring, her most expensive lab piece, 100 percent worth the $1,400 she paid |
| $1,500 | Not said | Sold it | Bought wife's wedding set for $1,500 in 2010; 16 years later it appraised and sold for $12,000, funding a new set |
| $1,600 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Wrote worried it would look too big or be regretted, but reported being happy with the 4ct moissanite halo ring bought for a 10th anniversary. |
| $2,000 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | 2 ct hearts-and-arrows moissanite, stone over 2k plus setting; their 6k budget could have bought a nice diamond |
| $2,000 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Buyer says she loves her $2k moissanite ring and has no regrets, valuing practicality over size. |
| $2,000 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Loves her 20-year 2ct cushion-cut upgrade and plans to keep and alternate wearing her original 1999 heirloom-stone ring too. |
| $2,000 | Moissanite | Kept the ring | Loves her moissanite ring and band set, doesn't care that it isn't a diamond, and got the exact size and shape wanted for a fraction of the cost. |
| $2,000 | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | 40th-anniversary ruby ring worn daily in place of her wedding ring, makes her happy |
| $2,000 | Not said | Kept the ring | Husband spent about $2,000 on a 1.5ct ring years ago when 5-10k was seen as typical; still loves it |
| $2,500 | Other gemstone | Kept the ring | Over a decade with her ruby ring and still obsessed, no regrets |
| £2,900 | Sapphire | Kept the ring | 10th-anniversary sapphire ring made from family gold, calls it her favourite thing ever |
| $3,000 | Not said | Kept the ring | Writer's .90ct ring from a Chicago wholesale district drew many compliments and cost under $3k |
| $3,000 | Not said | Kept the ring | Paid off the ring over a year while hiding it, proposed the next year; ten years on his wife still wears it on dates |
| $3,000 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Paid about $3k for a custom 5ct elongated radiant lab diamond as a 25th-anniversary upgrade, funded partly by her husband's stock sale; very happy with it. |
| $3,300 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Worried fiance overspent on a lab diamond instead of the agreed moissanite budget, but is happy he prioritized what she'd want |
| $3,500 | Not said | Kept the ring | Writer's $3,500 estate ring, once considered a big splurge, is valued mainly because her husband personally chose it. |
| $3,500 | Not said | Upgraded to another ring | No regrets about the modest ~$3500 original ring bought young; just reset it into an upgraded ring keeping sentimental elements |
| $3,500 | Sapphire | Kept the ring | Sapphire engagement ring and moissanite anniversary ring; says meaningful jewelry shouldn't be a regret |
| $3,800 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Very happy with a $3,800 custom lab-diamond ring made in the NYC diamond district as an alternative to buying a similar retail design |
| $3,800 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | 40th-anniversary 2.55 ct lab diamond upgrade, both partners delighted with it |
| $4,600 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | The person asking surprised his wife with a 2.76ct upgrade from her original 1.69ct; she loved it instantly and still wears it happily years later |
| $4,900 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Thrilled with the sparkle of her custom tulip setting and lab stone, chose it over a slightly bigger option |
| $5,200 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Buyer worried the fine pave looked too subtle next to a big radiant stone and noticed the prongs were set as buttons rather than the double claws he'd requested, but felt reassured after posting for feedback. |
| $5,500 | Lab-grown diamond | – | Upgraded a 1ct diamond to a 2.1ct lab diamond for $5,500, reusing the original band; obsessed with the result |
| $5,700 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Glad to have switched from mined to lab despite paying more before lab prices dropped further |
| $6,000 | Not said | Kept the ring | Custom engagement ring, doesn't wear it every day but no regret |
| $6,000 | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Bought a 1-carat antique pear diamond from Andria Barbone for well under the 25k+ price of similar pieces and feels it was worth it. |
| $7,500 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Worried her crushed-ice cut center stone looked cloudy in her video, but after reassurance from the community and viewing it in person decided she loves it. |
| $8,000 | Not said | – | Spent well below the discussion's range while financially stretched at the time, but zero regrets getting everyone together |
| $9,000 | Not said | Kept the ring | Traded a 0.10ct up to 1ct, sold that, then bought a 2.25ct for 9000 from her own babysitting savings and loves it |
| $10,000 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Paid $10k for a wedding set with a 1.3 carat lab diamond and says that price tag keeps her from doubting it looks real. |
| $10,000 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Buyer calls the custom 5.10ct lab radiant ring's cost 'not cheap' but says it's worth it and is thrilled with the finished piece ahead of proposing. |
| $10,000 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | Has both an expensive mined wedding set and a 4ct lab ring bought for fun; loves both, no regret over the cheaper lab piece |
| $11,000 | Not said | Kept the ring | Engagement ring upgrade called worth every penny |
| $11,000 | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Decided not to insure because insurance money couldn't replace the exact stone's sentimental value anyway, and could afford to replace it if needed |
| $13,000 | Not said | – | A cheaper Saturday morning wedding for 55 guests left room to save for other goals |
| $14,000 | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Writer is satisfied their own natural-diamond ring cost more but has appreciated in value, unlike lab-grown |
| $16,000 | Not said | Kept the ring | Custom anniversary ring, no regrets |
| $16,667 | Lab-grown diamond | Kept the ring | No regret picking lab over natural for her ER, paying about a third of what a comparable natural stone would cost; only snobby relatives and friends scoff |
| £17,500 | Not said | – | 34 guests at an exclusive-use castle with garden games; even skeptical family said they'd spend more for the same day |
| $19,000 | Not said | – | 60 guests in the Chicago suburbs; wrote a full cost breakdown separately, happy with what they got |
| £20,000 | Not said | – | Just under the stated amount; focused on getting everything they wanted rather than individual costs |
| $20,000 | Not said | – | Budget set ahead of a wedding next year; overall wedding cost, not a ring price |
| $20,000 | Not said | – | Expected a basic 50-guest wedding to cost about 10k but it reached almost 20k; totally worth it |
| $20,000 | Not said | – | Hoped for 15k but ended at 20k after a few splurges; wrote a full budget breakdown separately |
| $20,000 | Not said | – | Already spent this much toward a projected 70-75k total for 150-180 guests; no regrets so far |
| $20,000 | Not said | – | Acknowledges the money could have gone elsewhere but loved the wedding |
| $20,000 | Not said | – | Spent this in 2017; thinks the same event would run 30k today and would not pay that much now |
| $20,000 | Not said | – | Took a no-spend month after the honeymoon to recover financially; still no regrets |
| $22,000 | Not said | – | Small, family-only wedding; a bigger version would have run 40-50k and felt regrettable |
| £22,000 | Not said | – | 80 guests; surprised the budget reached that level but isn't second-guessing it |
| $22,500 | Not said | – | Chose the 20-25k option over a smaller 10-15k one and remained happy with it two months later |
| $22,500 | Not said | – | Cost mostly covered by parents; the whole family still looks back on it fondly with no regrets |
| $22,500 | Not said | – | Wedding not yet held; saved on a city-owned historic venue for 60 guests |
| $23,000 | Not said | – | 60 guests in an expensive New England market; horrified by the cost at first but had a great time |
| $24,000 | Not said | – | Zero regrets, calls it the best day ever |
| $24,000 | Not said | – | Figure includes gifts received; felt it was worth the money and the perfect day for them |
| $25,000 | Not said | – | Felt anxious about the cost at the time but in hindsight it was well worth it for family memories |
| £25,000 | Not said | – | About 33k dollars equivalent; half was gifted by parents and the rest saved during a period with nothing else to spend on |
| $25,000 | Not said | – | 90-95 guests; saved on DIY flowers and centerpieces, no regret about the spend |
| £25,000 | Not said | – | About 30k dollars equivalent as the writer stated; exclusive-use Scotland venue with catering and a band |
| $25,000 | Not said | – | Even amid house hunting stress, no regrets looking back at the wedding photos |
| $25,000 | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Upgraded his wife's ring with a 2.5 ct J-color IF ideal-cut diamond for under $25k and is thrilled with how it performs |
| $30,000 | Not said | – | Overall wedding cost; might trim the guest list next time but very happy with how it turned out |
| $30,000 | Not said | – | Received about 8k in monetary gifts toward the cost; loved the flowers and photography |
| $30,000 | Not said | – | Budget grew from a planned 20k toward an expected 35-45k final for a 120-guest destination wedding; despite early money arguments, no regrets two months into planning |
| $30,000 | Not said | – | Did both a small elopement and a separate 80-guest celebration for 25-35k total, would do it all again |
| $30,000 | Not said | – | Parents convinced them into a traditional wedding for 69 guests on short notice, which raised the cost, but they don't regret it two years later |
| $30,000 | Not said | – | Castle wedding in Ireland including flights and honeymoon came in under this amount |
| $30,000 | Not said | Kept the ring | Paid around $30k specifically to avoid any color in the diamond; no regret about going colorless. |
| $33,000 | Not said | – | Felt stressful that year but five years on the memories and photos feel worth the cost |
| $33,000 | Not said | – | Included the honeymoon; heavy DIY kept it down from an estimated 40k, would spend the same again |
| $35,000 | Not said | – | 65 guests; overall wedding cost, not a single ring price; wouldn't change a thing about the spend |
| $35,000 | Not said | – | Was laid off two weeks before the wedding but everything was already paid; still no regrets |
| $35,000 | Not said | – | 35k wedding plus a separate 20k honeymoon; no regrets being newlyweds |
| $35,000 | Not said | – | Overall wedding cost; would do some things differently but had a great, happy day |
| £40,000 | Not said | – | Spent only what they could afford, which made the memories feel less painful in hindsight |
| $40,000 | Not said | – | Weekend-long event with welcome and goodbye gatherings for 92 guests; would do it all again |
| $40,000 | Not said | – | Originally planned 25k but ended at 40k after a long engagement and saving; happy with the guest food and drink experience |
| $40,000 | Not said | – | Savings have since been replenished and there's never been regret |
| $40,000 | Not said | – | Wedding not yet held; splurged on extras like a caricature artist and photo booth for 75-120 guests, no regrets so far |
| $40,000 | Natural diamond | Kept the ring | Bought a 3.09ct century-old European-cut diamond for under $40k as a 20th-anniversary right-hand ring and was thrilled from the moment it arrived, with no doubts about the purchase. |
| $60,000 | Not said | – | Had family financial help; loved everything including the stress in hindsight |
| $60,000 | Not said | – | Felt special and joyous to see everyone they love in one place |
| $60,000 | Not said | Kept the ring | Engagement ring, most expensive jewelry piece owned, says no regret |
| $80,000 | Not said | – | Large wedding spend of hard-earned money; no regrets at all |
Sources and method
Price reports on this page come from 205 public discussions where buyers answered in their own words. Each comment that stated what someone paid became one row; notes are paraphrased, never quoted.
The largest discussions used here (60)
- 2026-01: Confused and disappointed in my ring (2212 comments)
- 2026-05: Does anyone regret their choice, particularly with coloured stones? (646 comments)
- 2025-11: Does Anyone Regret Their Colored Stone? (643 comments)
- 2026-03: I have buyers remorse 😭 (453 comments)
- 2025-08: Help me choose I’m so torn. (447 comments)
- 2025-02: Finally got my dream ring upgrade for our 5th anniversary. Are the double bands too much? (439 comments)
- 2025-10: Loved it when I bought it… now I think I made a mistake 😭 help me choose the replacement! (437 comments)
- 2026-04: Why the hate towards large diamonds 💎? (426 comments)
- 2026-01: Buyer remorse…wish I went bigger..advice? (391 comments)
- 2023-10: When we got engaged and married we were very poor and I had a basic silver ring. We are still not rich but upgraded this year to 18k gold & diamonds and I loved it; but after joining this sub I worry it’s not tasteful because of the setting of small diamonds instead of a solitaire? (383 comments)
- 2023-11: Having bad buyer’s remorse (380 comments)
- 2024-08: Engagement ring life - is six months reasonable? Vendor says I should be happy with it falling off after six moths and warranty does not cover it falling apart. (363 comments)
- 2025-08: What's the most expensive piece of jewelry you have and do you regret it or not? (343 comments)
- 2025-04: Does anyone regret their non-traditional engagement rings? (311 comments)
- 2024-01: Do any of you regret getting a colored gemstone ring versus a classic clear diamond/ moissanite? (306 comments)
- 2025-10: Is it too small? (301 comments)
- 2026-04: Completely torn on accepting my grandma’s engagement ring (292 comments)
- 2025-01: 1.3 Carat - Is this too small on me? (273 comments)
- 2025-11: Have you even regretted your 3+ ct? (272 comments)
- 2026-05: So disappointed with jeweler’s bait and switch (257 comments)
- 2022-09: Surprise Upgrade for The Missus - First Ritani Purchase (251 comments)
- 2023-10: Can we talk about the big stone obsession happening lately and the resulting posts from people unhappy with insecure about their rings? (238 comments)
- 2024-03: My amazing husband is giving me a 20 year e-ring upgrade.Thinking of getting this 2 ct cushion cut ring. What do you all think? (228 comments)
- 2026-02: Diamond regrets? (223 comments)
- 2026-03: I have buyers remorse 😭 (223 comments)
- 2025-06: Custom engagement ring regret - any luck going back to the jeweler? (221 comments)
- 2025-10: Is a Heart Shaped stone a Mistake? (216 comments)
- 2025-10: “Upgrading” your engagement ring is dumb and totally defeats the purpose. (215 comments)
- 2025-08: Should I upgrade to 5ct (199 comments)
- 2024-01: Will I regret getting a 3ct Moissanite vs a 1.31ct lab diamond (pictured)? (197 comments)
- 2025-08: Upgraded my ring but I’m unsure (190 comments)
- 2023-06: Moissanite - Any regrets? (189 comments)
- 2024-06: Help - worried I don’t know enough or making mistake (186 comments)
- 2024-12: Why is there so much hate gor Swarovski?? (186 comments)
- 2026-05: Anyone here regret choosing blue wedding rings instead of something classic (185 comments)
- 2024-06: Second guessing my wedding band, is 2 gemstones too much? (174 comments)
- 2024-05: My stone arrived! Is it too small? (173 comments)
- 2025-09: My husband bought my ring off Amazon for $18 and im quite literally obsessed!! (172 comments)
- 2026-01: How did I do? 3ct radiant lab, custom platinum setting — second guessing myself a bit (171 comments)
- 2025-10: is my ring too small??? (170 comments)
- 2026-01: I’m obsessed with my upgrade but waiting for judgment. (169 comments)
- 2025-07: I'm an idiot and made a stupid mistake... how expensive is it going to be to fix it? (167 comments)
- 2023-12: Do you regret getting a Moissanite ring? (165 comments)
- 2024-12: Should I tell hubby I’m going to upgrade my stone? (161 comments)
- 2025-01: Buyer’s Remorse— I think I hate my center stone (161 comments)
- 2025-05: 5ct Oval Upgrade ❤️ (154 comments)
- 2025-08: Do you regret buying a lab grown cushion cut engagement ring? (152 comments)
- 2023-11: The disappointment was real y’all (150 comments)
- 2025-11: GF wants old mine/antique Andria Barbone ring…worth it? (148 comments)
- 2025-11: Sometimes regretting the halo (148 comments)
- 2026-08: Already picked out a ring but my mom just gave me hers and now I’m torn (148 comments)
- 2024-08: Do you regret spending 20-25k on a wedding? (148 comments)
- 2012-03: #JOTW My Leon Upgrade: Emerald Cut with French Cut Sides!!! (146 comments)
- 2026-07: Are tiffany diamonds actually worth it? (145 comments)
- 2026-04: For those who've owned both - did paying more for a lab diamond feel worth it long-term? (145 comments)
- 2024-07: My husband upgraded my $300 ring! (138 comments)
- 2025-04: Anyone regret going with a D color grade? (137 comments)
- 2026-06: Wanted to upgrade my wife's natural diamond wedding ring from 0.75 carat to 1 plus carat. (134 comments)
- 2023-08: Need opinion on this engagement ring is it worth it for the price ? (134 comments)
- 2025-04: Help me decide on 3, 4, or 5 carats! I’m in love with the style but torn on the size that suits my hand. (133 comments)
- and 145 more, all in the dataset
Only buyers describing a ring they already own are counted, so the page measures how people feel afterwards rather than how confident they were while choosing. Prices are the ring the writer is talking about, in their own currency.