Considering a ring for your spouse? How about a synthetic diamond? Opinions?

[CrawlingChaos]

27. I would consider a sapphire

It's a natural gem that's very tough and durable (more so than a diamond even, which won't scratch but is slightly vulnerable to chips/cracks) - you'll enjoy it all your life and pass it on to future generations in perfect condition. Speaking as a gem-loving girly-girl, sapphires are my favorite stone. They may not have the light dispersion of a diamond, but IMO the luster of a fine sapphire is exquisitely beautiful. You can even get a white sapphire, if you want the look of a diamond. I wish I could tell you there's no environmental consequences to mining, but it's not one of the worst, and at least they're not controlled by some evil cartel.

If you want the fire of a diamond in a natural gem, there's natural zircon (not to be confused with cubic zirconia). They sparkle like crazy but they're a bit fragile for daily wear in a ring, although if you're a careful person it could be a lovey option.

If you want the very best synthetic, there's always Moissanite, which is a high end diamond substitute that costs almost as much as a diamond!