I LOVE that story!

Miss Details, that is very close to how/why I purchased an Amora. I didn't lose my ring but we were upgrading and I thought there HAD to be a way to get a deal on a diamond because I can get a deal on almost anything. As I researched I found clarity enhanced diamonds and then moissanite and then BTD forums. Woo Hoo...I feel like I hit on the best deal EVER!! I couldn't be more pleased.

I personally feel so privledged that I am privy to all this information. I know I should really share it with my friends but part of me wants to keep it all to myself. I have so little secrets in my life-and this is the BEST ONE EVER! I just wish I had all this insider info when i got engaged. Momma would have had a LOT bigger rock!

+1 Agreed!

Also, agree with Miss Details.

We also could afford a diamond in the size I wanted. Here's my story: My husband asked me for my original diamond ring the day before our Anniversary last year; he said he was going to get it "cleaned and re-dipped". While he was there he called and began asking me curious questions...about the center stone (diamond)...and what size cushion I might be interested in-in the future, etc. I'm no fool - I asked, "are you upgrading my diamond?, cause if you are - PLEASE DON'T". So he admitted to his plan and asked why. My answer (my opinion): I do not believe diamonds are at all a sound investment. They are significantly overinflated. In fact, I believe they are a poor investment, usually you may expect approx 25-50% cash return on your purchase. He cleaned/re-dipped the ring and brought it back to me. I researched for weeks, and voila! I accidently stubbled across and found the Amora - Best Bang For Your Buck!

My advice: You must enjoy every penny you work so hard for; so whatever you guys choose - be in LOVE with it! :-) Good luck.

Bingo and Amen!

We could also very comfortably afford a great rock in the 1.5-2 carat range, and I have an amazing heirloom 1.9 carat OMC that was given to me as a wedding gift. I found this message board a few weeks ago when I was on the hunt for a setting for my heirloom diamond, and I learned all about moissanite and found that they offer OEC cuts with the amora treatment! Because I worry a lot about losing a stone that's been in our family for 5+ generations (that I know of) I opted to go with that for my everyday ring and now I'm waiting anxiously for it to come.

I got a 1.5 ct OEC amora and it's going into a BTD Arista setting, and I suspect it's going to be amazing. If I love it as much as I think I will, I'm going to send my family stone to BTD to be placed in the same setting (platinum instead of palladium probably) for special occasions. I don't intend to tell anyone it's a moissanite and I doubt anyone will suspect since the size/quality is reasonable in relation to our financial situation.

We also could have gotten a diamond, and that was the original plan. But like others, I stumbled upon moissanite while searching online. I did a TON or research and decided it was definitely the best 'bang for our buck'. I could get the size stone and setting that I loved, without feeling guilty about how much money we were spending. I truly feel super smart for making the decision we made and would never change back to a diamond.
Also, no one has ever questioned my ring, only tons of compliments.
If you're looking for a way to win her over, I suggest having her join this forum. It's definitely what helped me make the decision.

That is great advice right there. I have always wanted a sim but I had to convince him. It was after we went ring shopping that he was finally convinced. The 300% mark up. The marketing...After our last trip I hopped on mosseco or asha.com or btd and he was looking over my shoulder and said, "we're going with one of those."

I originally wanted an Asha but he wasn't comfortable once he found out they are really just enhanced cz's. He talked me into the moissanite. We got the Amora enhanced and are thrilled.

We could've afforded a $15k ring. But why? I would be afraid of losing it. I did not want the stress of worrying about an expensive diamond. A girl I know knew she had a loose prong but chose to wear her diamond anyway. She lost it. Her husband told her he wouldn't replace it because she knew the prong was loose.

My fiancé was surprised I didn't want a diamond. I told him we could throw a heck of a party, cut down all the trees on our property (lots & lots of leaves...), finish decorating the house AND go on a two week honeymoon for 15 grand.

Well, I'm one of those women who COULDN'T have afforded the ring I wanted in diamond, but I don't think that makes my situation any different from the women who could.

Granted, our e-ring budget was not overly small by my standards, but there was just no way we could have afforded a 3ct diamond, which is the size I was confortable with. Anything smaller just wouldn't have completely *done* it for me.