Has anyone purchased rings from GreenKarat.com?

If so, how did you find the service? Quality of product vs. price? Shipping reliabilities, etc.?

If you're happy having something a little less traditional, there's also Touchwood Rings.
We just ordered ours!

Check out the site - they're doing some really neat things to leave a smaller footprint.

I am very impressed with the variety of articles. I live in central Sweden. Lots of gold, platinum and diamonds here. I much read and write about jewelry but could learn a lot from you.

With best regards, Jonas Bergman

Buy a Canadian diamond (from NWT)!

Or better still, buy a ring at an estate jeweler. Then you aren't supporting de Beers at all and lower your impact on the earth.

You don't get it!! Greenkarat's diamonds are REAL - they have EXACTLY the same characteristics of mined diamonds, without the environmentally and socially destructive consequences. Lab created diamonds are grown the same way that natural diamonds are - with heat and pressure, and thus exhibit the same character - hardness, clarity, melting point, etc. If we are truly concerned about the enviroment and our impact on it - then we need to start considering options that may not immediately appeal to us - if we can get past the "if it's not mined it's not real" reaction, and see that what is in front of our face is so much like the "real" option that even gemologists have a hard time telling them apart... maybe we can bring about some significant change.

I keep wondering why nobody has brought up what my fiance and I did. We bought our rings at a local pawnshop. Not only did we get a nice "recycled" ring, but the price was unbeatable, so much so we sprung for a nice "travel" ring so I don't have to take my fancy one on trips :) Granted, we live in las vegas, one of the pawn shop capitals of the world, but it really is a great idea, just make sure your diamond is certified by the pawn shop as real (in L.V. I recommend superpawn, they employee real jewelers).

How eco friendly are the labs that create these manufactured diamonds? By purchasing a manu diamond, we ensure that we're not purchasing conflict jewelry - which is great. However, a lab must use a lot of chemicals and energy to create manu diamonds. Anyone have info on this?

While the pawn shop is a better idea, it brings up social consequences. Pawn shops are a very less than ideal way to second-hand shop. They most-often exploit those most vulnerable, often those with substance abuse issues (or gamling issues, particularly in Vegas). Have you ever considered why there are so many pawn shops in Vegas, Glapher? Where I live there is a substantial crack problem. A few pawn shops here work with dealers (or are the dealers themselves), get their customers-to-be addicted to crack, then buy their goods off of them for cheap, in exchange for more drugs.

A more socially-conscious means of second-hand shopping for wedding rings would be through the classifieds. I think there is a slightly greater likelihood that the rings there are a product of divorce, as opposed to exploitation of our poor people. (note I said greater likelihood, not absolute certainty)

This is just example of how complicated ethical/eco-friendly shopping can be! It seems like the best option is no ring at all.

Well, I'm really into this new eco-push in jewelry. I found this amazing jewelry designer, Todd Reed..and he uses all recycled old and conflict-free raw diamonds. His work is non-traditional, but so captivating and beautiful. I love his rose cut series the best. The rose cut diamonds he uses are recycled from vintage and antique pieces. I really think he is worth checking out. www.alteredspacegallery. i hope more artists continue with this trend. You can have beautiful jewelry..everything you would want it to be..without having to hurt anyone in the process.