5 Ethical Celebrity Engagement Rings

I think accessory with little pendant and little studs are the best gems for all. In some cases platinum or white gold rings likewise look great.

Great website! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also

Penelope cruz…..I love sapphire rings…wear one now with diamonds for my wedding band, but with the marquise style band

Oh Christ, here we go with all the perfect people saying what they ‘could have done’ with the money they spent on the ring. Give me a break! I can’t stand people that come on the internet & act like anyone that spends any money on anything other than the most basic necessities & doesn’t give the rest to the less fortunate is a horrible person. We don’t know what these celebs do with their money-for all we know they may donate tons more than we know about, anonymously. But see, that thought doesn’t even cross the minds of these people criticizing them because more than likely, when (and if) they ever do anything for the less fortunate, they’re the types that probably humble brag all over social media.

Get off your judgmental soap-boxes. So quick to judge without knowing what people spend their money on re causes. News flash: having a lot of money does not correlate being unethical. There are a lot of unethical people who don’t have much money. There are unethical people who are ‘middle class.’ And, of course, there are plenty of ethical people with all of the above financial situations. And then- ethical is also subjective.
Instead of tearing people down and crying ‘oh, they could’ve spent it on this or that,’ take a good long look at yourself in the mirror and work on your own confidence and build yourself up. That way, you won’t feel so threatened by what other people choose to spend their money privately or publicly on.

People like what they like..I have a family of 5 and could not see spending thousands of dollars on a wedding set. My engagement ring is a 1.25 carat emerald cut orange sapphire sent in a sterling silver tiffany style setting and my wedding band is wide with a floral vine detail also made in sterling silver. It was made but a great jewelry maker in South Carolina and for the stone and her hard work my entire set was only $500. So I got a gorgeous set that Noone else will ever have and I supported a small business owner at the same time. But to each their own…

I find the supposition that spending upwards of $1 million on a diamond ring is considered “ethical.”. Now, I have nothing against someone spending their own money on whatever they want. If they feel like they want to indulge in a luxury by all means.

But these are the same top line celebrities who we see telling everyone to “conserve this” and “cut back on that” or “eliminate this” from our every day lives. Then we see them on the news telling Congress how they need to spend OUR money to “help the poor” around the world.

Love your rings – but I find the premise of this article not only superficial but quite frankly morally repugnant.

1.)I think the point was…..be aware of manipulation and persuasion…..”all that glitters is not gold”?
It is not about who/what/how much$…it is about “why diamonds” in the first place? ( i.e. the DeBeers brainwashing campaign)? We need never “value” something just because we are told to…ie” engagements require diamonds.” (…..remember when you were a child, and discovered something beautiful…it was usually sparkly?) 😉
2.) I think we need to recognize that Cz’s and “Ethically mined” ,etc. still support the persuasion of the social pressure to have”sparkly diamonds” on left hands….? It’s the same as eating “fake turkey” for vegans….you are not contributing to “education of the masses about alternatives” or “I am not a follower”…you are “blending in” and are equally a part of the status quo.
3.) Diamonds,gems etc. ARE an excellent source of PORTABLE wealth….a great honor to a woman and her children if in the event of catastrophe…she is “wearing an investment” that can be sold to pay for food, sustenance ,etc. for her and her partner’s children. It is an ancient source of barter/trade invented at least by the Babylonians who travelled& traded with silver”rings” to use in lieu of actual sheep/grains,etc as trade.
Thus, I think in this fairly dangerous age, it is a wise thing to invest in the security of the family by having some source of portable wealth….finger-rings are easiest? ( the Russian Romanov royals sewed their jewels into their undergarments!)
Enjoy the American freedom of making decisions!

It’s not unethical at all that they are buying such expensive rings. Yeah, some people would prefer simpler things. But some people have more expensive tastes. If you have the money to afford that taste, what does it matter? That spending YOUR money that YOU earned on what YOU want does not make you a bad person.

People keep talking about all the other issues at hand that could use that money, but fail to see that many of these celebrities DO give to charity and fund these organizations. They have enough money to do both. None of them are claiming to be good people simply because they bought “Ethical” rings. But the fact is, compared to other choices, it’s a better option. Like not wearing fur. Just because someone doesn’t wear fur doesn’t make them a good person, but it’s a good thing to do. (Of course the fur debate is a matter of opinion, I was simply using it as an example).

Celebrities have a lot of money. A LOT of money. But it’s money they earn from doing their jobs and they can spend it on whatever they want. Some celebrities blow every cent they have on crap. Even then, so what? It’s their money. You can’t tell anyone how to spend their money, especially if it’s just because you’re bitter that you don’t have as much. I’ve seen so many people say stuff like, “Do you know what I could have bought for that much money? Do you know what that money could have been spent on?” Thinking like that is part of what makes your life so crappy. If you dwell on the negative and constantly envy what other’s have, you’re going to live a very sad life. Comparing your self to celebrities, in terms of money, is never a good thing. No, I don’t think celebrities are some type of gods that are untouchable. They aren’t. They’re just talented people. (Sometimes) But, from a financial standpoint, they aren’t like average people. They can afford things that we just can’t, and that doesn’t make them horrible people. Now, obviously, this doesn’t apply to all celebrities. Some of them are just real scumbags. But it’s not fair to put that on all of them. There are a number of celebrities that spend their wealth and time and influence to help others in need. It’s not publicized as much exactly how much celebrities dedicate to causes and charities sadly, in this day and age, more people would rather hear about their damn engagement rings. Celebrities don’t choose what aspects of their life are publicized. In a lot of cases they aren’t to blame for the way they’re treated. We are. People hold them to a higher standard then they need to be. People always say “They think they’re above the law.” Well, they wouldn’t think that way if at some point someone didn’t make them feel that way. A big part of what makes up our behavior is the way we’re treated by others. If we really want celebrities to act different, then the solution is to treat them different.

Yes spending more than a couple grand on a ring is ludicrous. Silver is just fine or white gold with other natural stones, everything doesnt always have to be a diamond. 500K can buy a few houses where I come from.

Matt & LR,

I completely agree! Seriously these actors should have the right to purchase whatever they like. They are spending their money and not asking for a handout. Most celebrities are extremely generous and give millions away so why can’t they enjoy some of their money as well?
It’s so sad that people act like because they pay $15 a movie ticket to see some of these actors in a movie they have the right to be judgmental. I’ve noticed lately how much middle and lower class Americans scorn those with any wealth., it’s pretty sad to be so jealous of another person’s success . No one is making you poor or poorer because they are rich. If you don’t like where you are financially in your life, look in the mirror!!

What celebrities spend their money on & how much is truly their business. I think it needs to stop being publicized. I don’t need to see Amal’s 7 carat diamond or know how much George spent on it. Celebrity has gotten so out of hand. It’s ridiculous how much these people are in the news & on magazines. I don’t understand why anyone would want to live they’re life in the public eye & have to walk around with body guards every where you go & then complain about not having privacy.

These”celebrities” have this money because they get paid outrageous salaries for what they do and we, the public ,support this by paying sky high prices for movies, sports, and TV programming

I didn’t have an engagement ring for the first 10 years we were married. We got nice wedding bands and an engagement ring just wasn’t that important to me. My husband used a diamond from a ring that had belonged to his grandfather to have a ring made for me. He tied it on the Christmas tree and made me look for it. It was a total surprise because It was just never something I asked for. The sentiment behind the ring made it more precious than it’s value. We will celebrate 25 years of marriage this July and my wedding ring is more important to me than the engagement ring because of its meaning, but I must confess that when I dress up I do enjoy the sparkle from my engagement ring. I think that what anyone does with their money is their business and who are we to judge?

Most of these celebrities contribute their time and money towards the betterment of the planet. As a proportion of time and energy they do more than most the critics on this thread. Haters will hate.

Nobody has a right to judge others. Clearly all of you whom choose to criticize and begrudge those with plenty of money simply demonstrates that you just have different taste or just jealous. Seriously, it’s none of your business what people do with THEIR money. Most people with a lot of money do contribute to the poor, needy and to various causes. What are you doing? Some like diamonds and bling, some don’t, but trust me, bragging how you prefer the simple things in life doesn’t earn you brownie points nor does it make you appear humble. I suspect that many of you, if handed a couple hundred million dollars would not just put it in the bank and live in your small apartment and live the same manner you currently claim. Get out and do something to change your life or not, but nobody really is interested in your lowly false humility and criticism of others whom have worked hard to earn their millions. Try being positive and honest with yourself. I detest insecure and jealous actions. It’s just a form of social bullying! We all know what bullying is about! Insecure cowards!!!

All you crazy lefties in the comments really are killing me. Why should we care how much these people spend on their wedding rings. $200K is just a trifle to some, and for you to complain and try to tell them how they should have spent that instead is nothing but you being GREEDY with their money. I could just as easily ask why the woman who was bragging that her wedding only cost $185 didn’t cap her spending at the $12 to make it official and spend the other $173 on something charitable.

Get real, people. These folks work hard for their money, and they can choose what percentage they want to give and what they want to spend.

I love sparklies!! They are lovely to look at but for me, not necessary to own. I think that all of ring mentioned above are lovely. I hope they were given in love, not to show off. We have no right to judge what others have. I don’t find diamonds very exciting in and of thrmselves, but I do realize that every person has different tastes. As for how much one pays for engagement rings and the like, that is personal business and really is their choices. As for women being brainwashed into thinking they NEED a diamond ring, that too is only choice. I was raised in a time where a man bought a ring and got down on one knee and asked for your hand in marriage. You said yes or now. I have declined several rings and men. Lol Either wealthy or not it is all about choices. I do have an engagement ring, which was given to me the Christmas after we were wed. I love that it was purchased from an estate sale and only has diamond accents. It is an old Tanzanite, emerald cut. We used family gold bands for sentimental reasons. Just live and let live. I give what I can to my community, believe strongly in Random Acts of Kindness and know that if I had more, I would give more. I am happy about other people’s good fortune and hope all of the couples above are as blessed as I am. We really all the same….Just wanting to be loved for who we are, no matter the financial bracket we fall under.

I guess the diamond topic is”priceless.” I say, just keep it simple…show your love to your partner with whatever item, expression or moment grows the memories. Ethical is such a cliche word. Ask yourself, do you love? are you loved? does your contribution improve the world in some way? If your answer is yes to all 3, keep doing what your doing, it’s a good thing.

Fun story, engagement rings are a scam, so being ethical is besides the point. They were introduced in the early ’20s by the company that had a monopoly on the diamonds. They had so many little diamonds that couldn’t be used for industrial purposes that they needed a way to use up their inventory. Also, selling an engagement ring back won’t bring in much money, since the diamonds are so plentiful. The jewelers can sell them for whatever price they want, because they have a monopoly and they can convince you that the diamonds are worth something. CollegeHumor does a great video on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5kWu1ifBGU

It is their money.

The ethical issue is not with the price–rather, ethical mining can be thought of as a contradiction (wages, living and working conditions, etc.). Even if it is not a blood diamond, how ethical does the mining process have to be for it to be considered ethical-enough-for-us-to-stomach? Moreover, I believe Amal’s engagement ring designer is a man convicted of money laundering and being involved with the Detroit Black Mafia. So, you know, it’s only ethical to a point.

Sorry George Clooney, while your bride has a most elegant and beautiful sparkler, my husband beat you to the design. He designed and had made the exact same ring for me when he proposed. I’d say Amal and I are two lucky girl to have found two diamonds in the rough! All the best to both of you!????

I think the value of this article has been lost on the self-righteous. Like most celebrity news, there is a little guilty pleasure in finding out what really is none of our business, like what someone has paid for their own personal items. Most of us can’t imagine their kind of wealth and extravagant lifestyles, and there is some kind of entertainment factor in thinking about their lives, otherwise, none of us would have even read this article. The rings the celebrities have purchased are beautiful beyond belief and I appreciate being informed about an ethical company like Brilliant Earth that also offers affordable options for rings similar to what celebrities wear, if that is your interest. Personally, I can’t wait to be able to purchase the Victorian halo ringset with my own hard-earned money. There is a reason jewelry is referred to as a luxury item. It’s not a necessity but a special indulgence if you so desire. I must add, brilliant marketing, Brilliant Earth.

Tax the lucky!

The only diamond that is too big or showy always is on somebody elses finger.

I found two lovely gold/diamond rings at an antique store. One was verified as having rose-cut diamonds (paid $125.), the other was $60. Both are 10k gold, and, yes, all the diamonds are real. Both rings were crafted in the 1800’s

Some exemplary points to be sure, however your ending left a lot to e desired. Atlas Shrugged was written by Ayn Rand who to paraphrase in her own words “…My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life…” was to my way of thinking extremely selfish and self centered thus creating a philosophy that most conservatives praise today. She is not an intellectual historical figure that I would praise to anyone. Some refer to her as a Russian American. I refer to her as a Russian transplant.

The author of this article and everyone making comments here about how wealthy people are spending their money need to understand it’s not up to you to decide how anyone spends their money. They made it on their own, they can spend it however they like. They have no responsibility except for what they determine to do with their money. When society determines what others should be doing, it sets itself up for dependence on dictatorships. You do not want that, even if you do not have a lot of money or none at all. You may be able to remain lazy and get assistance, but you lose your independence and freedom. You’ll understand when someone tells you how to spend the money you depend on, whether you produced it through your own hard work or government assistance. Think about this for a while before you comment about others’ choices of spending their money. Read ‘Atlas Shrugged’ if you want a greater understanding.

Funny Clooney so aware of Blood Diamonds however his wife of choice represents a plethude of individuals who have how do you say possible terroristic ties…. Funny how and when they pick and choose to be aware of issues….give me a break…stay out of politics George we have enough to handle as it is….

It’s not celebrities jobs to fix the shit of our world. Be happy when they use their fame and wealth to help at all. Just like with lottery winners, all the shitters come out of their holes looking for a piece and bad mouthing anyone who doesn’t pay up to their standards

You people are way too deep and serious about this and have way too much time on your hands to be so judgmental! Lighten up! People purchase what they want ! And with that being said, their life is not just about that, it’s just the way it is and actually it is no one else’s business but their own. How many of YOU, that have commented, have done what you think is charitable ? Do not judge anyone on their business, just worry about your own self!

Marriage is a Judeo Christian tenet. The idea that many of these atheist celebutards actually have engagement rings is laughable. George Clooney, like so many others in Hollyweird’s circles is, IMO, a serial adulterer. You get married and when you get bored you move on to the next future EX. These people are simply unbelievable

In our senior year of college my husband gave me a diamond engagement ring. It was a promise between both of us that we would begin life together as one. I have unapologetically worn this ring for 43 years now and 6 children later. (If you want you may also add. 70+ foster babies as well) I have watched 4 of my daughters and one daughter-in-law receive their engagement rings and rejoice with them and pray too theirs will be “forever” until one day their spouse gently hands the other back to God. I am thankful.

It takes real presence for reality to sneak in. For most people, the present is a means to absorb the future into the past. Reality, as in the present, cannot be experienced via thought. Thought creates desire, fear and possession. It is accumulation. Tunnel vision can last a lifetime, but diamonds are……..

Oh my gosh–I can’t believe all the “holier than thou” attitudes on here. If they have the money and want to spend several thousand on a ring, that’s their right. All these people saying, “If I had that money, I’d spend it on….” Yeah, right–you may have good intentions, but you really don’t know what you would do if you were in that situation. Most of these people do donate lots of $ to charity.

ummmm they wouldn’t have all that money to spend on beautiful/ethical/unethical/tacky whatever you call it jewelry and weddings and clothes and cars and houses if you quit going to their movies…………

ok, i’ll join this little diamond/wedding band vent-a-thon. Got married young and broke, cost of a diamond ring for her was way out of even considering. Got married with a $0.25 ring ( from a quarter machine). Note: The marriage was just as legal as the big $$$ diamond studded ones were. Anyway, eventually saved up enough to buy a matching pair of gold wedding bands, white gold ones, very nice. Fast forward a few rocky years, and she sells them both ( unbeknowinst to me) at a pawn shop. Some quick cash for some more booze. Now, about that ethics thing…

Amal’s ring is absolutely me. It is actually one, a similar one I picked for myself, the ex-husband just paid for it, of course not that big at all, but same shape. .. It was gorgeous – was, ’cause I gave it back.
No hard feelings 🙂

To each his own is my thought. Everyone should be happy with the way they decided to get engaged or married. There will always be someone with a larger ring or fancier wedding. Not classy being a hater!

Diamonds are a scam. I’m not impressed and frankly don’t care about anything this article writes about. When are women going to start buying their husbands hundred thousand dollar jewelry?

I am pretty sick and tire of hearing “taking care of those in Africa” !!! Are you so deaf, blind and dumb that you don’t KNOW that there are SO many suffering in the good old US???
Look around. Drive around. You cannot escape the poverty visible every day!!
How about starting out at home???

Who the F cares what famous people buy there significant other. We wouldn’t even know about it if the Media didn’t put it out there. Stop already!

I have been around for quite a while and have been dismayed by the attitude that is encouraged by the media and others that wealthy people are bad and their choices are bad when there are so many problems in the world. I’m sure you all have seen reports that if every wealthy business owner gave all his wealth etc to the government, it would only run the government for about 20 days. But furthermore, it is none of our business what people make because they worked toward a goal and some of the achieved it (noting the people in Hollywood too). There is nothing ethical or unethical about buying an expensive ring or wedding or whatever. According to the world, everyone in the US is wealthy. So before we say spending a lot is unethical, think about the fact that if we took that to its proper end, you would need to give up your house, tv, refrigerator and car and give it to others in another country so you could be called ethical. We can all give more, but people who are talented and worked for a goal and achieved it, are not bad people and in the US they have the right to spend their money any way they want to. It’s a good thing, because that means we get to spend our own money anyway we want to! So when we got older we wanted to trade in my tiny engagement ring for a big anniversary ring and by then we could afford it. But as life always throws us curve balls, we are in the military and when we moved overseas, the movers stole everything they could get their hands on. So now I buy fun rings instead and when we retired I thought the thefts were over until a man hired to help with our lawn came into the house and stole some more! They are lovely toys and lots of fun, but they come and go. I would love to have a ring that looked like some of these and no one is going to make me feel guilty about drooling over them!

Diamonds can’t be ethical. Only people like lawyers can be ethical. Only problem is: most aren’t. Go Hillary!!!

The rings are NOT ethical just because they not sourced from African mines. They were sourced from Indian lands that were stolen from native people in Northern Canada. People who live in third world poverty so private mining companies can make millionaires of their stockholders.

People are DYING because of these diamonds.

While browsing in a pawnshop several years ago, a beautiful, vintage wedding band caught my eye. I asked to see it and fell in love with it. It had five small, round diamonds in a row in a vintage platinum setting and fit me perfectly. All five diamonds together equaled about one carat. I called my husband, and he went to look at the ring. He liked it also and bought it for my 25th wedding anniversary present. I still love my $500 ring with the tiny chip (known only by me) in one of the diamonds! And I love my wonderful husband even more! V.

Whats so funny about everyone who is commenting on this site, talking about ethical this and that, this is a jewelry site, that sells jewelry so how hypocritical of you all to sit here and talk when obviously you were window shopping….geesh!

George had gotten above his raisin’ and besides all that she is to young for him. Why it won’t be long and they will be divorced conflict free diamonds or not.

I read the article and then some of the comments and I guess I disagree with most of you. The cost of an engagement ring is usually gauged by the income of the purchaser. I am not in a position to judge how much they spend on an engagement ring. The fact they rejected conflict diamonds for humanitarian reasons is wonderful. How many people do you know that made sure their engagement ring diamond was conflict free? Did you even ask? Did you ask why they didn’t forgo the ring and give the money to charity, probably not?
Many of these people do give a lot of money, time and resources to better the world. Most people would not be able to match the amounts given if done by percentage of income. I am thrilled they did not buy conflict diamonds and contribute to the torture and abuse of the people in those mining areas.
You are missing the point if you are focused on the amount they spent. The point is they went above and beyond to do no further harm to others with their money. That speaks to who a person is on the inside, what they believe in, not what economic bracket they live in.

Welcome to Obama’s world of wealth redistribution. Why in the world do any of you think you have the right to say what a celebrity does or doesn’t do with the money they earned? They shouldn’t spend their money on themselves – they should spend it on the homeless, etc. Where, exactly, do you think these celebrities get their money? Oh yea – The movies, TV shows, and music YOU watch/buy. If you truly believe you are entitled to dictate what someone else does with their money – STOP SPENDING IT ON CELEBRITIES!! Take the $20-$40 you would spend to see a movie, and donate it to the cause of your choice. Take the $10 you would spend on the latest piece of crap album, and donate it. STOP making the celebrities rich, if it bothers you to see them rich.

If i had many millions, no doubt i would make some frivolous purchases too, so i dont begrude those who can and do. nor is it entirely wrong to speak of ‘ethical diamonds’, even if the name is a bit contrived, hard to define or verify, and a bit incongruous, given their association with highly superfluous, expensive ornaments for the rich, or those who should spend limited funds more sensibly. yes, i get all that.

i think the essentially irritating element of all this, is trying to associate something so wantonly wasteful, simply for the purpose of showing off, with the concept of “ethical”. it isnt entirely inapt; it just lacks credibility and authenticity, and comes across as just another way for the very wealthy to show off. other than the diamond jewellery, that is to say.

if george clooney and the SO, had said, “we bought a synthetic diamond, as they are real diamonds and indistinguishable from ones dug from the ground(*). no, it doesnt make any difference to the world really, but it just feels more human”, then THAT is something i could really admire. (*) not strictly correct, but close enough.

So by many of what you guys say, I should be shamed for having a 2+ carat wedding set? And a wedding that cost a several thousands versus going to the justice of the peace? Sounds like envy and jealousy to me. It was our wedding and we loved it. It was actually 15k cheaper than what ppl report the average in wedding costs. So yeah I saved money where I could, but I didn’t want to look back and regret anything. Been married 11 years and two kids later and I still think it was the perfect wedding that I wouldn’t mind redoing for a vow renewal ceremony!! To each their own. Oh and yes, I give to charity as well…

Wow. All this spells hypocrisy and jealousy. I would like to see if you had all their money, if you would donate every cent to charity. And you keep living a simple and modest life……..really.

RS said “October 2nd, 2014 at 5:24 am
Let’s be realistic here….. Anyone who spends 250-750 K on a diamond ring is really not being truly ethical, regardless if they have excess wads of cash or not. Your “ethical celebrity rings” is a bit misleading”.

You obviously don’t know what the word “ethical” pertaining to diamond and gems means at all.

Jewellery can be beautiful, ordinary or just plain ugly. When I was young I was told to buy only a solitaire. I still believe that surrounding a diamond with numerous tiny diamond chips cheapens it. Of the rings shown, the only one I would buy, if I could afford it, would be the Penelope Cruz sapphire. Sorry, but in my opinion, baguettes, ethically mined or not, are for the birds.

What goes around….profits everyone. Thousands spent on weddings, jewelry, inaugural balls, PROVIDE INCOME for the many involved! It is good for our economy, plus anything chosen with a ‘conscience’ sends an even better message. Many cultures celebrate grand events in grand style, not by going out and rescuing an abandoned dog or a struggling student. Let’s replace the “no pain, no gain” mentality we have in this country by encouraging these well dressed victory dances, okay?

The negative comments on this page regarding the “ethical diamond” seem to be written by not only a sanctimonious, but also jealous group. George Clooney and his beautiful new wife spend a fortune on their specific charities, and believe deeply in what they are trying to accomplish. Everything is relative, what seems outrageous for one to spend on an engagement ring can be completely in keeping with their finances, and this is certainly true with George Clooney. Aren’t there more important issues at hand than celebrity diamond engagement rings, really…

I LMAO because the point is being missed entirely. This is an advertisement by Brilliant Earth using the concept that “look – even celebrities have bought our products”. They are tasked to get the word out that these diamonds are not “Blood Diamonds” and on top of that, they are just as beautiful as the “Blood Diamonds”. They need to encourage people to get past their initial fears that they couldn’t possibly be real diamonds. The way they (Brilliant Earth) chose to do this is to use Celebrities. They did this because their data told them it’s the best way to reach the age group buying Diamond Rings. Whether or not you spend $500K to support a company who embraces the decision to produce a ring that was not produced by killing people, is not the message. Of course I would expect people like George Clooney to spend that. who cares? He is already a well known philanthropist. But Brilliant Earth doesn’t just make $500K rings. They are a legitimate alternative to Tiffany’s or Peacock, or Dept Stores such as Bloomingdales, or privately owned businesses. That’s the message. Oh, and by the way, No it will not end the conflicts over diamonds, but it will help to invest in this company to stay in business and market to everyone. They are investing in the company and not putting the money elsewhere. They were going to spend their money anyway. Good for them. Please spend your money….economy needs that for our jobs.

Spending $300k is not unethical. Who’s to say that these people do not donate to charity. And, if they have the money, why not spend it. You do not have to be a monk to be ethical.

No Diamond is ethical, Clooney just made every diamond’s value go up. Any man that gets sucked into this age old scam is just buying in to more death by greed. Sapphires and Lapis are far more appropriate for stones that signify love and commitment, most men just don’t know any better and just want to throw away as much cash as they think will impress their wife. Total waste and ignorance fuels the diamond industry.

LMAO! An “ethical” diamond ring? That’s hilarious. You know…because of all the people who were released from the DEATH MINES because Clooney didn’t buy a tiny chip of carbon from their operation…

It’s SO easy for these Libs to feel superior when all they do is make a tiny, TOTALLY insignificant gesture–as long as it’s convenient–and all the MSM lapdogs and hangers-on are apoplectic while SCREAMING their praises!

It can’t get more silly and ridiculous…and absolutely inane.

Ethical..!!!! Would be not buying diamonds….Very,Very little of that money reaches the people

I can’t speak for anyone else’see choices, but I would feel incredibly foolish if my SO sought to please me by spending more than $1500-2000 on a ring. The money celebrities spend on jewelry, ridiculous showy weddings, and over-the-top cars would, pooled together, end child hunger in this country, and get our Veterans off the streets (60% of all homeless adults in this country are thought to be Veterans of the Armed Forces). But this is the world and the country we live in…give your life for your country, risk it, leave your family for months or years, and come back to get lax medical care and no help! Babylon and the old revived Roman Empire at its finest.

People are stupid. Enough said. Seriously though, why do we care if these diamonds are conflict free, especially when they cost so much? Let’s be honest here…. If someone can afford 500k for a ring then they should be feeding, sheltering and clothing the needy, etc. Oh, and we should be more concerned about our country’s people beforehand. So, taking all this into consideration. Is purchasing conflict-free diamonds all of the sudden going to put an end to mining blood diamonds? No. Is one douche-bag liberal putting around in an eco-friendly car going to stop the production of muscle cars? No. Who gives a crap what they spent, where they spent it and who they spent it on? Since when did hippies have so much money anyway? *No trees were killed during the writing of this post, thanks to the interwebz*

Reading through the responses to this simple article simply made me think…..wow….so many jealous people out there. While my wife and I would never spend $500k on a ring (even if we had it to spend) I certainly don’t begrudge folks who do. There is nothing unethical about spending some of your income on yourself provided that nobody was harmed while doing it. How much did Clooney give to charity? Does anyone know? Why do people feel that anyone who has more than they do is obliged to give it to everyone else? Think about this for a moment….unless you are the absolute poorest person Earth (out of 7 billion) then there is always someone poorer than you. Don’t criticize folks with more until you give away every dime that you own first.

funny, how these ”moralists” get all worked-up whenever someone prominent who is also a philanthropist supposedly “wastes’’ their own money on themselves; yes, these self-proclaimed ‘’moralists’’ and ‘’ethicist’’ don’t have a problem with, say… the british rrrroyalty living ‘high-on-the-hog’ at tax payers expense for generations and centuries !

Really, George Clooney didn’t pick the arm candy….. Clearly Amal Alamuddin picked the arm candy!

Let’s be real. Given the history of diamond mining, no diamond has an ethical source. Even re-used. The same for many precious metals. Unless they are used to sustain life, they aren’t worth risking miners’ lives.

I thought cruelty free meant how the diamonds were extracted from the ground by slaves or barely paid men throughout the centuries. Especially in the Belgian Congo the treatment of workers was horrendous. Many old diamonds must be blood diamonds and now on your hands.

I can understand the significance of wanting fine jewelry, but spending that much is highly ridiculous. I spend a little over $300 on my wife’s engagement ring, and it was just as beautiful as the one’s shown here (or at least I think so, and she had and still has no complaints). Yes, I’m sure if I sold my soul I could have afforded the million dollar rings that are floating around these fine ladies’ fingers. I’d just rather put food on my table so my family can eat. Call me piratical.

I rarely ever comment on articles, but good Lord! Get it together people! It’s a brief article on famous individuals and their jewelry choices. Period. Does it need to veer off into resentment, jealousy, “well back in MY day”, the homeless, the downtrodden, Benghazi? There are PLENTY of other forums to discuss such larger issues. At the end of the day, no one cares about your opinions, no one’s going to change their lifestyle because of them and there will still be the haves/have nots doing what they should/shouldn’t do. Get over it and carry on.

The celebrities often wind up setting trends for the rest of us? (Choke, choke). Yeah, sure, of course. Whatever. I guess it depends who the “us” is that you’re referring to.

liberal mush. if those homeless would simply get a job they would not be homeless. by giving, you make all of them continuingly dependent. force people to work so they have their personal self respect back. some people truly do need help, and we do need safety nets. but you as a giver are not doing any good by indiscriminately “doing good.” doing good is evil unless done with great care. doing good per se is wrong, immoral.

These posts reminded me a little of this sign I saw a few weeks ago in a pizza kitchen’s window. It said “cruelty free meat.” Um… I don’t see how eating any kind of slaughtered animal can ever be considered cruelty free. Maybe LESS cruel but cruelty free is a bunch of hogwash. I appreciate their efforts to use free range meat but they should be careful how they label things.

I have to admit as for the diamonds I do think it’s nice that these people are at least trying to be somewhat considerate, since they’re going to be buying a big rock anyway, why not make at least a small effort to do the right thing. It’s like with the cruelty free meat. It’s nice that they’re making an effort, but let’s not blow it out of proportion.

All of those saying that spending money is unethical, I sure hope you live in a shoebox, have 2 sets of clothes, walk everywhere and eat sausages every night, because by your standards buying anything more than the absolute necessities is unethical! I don’t care who you are if you have money, no matter how it is acquired, you have absolutely no obligation to give it to anyone… I think it’s great that they use their high profiles to fight for good causes, they don’t have to… even if they only do it to make themselves look good! So cancel your internet access, sell your computer and phone, there’s a kid in Africa who needs that money more!

Was that George Clooney’s daughter he bought a ring for ? She looks way to young for such an old man as he is.

Ah-h, your necessity is my extravagance and vice-versa. These decisions are a cross we each must bear and will, ultimately, determine how long Mother Nature tolerates our species presence.

Anyone complaining is ridiculous(thats being nice), you are all spending $30-$120 a month for internet so you can come on forums like this and make useless comments. Then you judge the guys that can afford to get their ladies a proper ring.

Laughable….using the term, ethical, in relations to this trash. Laughable. And, a little stupid.
How about usimg the term, ethical, in relationship to the targeting of the IRS of certain groups?
Or with the desertion of our people in Benghazi……if you know that Benghazi is not something you can buy at the jewelry store……
Laughable and misguided….and pathetic.

Expensive rings are fine if you can afford them. Just, please, do not pretend that using “recycled” platinum and diamonds is any kind of sacrifice worthy of high praise.

Who the hell cares?

The only ethical diamond is synthetic.

If people can afford it,’ WHY NOT”!
I find it ludicrous that people find themselves to be judge and jury of other peoples lives.

“Join the Movement” PLeeeease. Give me a break. It’s just another fad and another way for YOU to make a buck.
If you want us to “Join a Movement”, really join a REAL MOVEMENT. Coming up with a business that sells to superstars outrageous sized diamonds that are “turmoil free”….does probably nothing. Go rescue the forced Vietnamese shrimp fishermen, or open homes for the children who are trafficked, support the ministries in the Philippines who are feeding the children who live in the dumps and graves. I can give you some names of ALL these type of MOVEMENTS. Buying a ring for 700k is not helping anybody but yourself and a way you can “feel good” about the absurdity. UGH FACT: There is enough wealth among 5 individuals that could WIPE OUT hunger in the world.

People don’t understand that what you value is subjective to where you are in life.

I know some people who care about high student loan and welfare and poor people and whatnot… And chances are those issues impact and affect them. If you care about something because it affects you, it doesn’t make you a good person, so get off your high horse. A celebrity who’s not affected by poverty doesn’t innately care about poverty; so if this person DOES decide to care about it, it’s out of the goodness of his/her heart. So rich people who cares are the truly good; poor people who care about being poor is just being selfish.

Of course students who can’t pay tuition wants reduced student loan or some way to default on it, but why the hell would I want that? The government student loan defaults will have to come out of tax payer’s pockets anyways. The oppressed talking about oppression doesn’t make them good, it just makes them human. Remember that before you wonder why the rich doesn’t care about you (the answer is because he doesn’t need to, the world doesn’t revolve around you).

Do what we did, buy a nice cheap CZ set, I save money that I use for the local animal shelter, plus I’ve got a little bling on my finger, plus someone had to have made it, so I’m also supporting the economy. Life really isn’t a contest in regards to who has what and how much they have. You can’t take it with you when you die and it sure won’t help you get into Heaven any easier than my cheap fake set will. Get real people, live the kind of life God wants us all to live, don’t be materialistic.

Extravagant for what

Who really cares what kind of engagement rings they have. We in this country have more things to worry about then rings. Our children are not getting educated, the poor are getting poorer, there are homeless people laying in the streets of our cities. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. We say terrible things about our President, instead of trying to get together and help each other all we do is get more greedy. The Motto is O Say Can You See What’s In It For me.

Wealthy celebrities should spend as much money as they want on engagement bands, or any other jewelry. What makes them ethical or socially responsible is their actions on behalf of those not as fortunate, and to a lesser extent what they do with the rest of their money. $500,000 may sound like a fortune to you or anyone with a “normal” income. But to a celebrity with a seven or eight figure income, it’s a smaller percentage of their income than the average bloke plunks down for a diamond at Jared’s. And just like lower cost jewelry, these rings could be beautiful, or absolutely hideous. Money, in no way, guarantees taste.

What the hell does Hollywood know about being ethical. Give me a freaking break already.

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I am saddened at a comnent that someone made that “every women is brain washed and wants an expensive ring”…and possibly men too. A lot of men think they have to “prove their love”. I know i amalgamized the sentiments into one, but that is the essence of what we are saying. Proportionatly many of these celebrities are spending an equal amount on jewelry as we do. What benefit is all of this self righteousness getting anyone. Who are weto judge anyone? Someone mentioned that it took there spouse monthd to pay off their ring. To me, i was taught a ring. Should not be used until one ownd it outright. (Paying it off dosent really count as it could be repossed). Who cares if some people like diamonds. Diamonds,garnets,oearks,emeralds,moonstines,rubies gave ALL been used as engagement rings ghroughout history(not so much as solitaires but ALL were used) AND no wonder people are confused by propaganda!! “every kiss does NOT begin with kay” Every kiss begins with two lips touching (last tkme i knew). I went to an antique shop in sarasta fl snd we bought my engagement ring (a 1940’s 14k 1/4 k diamond a 1 k ruby. From 1905 and a ten dollar ring (that ended up bring do old it was toxic) so engagement ringcame to under$ 300. Because I set that as a price cap for what I thought was reasonable i also look better in dainty jewelry but i dont want to justify ,nor should woman HAVE to justify THEIR choices (yes i am for ethically sourced and estate pieces) . But thats my belief. Women should do what they want WITHOUT tabloid or celebrity intervention. Now on anniversarys my husvand replaced my weddibg band $10 for one that cost a bit over 10x that. And i have an eternity band i may upgrade my engagement band. I may not.choice.. I think ANYONE can have the wedding THEY want WITHOUT BEING JUDGED so long as they are doing it with love, compassion and because THEY want if that way in their hearts!. Not because an INDUSTRY told them to do it. I find it insideous.It saddens me that *as fashion comes back into style every 20-30 years) so too do wedding trends. Sapohire ring princess dianas rings, grace kelly style dresses. When i tried to select my dresses in 2010,i wanted one with sleeves. I married july 2011 and of course you had to order months in advance. By april the next “generation” of brides, thanks to catherine middleton,coulf have all the sleeved dresses they wanted. I think bridal ettiqutte is nice, rsvp cards, good manners, all of that. But so many things NEVER exsisted!..”save the date cards”. Trash the dress..online invitations..the obsession with magazines full of modrls in the most bizarrely contorted positions that i hope no bride should ever have to be in (staring at the sky while holding a ruptured appendix)..(reaching for a pencil while being nearsited and trying not to fall off a ladder) doing the limbo while trying to squat in a position similar to using a toilet in india. Its sad id like to see what a gown would really look like, not on a fashion model but a bride. it is a marriage ,people. A PARTNERSHIP not a fad. And it saddens me thats what “the bridal industry has made it. And they have done SUCH a good job that it is terrifying. Convincing us ANY amount of money is fine to spend for “the princess day”. Its not the end, or a “final blow out” its the start of a life together.. Anyway. In short, we all judge, but maybe it would help ALL of us if we were more self aware rather..than focusing on the lives of people who are so much more than just sn article or photograph, and who are struggling to..make the same choices we are in life. Wedding venues charities, raising children, working, being people. But recognizing WE DONT KNIW THEM. I have met a few severak times, but i DONT really know them, nor they me. WE can and SHOULD admire people who are talented and graceful do good work in the world, but just becsuse they are attractive and famous dosent mean they arent people (and as we have seen time and time again, it does not mean their marriages are any more likely to last)
.Very imperfect people in an imperfect world.. the same as we are. But with probably even greater challenges (media frenzied, keeping their children safe) and i wish us all luck.ALL of us equally.I think we need it.

Ethical diamonds are like “ethical Ivory” from pre-existing ivory. There is no such thing.

Commodities are “fungible” (look it up). this means if you buy oil from the cleanest wells and refineries you are increasing demand for the dirtiest oil and refineries. Same with diamonds

Purchase of any diamonds caused value and price of all diamonds to be increased because the charts show that price of non ethical diamonds moves exactly with the price of so called ethical diamonds.

If you are at all concerned about the effects of the diamond mining business buying so called ethical diamonds is worse because it has no helpful affect and is also HYPOCRICAL

What if you try to call someone to help you get into organizations that help the homeless, the helpless and the jobless. So that they will help you out.

What if we spend million dollars on a ring or a piece if jewelry but still help people go to college, spend millions too in donation for sick children, jobless people, and mentally challenged individuals? Still unethical? Too good to be true? What if it’s reality?

I don’t undrstand why everyone is complaining so much about the ring Clooney bought. If you actually click on the link in the description of his ring, it was $999. Considering his income, that’s not very much to spend on a diamond ring. We live paycheck to paycheck and I disagree with Craig, if we had to pay $10.00 a gallon for gas, we wouldn’t be able to afford our rent. I had a brain tumor removed almost 3 years ago, live in a small town in SC and have to go 2 hours one way to Atlanta for my follow-up appointments. I’m very thankful for everything I do have and every day I have but I don’t have the disposable income to do what celebrities do and I don’t think I should be judged for that!!

Patricia Shih…I really loved your story. So honest and charming. My husband and I married in 1969, bought very simple bands, inexpensive as we were pretty poor at the time. 20 yrs. Later, wealthier, we exchanged them for more expensive ones. Great, right? No, within one month, we both decided we wanted to go back to the original rings. Sold the new ones, gave the money to local pet rescue. So happy to do both. Do what makes you guys happy, big or small, gazillions, millions, pennies on the dollar. Happy is the ultimate goal, happy and at peace with your decision.

I would spend a billion or two for my lover (s) if I could. I would not give a penny to charities because their CEOs keep it all to buy diamond rings for their lover (s)! I also think we sholud pay $10.00 a gallon for gas. Just think how hard it is for the poor Arabs and OIL companies to bring us our precious liquid gold. I hope we never have to use electronic battery powered vehicles. Many jobs in the oil production field would be lost. TERRIBLE! We should pay more for everything because we just don’t know how well we have it! Everything is so cheap and that makes us not appreciate anythingl Just saying!!!

Interesting debate – but kind of pointless, in that it involves making value judgments for others. How bout we all mind our own business? More importantly – how bout we all remember to take Hollywood and EVERYTHING about Hollywood with less than a grain of salt? Especially since we know that everything done there is for the sake of publicity? If you think the Kardashians are tacky, talentless publicity junkies – don’t watch ’em!! If you think George Clooney and his wife are ethical, unethical, green, not green? Just remember that thanks to the media we’re basically programmed to NOTICE what they do! I remember a couple of years ago when there was so much furor over Miley Cyrus at some awards show – I’m not the least bit interested in pop music and wouldn’t know 99 percent of pop stars if I met ’em in the road – but I sure know who she is. And THAT is the point. Whether you think she’s great or you loathe her – you’re THINKING of her. I don’t know if she’s a “tramp” or a “pathetic little girl” – both things I actually saw in print – but I do know she’s one smart little girl. All the way to the bank, I mean. Ask yourself, next time you’re “disgusted” with a celebrity’s behavior – or next time you’re “idolizing” a celebrity – why you’re thinking of them at all?

I don’t support any charities. Who cares. If i make a dollar or a million one can buy whatever they want . No one should care. If we didn’t have Hollywood we wouldn’t have The Notebook. LoL. Come on really. I just finally after 20 years bought my first diamond from brilliant earth and i love knowing exactly where it came from. That was my choice and i don’t care if you didn’t buy an “ethical” diamond.

I gave my wife a pair of matched 3.75 Ruby earrings for the engagement/wedding process. A Little pricey but got way more attention all her life than a diamond that I could afford at the time would have. Served its purpose well and was kinda unique as was she!

Is it ethical to let the world know how ethical you are and how of your excess money you give to charity? Is it ethical to spend like a drinker sailor on yourself and then make commercials telling the peons how to be “green?” “Ethical” is certainly not a word I would associate with Hollywood or Washington DC.

Amen to this Danny! You are so correct. They are actors and actresses. We pay them for acting and to entertain us. They are not more usful for my life, then a plummer, or a taxi driver. How come, that if I buy a book and pay for it, the author does not become a god, stuffing his or her face and personal life down in my throat. Tweeting day and night. They not become an example for us how to live. I do not see them acting stupid or silly on TV interviews either. And they are also famous, and payed very well
What made Hollywood so perfect, that we have to adore and copy them? We dont do that with grredy CEO-s, and Wallstreet.” They work too “.
I am just saying .

Wow. I love Natalie Pot man’s engagement ring. That is my dream come true engagement ring. It’s do classic and mind blowing….. Brilliant Earth, please can you tell me how much that ring cause and it’s wedding ring as well. I really want to marry this year God willing. I’ll also be glad if you can send me the male version and the price as well. Thank you

When the man who knew me well proposed, he offered me a choice: a diamond ring or a sewing machine. I chose the sewing machine, made my beautiful wedding gown on it (and many other wonderful things for our family) and have never regretted it. I do not have to insure, worry about losing, or vainly try to one-up my friends with a rock of any kind. I kind of think that’s ethical. (And guess what: we just celebrated our 40th anniversary! Diamonds guarantee nothing.)

Can any of these wealthy and ethical “people” take a page from the book of David and Melinda Gates or Angelina Jolie who use their wealth to help so many. Mrs. Clooney sell the ring and donate the money to Wounded Warriors – if not for them you would not be able to be you.

What is truly unethical is the amount we pay celebrities (TV, Movie, Sports, etc) they only give us entertainment. They get to do fun things … play a game, travel, and pretend to be people who actually were activists and people who help others for lots of money. How did we get to this unethical way of living??? Paying people to have fun and being useless to humanity on the most part while paying those who (they pretend to be) being paid poorly for putting their lives on the line for the rest of us. I would love to see a new tax called Celebrity Tax … a 90% tax on all income over one million dollars made by a Celebrity (actor, or athlete) with the only loop hole is money given to charity. That would be ethical!!!

Laughable. Activists? Not even close. I love among true human plight activists, people who spend most of their waking time, with little to no pay, actually doing something worthwhile for humanity. Spending thousands on a ring does not make one an activist. None of these celebrities contributed to anything good, as a matter of fact, they continue to drive a dagger into the backs of the middle and lower class.

I always heard that DeBeers had not only the monopoly on the diamonds being mined and control the prices world wide but control how many diamonds are sold for resale annually thus keeping the demand high and the prices even higher. But that DeBeers has the total control of the diamond trade seems to me (and what do I know) Just not RIGHT, they HAVE and I mean HAVE soooooooooooo much already mined diamonds stored away that if diamonds were out in the fair market and the monies they are really worth would most likely not be very much since there is NOT a shortage of diamonds and thus a 12 K diamond would not be as big of a deal as it is now. So I say if it’s your money get what you want because you want it. Not to impress someone else with how much money you spend or where or whom made it. It’s nobody’s business but YOURS. But it would be really nice if big money company’s like DeBeers had some kind of regulation on them so that they don’t have total control on how much we pay if we want for a shiny sparkly ROCK. I do agree it would be nice if excess money went to help where it’s so needed and not for this months not needed 5 LV purse just saying but it’s not my money

It’s their money to spend any way they like. Period.

I asked for a color, console TV when I married a long, long time ago. We had plain gold bands. My husband wanted to buy me a ring but I’m much too practical. After 25 years, he tried again. I asked for a red convertible instead. Both great choices! No flowers or candy for all the fake holidays either. Just save up and buy something for the family.
Instead of exchanging birthday gifts and Christmas gifts, we find a family in need. The working poor. Minimum wage earners who have nothing extra for their spouses or kids. What they do or don’t do with their money is none of my business. It’s all I can handle, doing what’s right for my family and myself. So everyone should do what they want or can and depend on Kharma to handle everyone else.

Everyone has the right to choose how they wish to spend their money. They earned it and they can spend it anyway they choose. On all money earned it is taxed by the government. That tax money is to go to help the needy (as well as so much more). However many receiving our tax dollars are not so needy. (lets not forget that huge problem). I worked hard to get an education to support myself and I think I should be able to spend my money any way I see fit with out being judged . Again, I am an law abiding US citizen that pays taxes. What is mine after that is mine to spend how I see fit!!!! I am not here to judge people and should not be judged by people. I could go off on a rampage regarding undeserving welfare recipients, women getting pregnant just for the “free” money and so one and so one and so one……… Not going to do that. They have got live with that guilt, not me. Again not here to judge. The world would be a much better place, it people just minded there own business and not worry about the size and amount of Amal Cloney’s ring. Good for her!!!!!!!! If that is not for you…Good for you!!!!!! Mind your own business!!!!!

Correction: The setting I originally had as an engagement ring was called the “Tiffany Setting”.

Wow, such an interesting debate. I for one don’t know what the big deal is about diamond rings anyway. When I was 21 back in 1969 I worked at Tiffany & Co. in Chicago. I was engaged and my finance bought me a ring that was about a carat through a wholesaler. It was called a princess setting and was a solitary diamond. It seemed like the thing you did. However, I never was impressed with diamonds anyway because without a professional eye they could be a c.s. for all I’d know. After 5 years of marriage, we got divorced and I left him the ring to sell. Well, never saw the money from it but when I remarried, I got a simple wide gold band. It made my finger white and shriveled so as I was taking it off and on at work, I must have forgotten it and it was stolen. Three years later, my husband bought me another ring and I lost that one too. Since then I have not worn a wedding band or engagement ring nor does my husband. The point is I could care less about the tradition and just never seemed to think it was a important. Only when I was younger and with my first marriage thought it was a status symbol. Now I’m noticing it’s become a big status symbol among the 20 somethings and I think it must be the materialism of it because if you really LOVE someone, the ring doesn’t matter. I’ve been married for 38 years to my second husband and both of us have never been bothered (or have cheated on one another) by the fact that we don’t wear rings. I love jewelry but there are many more precious gems that I think are a lot prettier anyway. Just had to remark because really, if you want to impress and it’s important to you and you have the money, it’s entirely up to you. All these celebrities mentioned are rich and it just comes with the territory but extreme in anything is ridiculous when there are so many in this world in need. I don’t like to judge others though because unless you’re in the category of extreme wealth, do you really know how you would act?

scarlett’s ring is my dream. art deco is gorgeous, feminine, and timeless.

There is no such thing as “conflict free” diamonds.
Illegal cartels are profiting from all diamond sales.

Alicia “Silvertone” lol – Freudian slip??

How many of you who are complaining about how others spend their own money are looking at your own charitable donations?
How much have you donated to the homeless last year? What contributions and volunteering have you done for worthy causes and human rights this past year, or any year? Many celebrities have donated millions of dollars and given their time and talent to support numerous worthy causes. Most of you speak from ignorance and judgment. Unless you have access to their financials, you don’t know anything about how much the rich donates, or how much they pay in taxes. Be grateful for what they have done and look at what you’ve done in comparison. Could you have donated more? Most of you could have donated your money to the homeless instead of buying a new car. Or, you could have donated your old car to a charity
instead of selling it or trading it in. This is the same reasoning that most of you are using to judge others.

I for one never had an engagement ring and after 35 years of marriage wear a simple platinum band

My engagement ring came from an antique store in Vermont.

As a person, who has spent time and money to help out at some local charities and helping children in need, I find some of these comments as laughable considering these actresses have spent time and money helping people than some of these people who are just trolling, whose only contribution to society is unsubstantiated comments. Do us a favor, get out there and help people rather than criticizing those who do help.

Wow…it sounds like a lot of rationalization and envious sour grapes from people that can’t afford these “ridiculous” and “pretentious” diamonds. Stop looking, comparing and judging what others have and what they do with their money, both ethical and seemingly unethical, and concentrate on the blessings you have and the deeds you do in your own daily lives. What do you have, more than others? What do you do with what you have, little or lots?

Most of the people here are hypocritical. Asks yourselves this: If you live in the US or a developed country your monthly earnings is way more that what a family makes in a year in poorer countries. So by your logic, you should not spend on that new car when so many people are starving. Why cant you make do with an older vehicle and donate the remaining to those poor people. Dont send your kids to expensive schools or buy a bigger house. Spend lower that you can afford.

If you are working for a firm that produces goods the average joe cannot buy, you will be out of work if people didn’t spend. So if the celebrities spend the money like plunking couple of million for a wedding, great. That way they are not just hogging the money but end up employing so many ordinary people even for a short while. Some of these rich people spend on charity. Who are you to expect that they spend all or most of their money to “just” causes (“just” in your eyes only).

Spend a decent percent on helping others and what you do with the rest is your business.

Putting aside the undeserved and ridiculous price tag society has assigned to a piece of coal, let’s not forget that most of the “forever love” that they are supposed to represent will fall to ashes within five ( or less) years. Instead of these excessively rich people patting them selves on the back for buying “ethical” engagement rings, I completely agree that using the cash to alleviant some financial duress would certainly be more “ethical”. Not that the truth of, “It’s their money to do with as they please.” doesn’t apply. They “worked” for it. Although, their pay scale is about as realistic as their choice in engagement rings is “ethical”.

Is this a conversation about ethics and traditions or are we evaluating a persons freedom of expression? The whole thing begins and ends when you look beyond your own presentation of engagement and marriage.

So now all my great grandmother’s rings are considered ethical? Whatever.

Bottom line. The world would be a better place if we all looked carefully at our own choices every day. Stop judging other people.

I hate saying this but, “If I were a celebrity”… If I were a celebrity, I would ask my fiancé to get me a CZ, Moisannite, or far cheaper gemstone ring. You’re a celebrity, people already know that you’re rich and that you could easily afford a jumbo diamond like the golf ball sized monstrosity that sits atop Kim Kardashian’s finger, so what’s the point? Pardon the rock pun, but I would think celebrities would be fairly jaded by diamonds anyway; sparkle is sparkle, and CZ’s come colorless and flawless. Not to mention I would feel a heap more ethical about not having a hardworking family’s annual salary sitting on my finger.

Looks like every position on gems has been covered in this blog.

So I’ll comment on those sunglasses that Amal Alamuddin and so many other chicks are wearing…they’re H I D E O U S.
Ray Ban makes perfectly nice, classy looking glasses made for our smaller faces…those big goggles look like you raided your big brothers camaro.

I do not know what is ethical about the rings. They are just expensive diamond rings. I hope they were given with real love.

I’m sure that celebrities give to charities but I don’t get the money they spend on engagement rings and the millions they spend on weddings when celebrity marriages have a higher failure rate then ordinary people

How ethical is it for anyone to comment on others choices?

My husband bought me a beautiful antique platinum diamond engagement ring that I made him sell back ,so that we could have 2 gold bands for our wedding, and some dollars left over for our honeymoon in Israel.
It was the right choice then, and I have since received beautiful diamond rings, but I really wish I had that first ring again.
What someone pays for their gifts to their significant others is none of anyones business, and more power to them that they can affords it.
Rich people earn their money and give generously to others.
It is all relevant.
Alternative stones and metal wedding bands are fine if that is what you want,
give me diamonds set in platinum any day, and the bigger the diamond ( ruby, emerald, sapphires ) the better!

Ethics aside, the only thing “breathtaking” about a 7+ carat emerald cut diamond is the price tag. I realize emerald cut diamonds are all the rage but the reason they call it an emerald cut is because it’s for emeralds, or sapphires, or rubies. Something with color. An emerald cut gem has depth if it has color. If it doesn’t have color it might as well be a piece of glass, or a CZ if you want to spring for it. Diamonds should be sparkling which calls for a cut with a lot of facets. Javier Bardem has the right idea. Big stone with color. Small stones with sparkle.

Let’s face it between the money spent on the facelifts (gone real bad), jewels and extravagant houses they really are much to posh to admit that anything could be “natural”/”ethically sound.” They just want to look good in the eyes of the public. They make too much money to begin with!

Its nothing to do with proportionate wealth or ethical choices but, simply the desire to be viewed with desire. Look at me, look how good and ethical I am. Why do we allow ourselves to be influenced by such nonsence when so much good can be and is done on a ground level by ordinary people.

Nobody in their right mind wears a half-million dollar ring around. These beautiful treasures get put in a safe and a good imitation or a simple band worn on a daily basis.

Just because celebs spend $250,000 and up on a ring doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t do better things with their money. Many are extremely charitable and donate time and moeny to causes close to their hearts. They earn their money and have a right to spend it with everyone getting all judge-y.

Anyone who knows about the Kimberly process knows that any diamond imported into any of the 100+ countries which are signatories to the KP cannot be imported unless they comply, which means that they are not from a conflict zone. Therefore, unless he bought it in a non-signatory country, it is ‘ethically sourced’. Ergo, nothing of news here….

I would love to have a big old honkin’ 7 ct. diamond as long as it’s conflict free. There was a time when I would say that George Clooney made his money himself without stepping on the little people and, therefore, deserves to spend it how he pleases. Since then I’ve found that he opposed the SAG president who wanted to strike to protect the future income from new kinds of residuals, computer streaming, etc. Now, I think that George has his and he’s not so interested in the majority of members of SAG who live on their residuals and I’ve lost respect for him.

I don’t like diamonds. EVERYONE has to have one, which means that they aren’t all that rare. I would rather have a brilliant sapphire, emerald, ruby, or peridot. How about tourmaline? These gem stones are actually rarer than diamonds which means they would be worth more.

As for the “vintage” rings, we have no history on how the diamonds were obtained, meaning they could be conflict diamonds from before they were called “conflict” diamonds.

My husband and I just decided to forego the whole glitzy diamond brainwashing. We wear matching bands made from the same metal. We chose tungsten. It never scratches and it is a beautiful silver color.

it’s a nice thought even if it doesn’t play out very well…….

Call me crazy, but I’m just wondering, why is it anyone else’s business how these celebrities spend their money? After all, we didn’t make their money for them, nor are they telling us how to spend ours. It is wonderful that so many of them choose to spend their money to help others, but it is certainly their right to choose how they spend it! I enjoyed seeing pics of their beautiful rings, and was thrilled to read that these are people who are also choosing to help those less fortunate. My choice is to be thankful for what they are doing and to help others in the best way that my finances allow me to.

Well said, CB. The people who do the least talk the most.

All of these comments are so nice. Now how much of your money, time, effort, etc. are YOU giving to any causes? Are you givers or just takers. If I remember correctly the person’s listed are not only wealthy but also givers. They give time, money and use there fame to highlight and work for causes that effect not just this country but the globe. I know it is hard to pay for your education, but it is not the responsibility of someone rich to do it for you. That is your responsibility. I make sandwiches, on my own, and distribute to homeless men that are sleeping outside. I give change, dollars, clothing and volunteer where I can to contribute. I make $33,000.00 annually.
I don’t have a right to make judgement on how someone else spends their money. They earned it. I just should do my part and be glad I can.

I cannot believe how many sanctimonious people have commented on here. That people who have given and raised millions for people in need should not dare spend any of the money they earn on something that gives them pleasure. That a company like Brilliant Earth shouldn’t exist to give people jobs and others an ethical choice because it doesn’t fit in with your views. How pathetic.

My 2 cents and my story: when we married long ago my husband was not earning much and was just getting out of debt and I did not want him to buy anything expensive. My hands are small and a large stone would look ridiculous, plus I like dainty jewelry, so when we went shopping I was probably the only bride-to-be who kept asking “don’t you have anything smaller???” I was (and still am) thrilled with a small (1/4 carat) heart-shaped diamond engagement ring. Tiny, delicate, not ostentatious, but it does sparkle, I love it and I smile every time I look at it because, although not expensive at all, it took him months to pay it off a tiny bit at a time, and it represents our love and patience. I did want a (small) diamond mostly because my first husband was ADAMANT that he would not buy me one. He proposed with the thinnest, cheapest gold chain BRACELET he could find. I am not a material person but this hurt my heart. My ex was controlling, stingy, mean and abusive (who knew that at the beginning of a marriage?) and this was just one example. So much of a person’s personality shows in the gifts they give. Presently my husband and I still live a somewhat austere life but he shows me everyday how much he loves me by doing little and big things, and I feel my heart ring symbolizes this.

BTW I love sparkly things and love glass rhinestones even more than diamonds.! Honestly I can’t tell the difference, and I think most people can’t either at casual glance. Almost all of my other jewelry is costume. My wise father used to say “If Elizabeth Taylor wore glass, everyone would think they were diamonds. But if I wore diamonds, everyone would think they were glass.” It’s all perception, and the only true meaning and value of a gift is what it means to the giver and the receiver. It’s good to have a grateful heart, no matter what the material value of a gift. And of course to give back to the world that which it really needs. That is what is REALLY valuable.

I love my non-diamond engagement ring. It was made based on my design and includes stones that have special meaning to me and my wife. Diamonds are beautiful, but also cold, hard, and icy — not the vibe I wanted to represent our relationship.

Who says a ring has to be a “worthless piece of glitz?” It may not be the ring itself but what it represents that means something. I don’t wear diamonds but I do have a beautiful engagement ring that my husband picked out specifically for me. He didn’t buy it to buy my love , but he knows my love for gemstones. I didn’t need one but he thought of me, of us when he saw it. Just because these wealthy celebrities can afford to buy their loved ones a nice piece of jewelry does not make them unethical and anti humanitarians. Like a few other people already pointed out, some of these celebrities do give to charities. Have you ever considered the shirts or the pants that you are wearing? They were probably made by a child or adult worker in a third world country making less than $0.17 an hour. We buy more clothes on average than diamond rings so lets not be so quick to criticize.

It’s seriously dumb to wear a worthless bit of glass on a ring and throw your (man’s) money at De Beers and the middle men and the advertisers. Keep it for a down payment on your house, your kids education, your own education, your mum’s nursing costs or the needy. Don’t even think about giving your cash to a jewelry store for a worthless piece of glitz. It has pathetic resale value. Love is a non-buyable treasure.

Here’s a history of the diamond thang, by the way.

http://mic.com/articles/51981/how-a-clear-worthless-stone-with-a-brilliant-marketing-campaign-conquered-the-world

D.G.- make that four that don’t have a diamond. hell, i don’t even have a wedding ring, much less an engagement ring. when we got married, a little over twenty-nine years ago, we both wore rings on our left ring fingers, and saw no reason to change that simply to let the world know that we had changed our marital status. we know we’re married, and don’t give a rip if anyone else does. aside from that, i happen to like colored precious stones, or semi-precious stones; diamonds, for all their “fire”, just don’t do it for me. if i really want a ring, i will find the stone(s), buy them myself, and make my own ring. yeah, i know how to do that, too…

DG is right about the DeBeers brainwashing. It was simply a marketing ploy and has not even been a tradition that long in the scheme of marriage which is another matter. Having said all this I think George Clooney and others with this type of wealth can spend THEIR money on personal items. They are and have been very generous on issues they are passionate about. I don’t think they have to give every cent they make towards the causes they believe in. It seems some feel if they don’t give every penny then they haven’t given enough. Well I say let everybody kick in a little and everybody be a bit kinder in general and maybe we can change this world by doing that. A lot of things can be done for free if humans will take the mindset to do it. Instead of being so greedy just do the right thing to begin with and there won’t be a need for their money.

you could have fed a lot of mouths in Africa with that $500 ring. It’s all proportional. Don’t criticize the rich for spending their money on rings, when everyone does the same- just at their own income level. Do you really need a ring at all?
And the last commenter is correct. if rich people saved and didn’t spend their money, it would not trickle down to the economy and many people would not have jobs. A lot of celebrities give a lot to charity in addition to spending a lot.

sorry about the typos. And, I also did not want to infer that wealth and charity are not an ethical combo. This has nothing to do with fame or money…it has to do with brainwashing of women and them not realizing it. Its the diamond industry and the way they have made women and men believe that a diamond means love.

In this day and age when everyone seemingly wants to be “unique”, “original”, and “different”, I am still surprised that every woman I know and know of has had to have a diamond (or sometimes, rarely, a different expensive stone)..but almost always a diamond, wether they be hi[pies, or movie etas, atavists, vegans, whatever…they all have to have a diamond.
This is by far the biggest brainwashing dcm of all time and the men can’t say no. Why? Because De Beers carefully
manipulated the market and made not having a diamond or giving one a social disgrace, and everyone bought their
greed as sincerity. I wish women had the courage to stop and think about why a diamond? I am a jewelry designer, so don’t tell me it’s because they are the most beautiful. It isn’t even a tradition that goes back so far.
By all means, older pieces, Victorian and others are a lovely way to go when purchasing a ring. And, why do you need an engagement ring and a wedding ring? WHO says?
Women are robots when it comes to this subject, every last one mentioned in this article as well. The saddest part is they insist on having their boyfriends spend ridiculous sums of money when they don’t have it. Believe me, every male I have spoken to about this agrees. It really is up to women..all of us..to speak out and CHANGE this now. I never owned a diamond ring. And neither did my other, and neither will my daughter. Thats three I know. Maybe some others might agree… Otherwise, you are just a hypocrite looking to be admired by others, and not addressing nor answering the reality of who you are and how that might effect the world. At the very least, you must know a diamond makes you very very ordinary.

Don’t forget that all these dollars the beaucoup-rich are spending are going back into the economy, providing jobs, food, clothes, schooling to the people providing the services.

I agree, Susan. I think that if you really examine the humanitarian efforts of the listed celebrities, you would find that they more than meet an equivocal proportion of income and time when compared to those of us with less disposable income. If you factor in the amount of awareness that they raise simply by lending their name to a cause, you would increase that amount. Ethics are not measured by wealth.

Agree…My guy bought me an engagement ring. One of 3 I picked out of the crowd. It’s a beautiful ruby for around 500 bucks. I’m far from rich but there are soooo many other ways to put money to use, even that seemed extravagant. Too many hungry, homeless and harmed that need love. Peace.

As if the cost of the engagement rings was not bad enough, what about paying $1.6 million dollars for the wedding? Every day, we see ads for cruelty to animals, hungry children etc. They all are asking for $19 a month. Given these statistics and calls to action, think of what the frivolous famous could do for organizations like this! I had a 1/3 carat engagement ring, a plain gold band and it cost us $12 to get married by a justice of the peace and I wore the dress I had worn for my high school graduation.
And it all cost $185. And it was nice. Very nice.

I completely disagree with the comments published thus far. Making ethical choices and being wealthy are not mutually exclusive. Just because these celebrities can afford expensive engagement rings does not mean they are not charitable or progressive or “activists”. If an average Joe spends $2K on an engagement ring and lives a charitable life, why are any of these celebrities deemed unethical for spending a proportionate amount on their bands? That’s a hypocritical line of thinking. I have no idea how much of their paychecks go towards food or shelter for our homeless, but that means I don’t know if they *don’t* spend much of their time and money helping with great causes, too. I don’t think an expensive engagement ring is correlated to being an ethical human being.

Wearing $500K on your finger is unethical when we can’t take care of the homeless, elderly, mentally challenged and infirmed. Sorry, Brilliant Earth, but wearing the big bling, unless you’re Kim Kardashian, just looks foolish and “old” in today’s world, and terribly trashy.

RS i completely agree. No matter what anyone says, that kind of money could have been be used for so many other purchases to help humanity or the earth. Don’t act like you’re a wonderful person because you went “eco” or “non-conflict”. You could have made a truly moral statement and said “instead of buying a ridiculous piece of jewelry that symbolized vanity, we decided to celebrate our love by spending $200K to pay off a struggling students college tuition. Now they won’t be saddled with that burden for the next 20 years”

Let’s be realistic here….. Anyone who spends 250-750 K on a diamond ring is really not being truly ethical, regardless if they have excess wads of cash or not. Your “ethical celebrity rings” is a bit misleading.