My wife and I didn't have a lot of money. She wanted an engagement ring and I wanted to get her one, but we weren't especially phased by the diamond cartel. Ins

My wife and I didn't have a lot of money. She wanted an engagement ring and I wanted to get her one, but we weren't especially phased by the diamond cartel. Instead we had a ring made from a large pincushion citrine and two medium-sized peridots. The ring is huge, brightly colored, totally unique and extremely eye-catching, and cost me about $600, which was almost all for the gold setting and the labor. She gets compliments on it all the time. So I think things are loosening up, at least here in the southwest.