Monthly Archives: September 2020

The average wedding produces hundreds of pounds of waste and tons of carbon emissions. While the easiest way to plan a zero-waste wedding is to head to the courthouse and elope, it's possible to plan a traditional wedding while reducing your impact on the environment.

If you're considering planning an eco-friendly wedding, commit to embracing zero-waste principles by renting instead of buying, selling or donating your goods after your reception, upcycling, and choosing eco-friendly brands. To jumpstart your wedding planning, here are 50+ ideas to help you plan a ceremony and reception that's kind to nature and the environment.

Send Digital Invitations

• Go paperless by sending out personalized digital invitations to save on paper and shipping costs.
• Use upcycled paper to set the tone for your wedding and reduce your carbon footprint.
• Choose for soy-based ink as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based ink. Soy-based ink is a more ethical choice and can make your wedding invitations pop.
• Use a wedding planning app to help relieve stress when planning your big day, but make sure to read the app's privacy policy before entering your personal information.
• Ask guests to RSVP digitally by inviting and managing your RSVP tracking using an online invitation service. Most services are affordable and convenient and

Lab diamonds, also called man-made diamonds and lab-created diamonds, are a sustainable and affordable alternative to earth-mined diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are a rapidly growing trend in the jewelry industry, with many younger couples opting for lab diamonds because of their price, transparency, and environmental sustainability. Whether you're thinking about tying the knot or treating yourself, here's why you should consider buying a lab diamond.

Environmental Sustainability

Due to a lack of green mining practices, the total carbon footprint of an earth-mined diamond is considerably high. The environmental consequences of diamond mining extend far beyond its carbon emissions, and diamond mining has been associated with water pollution, habitat destruction, and volcanic eruptions.

As an ethical and sustainable alternative to natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds require significantly less energy to grow in a lab than mining natural diamonds. 

Lab diamonds are grown by placing a diamond seed in a vacuum chamber and applying a combination of heat and extreme pressure. The sealed chamber mimics the natural diamond growing process in accordance with highest safety measures, and crystallization allows the lab diamond to mature and form molecular bonds. Loose diamonds are then cut, polished, and graded by diamond experts to create a man-made diamond with the chemical properties, physical properties, and optical properties of a mined diamond.

As the most commonly used techniques to manufacture lab-grown diamonds, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) processes create high-quality gems by replicating the natural growing processes within the Earth's surface:

Vintage diamond engagement rings have become increasingly popular in recent years for their gorgeous design and simplicity. But what sets vintage engagement rings apart, and what should you keep an eye out for when buying one? Is this one of those engagement ring trends worth following? Whether you're planning to propose in the coming year or in the near future, here's everything you need to know about buying the perfect vintage-style diamond engagement ring, from vintage engagement ring trends and different engagement ring styles—and how to make them work for you.

What are vintage diamond engagement rings?

Although the term is used often, the definition of a vintage engagement ring varies. In most cases, the term is used to describe a new engagement ring that mimics an engagement ring style from another era, such as the Art Deco, Victorian, Old Euro, or Georgian era. 

The term “vintage” might seem vague, but there are a few popular engagement ring trends that have structured definitions, including:

Antique ring: A ring that has existed for more than 50 years.

Heirloom ring: A ring that belonged to relatives and is passed down through generations.

Estate ring: A ring that was once owned by someone else.

A vintage-style diamond engagement ring can be a reproduction of any of the engagement ring styles above.

Whether you're searching for a diamond engagement ring or looking for a simple way to drop the hint, purchasing a diamond can seem overwhelming. Either way, the experts at Agape Diamonds are here to help. With education, research, and help from our diamond experts, you'll be able to find your dream diamond engagement ring in no time.

Your Diamond Search at Agape Diamonds

Before we discuss the essential steps to buying a diamond, we'll share what your diamond search will entail if you shop with Agape. There are multiple factors to consider before purchasing your diamond, and in all the excitement it can be easy to forget to consider everything that takes place after your order.

The easiest way to learn more about our great service is to read our reviews. At the Agape Diamonds Testimonials Page, you can find passive and active reviews from real customers that share details about their own search and purchase that you might not have considered.

It goes without saying it's important to research a company's customer service, privacy policy, current featured reviews, different kinds of merchant reviews—both negative and positive—before choosing the best place to shop for your wedding ring.

In addition to customer service and reviews, consider the perks our company offers. We're not talking about the coupons that companies offer to get you on their website—we're talking about the perks that make a company a better place to shop. We aim to make Agape Diamonds a great place to shop

So, you're ready to take the next step and purchase an engagement ring. Congratulations! For an engaged couple, buying an engagement ring and wedding band is an exciting time, one that should be cherished, not stressed over. With education, research, and help from the diamond experts at Agape Diamonds, you'll be able to find the perfect diamond engagement ring in no time. Whether you're planning to incorporate the element of surprise or shop with your fiancé, here's the ultimate guide to finding your dream ring.

Buying an Engagement Ring 101: The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Right Engagement Ring

The process of buying an engagement ring is unique for every couple, but this guide can help you break it down into easy-to-follow steps.

Step 1: Set your budget.

Before you start shopping for jewelry, set a price range. If this is your first time shopping for a diamond engagement ring or a wedding ring, a diamond ring might seem like a big purchase. Having an honest conversation with your future fiancé is the best way to keep your expectations the same and decide how much money you're willing to spend.

The widely accepted rule is that an engagement ring should cost about the same as your three months' salary. Of course, you don't need to follow this rule, but it's good to know the expectation. Additionally, if a real diamond is a bit out of your price range, then you can look into other options such as synthetic diamonds, cubic zirconia, or even moissanite. All of these options offer beauty and brilliance comparable to that of a diamond at a far lower price.

Additionally, there are other precious and semi-precious jewels that make for adequate substitutes. Ruby, Emerald and sapphire make a bold statement and lend a p