Planning your own DIY, sustainable, green wedding can’t be complete without that one special piece of jewelry: the ring! Whether it be the engagement ring or wedding band, there are plenty of sustainable, eco-friendly options out there. Here are a few jewelry companies with “green” options that are worth checking out:

First up: Apollo Diamond, Inc. This one is quite interesting; Apollo Diamond engineers its own diamonds through a unique process called Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). Basically, this means diamonds can be cultured in a lab without causing any environmental damage or stress. And don’t let the laboratory part mislead you, these are diamonds that are completely identical (structurally and chemically) to natural diamonds. Can you can tell the difference from the Apollo diamonds below?

Another great option is to go vintage. Whether it be a recycled family heirloom or an antique ring from the 1920′s, the choices are endless. I personally love vintage rings for their intricate, handmade settings.  And they are definitely unique and one of-a-kind in comparison to a mass produced ring. 1stdibs.com and Weston Jewelry are both great sources for vintage and antique rings of all types. I adore this 1.4 karat platinum diamond ring with a hand carved heart setting. Simply gorgeous.

Another really amazing source for sustainable wedding rings that I happened to stumble upon is Turtle Love Co. According to their mission statement they aim to:

• support the work of independent artisans: the arts enhance our human experience.
• actively participate in our local community: we all benefit from the wealth of creativity around us.
• make ecologically-sound and socially responsible choices: the actions we take and the things we have are a reflection of our values.
• have a nice time: fun is an integral part of a successful work environment.

Sounds perfect right? And their selection of rings is amazing too. These organic gold wedding rings from Laura Serrafero are made using 50% recycled metals and have a handmade look and feel to them. They are truly something special:

Lastly, probably the most innovative and truly unique wedding ring option I found was from New York Wedding Ring. Why? Well, New York Wedding Ring allows you to take a one-on-one jewelry class led by a professional in order to custom make your very own wedding ring! Using 100% recycled metals, you create your own ring for your special day. Isn’t that amazing? I love the idea. Check out the photo gallery for some amazing rings created by some of their customers. Here is a stunning example of one:

Well there you have it, a few lovely options to consider when you’re thinking about that special day. There is always a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to everything, even engagement or wedding rings, and some of them are simply phenomenal as shown above! So if you happen to be in the market for that special ring, consider a few of these “green” alternatives or one of the many other eco-friendly jewelry companies out there. It’s the perfect way to set an example and show how much you truly care about our environment.