I convinced mine, but, obviously, YMMV. I was lucky in that she's divorced, so has already gone through with that, and hate hate hated the idea of debt.
We had already had conversations about getting married, that sort of thing, so when it came to the ring it was easy to bring it up. I mentioned I was a little reluctant to go with a diamond; I said I was -willing-, but due to the intentional supply limit and the ensuing price hike, it would necessarily be small, as I was not willing to go into debt for it (which she was already in agreement we should never do; beware if your significant other has no issues with going into debt). Had she considered alternatives, such as moissanite?
I showed her some images and videos of moissanite, compared price, showed it was nearly as hard -and- glittered more (and that I could get her a 2+ carat stone for what ~.5 carat diamond of comparable color and clarity would cost, and that at < 1/10th what a 2 carat diamond of comparable color and clarity would cost), and she was convinced enough to go scope it out at a jeweler's that carried it.
I also mentioned the possibility of gemstones; there were plenty that were gorgeous and would be more distinctive than diamond, and set her apart from other women (who, after all, could only brag about the size of their diamond, rather than how it had special meaning to them). Etc.
At the jeweler's as she explored different stones, she ended up picking out an aquamarine that she really liked (and then found out that was my birthstone, locking in the decision even more).
We had already had conversations about getting married, that sort of thing, so when it came to the ring it was easy to bring it up. I mentioned I was a little reluctant to go with a diamond; I said I was -willing-, but due to the intentional supply limit and the ensuing price hike, it would necessarily be small, as I was not willing to go into debt for it (which she was already in agreement we should never do; beware if your significant other has no issues with going into debt). Had she considered alternatives, such as moissanite?
I showed her some images and videos of moissanite, compared price, showed it was nearly as hard -and- glittered more (and that I could get her a 2+ carat stone for what ~.5 carat diamond of comparable color and clarity would cost, and that at < 1/10th what a 2 carat diamond of comparable color and clarity would cost), and she was convinced enough to go scope it out at a jeweler's that carried it.
I also mentioned the possibility of gemstones; there were plenty that were gorgeous and would be more distinctive than diamond, and set her apart from other women (who, after all, could only brag about the size of their diamond, rather than how it had special meaning to them). Etc.
At the jeweler's as she explored different stones, she ended up picking out an aquamarine that she really liked (and then found out that was my birthstone, locking in the decision even more).