So you’ve decided to pull the trigger and ask your significant other to marry you. You want to buy the right ring, but you also want to get it for the right price. You’ve been told by jewelry makers that you have to spend three months’ worth of salary on a ring, but that’s a myth. Still you don’t want to buy the person you love something cheap and the ethics of buying diamonds and other gems are complicated. There is a balance. Here are five engagement rings you can buy that strike this balance.

Lab-Produced Diamonds

If you’re particularly focused about the ethics of engagement rings, you can go for lab-produced diamonds. Not only is this alternative cheaper than traditional diamonds, it is much more ethical. These diamonds are made in a lab, not mined from caves. This eliminates the possibility of blood being shed for your diamonds. If you’re trying to strike this balance between ethics and funds, lab-produced diamonds are a great option when it comes to choosing a ring for your partner.

Moissanite Rings

Moissanite rings are a lot cheaper than traditional diamonds. This means that you can buy a larger stone for a lot less, providing the ability to surprise your partner with a big, beautiful stone. You should know that a moissanite ring won’t be worth much over time. But do you plan on selling your engagement ring? Hopefully not. Moissanites are gorgeous and you can buy a large stone for a fraction of the price that you get for another gem or stone. Compared to traditional diamonds, moissanite engagement rings are a great alternative.

Conflict-Free Gems

Furthermore, if the size of the ring doesn’t matter as much to you but you still want something beautiful and ethically-sourced, try buying a ring from a conflict-free dealer. This means that whoever is selling you the ring only works with gem producers who aren’t in conflict zones. As you can probably imagine, a lot of gems are mined from areas of the world where there is a war going on. This can be a civil war where the people are fighting over the resources of the area or a contested area between countries. Whether it’s a ruby, a sapphire, amethyst, or something else, you want to make sure that you buy it from an ethical dealer that is reasonable and trusted.

Recycled Gold

Another thing you should keep in mind when buying an engagement ring is that you can buy recycled gold. This is gold taken from other items and put together to form the ring. Recycled gold is cheaper and more ethical. Virgin gold, of course, comes with its own perils. It’s very important to know where your gold comes from. If you go for recycled gold, you know that no blood was shed to produce this particular piece. You can’t know where the recycled gold was produced, but you can have peace of mind that you didn’t contribute any more to this complicated economy.

Used or Vintage

Finally, a great option for an engagement ring is to buy it used or vintage. This way, you won’t have to worry about whether the ring was produced ethically because you are buying it from a second-hand seller. Buying vintage rings also provides great options to choose from. Not only can it be cheaper than buying a brand new ring, you will be able to give your significant other something special and unique.

Everyone wants to buy the right ring when they’re asking their partner to marry them. It is a special moment. You want them to love the ring, but you want to get it for the right price and without ethical issues. This can be a difficult task when buying jewelry, but if you stick to these options and do your best to stay within these parameters, you will be able to find the perfect ring for your future spouse. Take your time. Think about what they like and what you can afford. Shop around for ethical jewelers who work with conflict-free producers, lab-produced diamonds, moissanite, and used rings. When you do the hard work, you’ll be able to find the right ring for the right price.