Colored diamonds owe their popularity to more than Kate craze

Colored diamonds owe their popularity to more than Kate craze

In the month that has elapsed since the royal wedding, the speculation over Kate Middleton's influence on bridal trends has certainly showed no signs of dying down, but that doesn't necessarily mean she can take all the credit where the popularity of certain jewelry fashions is concerned.

According to Wedding Report Inc., overall spending on engagement rings in the U.S. dropped 31 percent between 2006 and 2010. Bearing in mind that colored gems cost significantly less than traditional diamonds, according to Bloomberg News, there may well be a direct correlation between budget-conscious recession mentalities and the increasing popularity of sapphire, emerald and ruby engagement rings (though we concede that Duchess Catherine had a lot to do with it, too).

Couples on a budget should consider purchasing a colored diamond or gem engagement ring, but it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility to snag a high-quality white diamond ring at a wallet-friendly price. A good local jeweler should be able to match you with the closest in cut, color, clarity and carat-weight for your price range.