Rings First Step in Eco-Friendly, Nontraditional Wedding

My fiance and I are incorporating eco-consciousness into our wedding plans.

So our first consideration was our rings.

I told Keith I didn't want a diamond. If you haven't seen the Leonardo DiCaprio film "Blood Diamond," check it out. Diamonds mined in Africa are being used to fund wars.

Across vast stretches of Africa, diamonds fuel war. Diamonds are so lucrative for predatory governments and marauding rebels that war has become a useful cover for hugely profitable smuggling enterprises. But for millions of Africans who happen to get in the way, diamonds are agents of terror.

And even so-called "conflict-free" diamonds still have to be mined from the earth.

I told Keith I'd prefer a vintage ring or one made by a local artist. In searching the Internet for handcrafted rings, we came upon the notion of wood rings -- rings made from wood.

When I read Kentucky artist Marlon Obando Solano's bio, I knew I'd feel comfortable with my money supporting his work. The Web site for his business, Naturaleza Organic Jewelry, details how important nature is to Solano and how sustainable his materials are.

My work honors nature through its design and process – all of my renewable materials are organic and metals are recycled.

Indeed, not only does he use renewable materials, but he gathers these materials -- seeds and wood -- from the forest floor in his native Nicaragua. No trees need to be cut down.

Furthermore, Solano uses organic sesame oil to preserve his jewelry. He doesn't use varnish or dyes.

For those people who say being "green" is too expensive: The combined cost of our rings is one-tenth the cost of a diamond engagement ring.

Keith and I ordered Asi Nambaro bands with a sterling-silver inner band. "Asi" refers to the off-set sterling-silver inlay in the wood. Nambaro is the type of wood. Indoors my ring looks brown, but in the sunlight the red of the wood appears.

I'm using my ring as both an engagement ring and a wedding band. It's surprising how ingrained our minds are to equate engagement rings with diamonds. Even though I absolutely didn't want a diamond, it's hard for me to see this ring as an engagement ring. But I think my mind will wrap itself around the idea soon enough -- probably after I show it to my friends and family.

As a vegan, I've learned that simply because something is tradition, it's not necessarily good or right.

So if you're in the market for a ring -- or any other type of jewelry -- check out Naturaleza Organic Jewelry and support an environmentally friendly artist.