Valentine’s Day has been around for a long time. The tradition of giving a box of chocolates is in fact 140 years old. In the Middle Ages, men and women used to draw names to see who would be their valentine. The names, written in hearts, would be pinned to their sleeves for a week so everyone could see.

Today, we have a different way of showing everyone that we are in love: diamonds. This sparkling rock has come to be a symbol of enduring love and affection. While chocolate can be eaten and flowers will eventually die, an everlasting diamond represents an unbreakable love.

So guys, if you have decided to get your special someone a diamond, congratulations. Now that you have made this decision, it is time to start thinking about what type of a diamond you want to purchase. At most stores, your choices come down to simulated or real.  A simulated diamond is one that has been created in a controlled lab environment with materials chosen to mimic the sparkle and shine of a real diamond. These diamonds are created to be perfect, but the real perfection of a diamond is its imperfections.

When a real diamond is created, small defects can be seen: the light wash of blue from boron; purple, pink, yellow from nitrogen; orange, green from radiation exposure. It’s these small impurities in the diamond that give them their unique characteristics and beautiful optical effects.

If you are among the 10 percent of couples who decide to get engaged on Valentine’s Day this year, but diamonds are not for you, do not worry. Organic wedding rings are a great idea for an earth loving couple. A recycled gold band topped with stones such as rose quartz is a pocket friendly way to make a statement. For an even more eco-friendly wedding band, think about wooden engagement rings. A band made of walnut is traditionally connected with Artemis, goddess of nature, and is linked with fertility and love.

Make this Valentine’s Day something special for the both of you and treat your special someone to an organic gift that they can treasure for the rest of their life.