For those humanitarians and environmentalists out there, engagement ring shopping can be a struggle. Due to the carbon footprint – among other things – caused by diamond mining, younger people are attempting to take a step away from the traditional engagement ring. This has led to a fast growing trend – lab-grown diamond rings.
According to BBC Future, almost 70% of millennials have considered this guilt-free engagement ring alternative. An added bonus to lab-grown diamonds for your engagement ring is that they are much more affordable, meaning you won’t break the bank.
So what exactly is a lab-grown diamond?
Essentially, they are man-made diamonds. What’s interesting, however, is that while they are created in laboratories, they are chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds, and are just as hard.
There are two main methods used to grow these diamonds: The CVD (chemical vapor deposition) method and The HPHT (high pressure high temperature) method. Lightbox, a company who lab-grows diamonds describes these methods:
CVD – “Lab grown diamond seeds are loaded into a CVD reactor. Then, a mix of gasses containing carbon is added at a very low pressure. Microwaves are added to heat the gases and generate a plasma. When the temperatures climb over several thousand degrees, the gas molecules break apart and carbon atoms bond to the seeds, growing them one layer at a time,” says Lightbox.
HPHT – “This method mimics the conditions under which diamonds naturally form. Large mechanical presses are used to apply extreme pressure and high temperature to carbon in the presence of a diamond seed. The seeds act as a template for a lattice of carbon to grow layer by layer over the course of a few days,” they said.
Because of their man-made nature, they only take a few weeks to make whereas a real diamond takes billions of years to grow.
So if you’re looking to live a more eco-friendly, sustainable and conscious life then lab-grown diamonds are the way to go!
Here are some lab-grown diamond engagement rings to inspire you:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvxi-HzlGKH/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiwA1PGhFJO/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6wwQL9hKt0/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7x42eRF1K0/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9F6woGBMzO/
Image: Unsplash
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Weddings can be filled with many surprises, but none quite compare to a famous celebrity dropping in for a quick hello. From Tom Hanks to Emila Clarke, here are the best celebrity wedding crashers.
Snoop Dogg
In 2014 Snoop Dogg was getting out of a limo in Chicago, when a photographer of a wedding at a Hard Rock Cafe spotted him. The photographer convinced him to jump in a photo and he hung out at the reception for a while afterwards.
Bradley Cooper
While visiting Georgetown University in 2016, Bradley Cooper, who attended the university, surprised a bride and groom. While they were having their wedding photos taken around the campus, Cooper jumped in on the fun and congratulated the couple.
Tom Hanks
The kindest man in the world, Tom Hanks, veered off his run in Central Park to congratulate two newlyweds. He also offered to officiate their wedding. Hanks is a serial wedding crasher, according to Insider. While filming Angels & Demons in Italy, Hanks crashed a wedding and escorted the bride to the church.
Elizabeth and Ryan! Congrats and blessings! Hanx. pic.twitter.com/Uy2GIqYphU
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) September 24, 2016
Jon Bon Jovi
A singer spotted Jon Bon Jovi in attendance at a wedding and began singing her version of “Livin’ on a Prayer” when eventually she coaxed the legend on stage. Watch the video below.
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson surprised a same-sex couple at their wedding in Huston. The surprise performance happened shortly after the Obergefell case that legalized gay marriage in the USA.
Ed Sheeran
Who wouldn’t want Ed Sheeran to crash their wedding? Sydney-based radio show Kyle & Jackie O, who paid for the wedding after learning that the couple had to postpone their ceremony for financial reasons. The radio duo attended the wedding and brought along Ed Sheeran to sing their first dance song.
Maroon 5 crashed a number of weddings for their “Sugar” music video
In 2014, Maroon 5 took it upon themselves to crash as many weddings as possible in one day. The band were filming their music video and the result is epic. Despite some claiming some of the crashes were staged, a few wedding photographers from the ceremony spoke to USA Today confirming they weren’t all staged.
Serena Williams
Minding her own business on Miami Beach in 2014, Serena Williams was spotted by a wedding party. A friend of the bride and groom went to chat to her and she obliged to meeting the couple. She congratulated them and took pictures with the couple while sporting a gorgeous leopard print one suit.
Billy Murray
Bill Murray was being himself when he sat in on a few pictures of a couple’s engagement. Looking totally chill and unassuming, Murray makes for a good photobomber.
Chris Hemsworth
A couple had gotten married in Byron Bay in Australia and the best man spotted the actor surfing. He approached Hemsworth and asked if he would take some photos with the couple. The bride had no idea who the actor was and even asked, “Who is this person?”.
Emilia Clarke and Nathalie Emmanuel accidentally crashed a “Game of Thrones” themed wedding
Unlike the weddings in Game of Thrones, this was a happy ending. Emila Clarke and Nathalie Emmanuel were staying at a hotel where a GoT-themed wedding was being held. Watch below to hear what happened.
Read: Lil Nas gatecrashes Disney-themed wedding
Image: Twitter/ Tom Hanks
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Who knew a post on a public Facebook page could change your life? For one couple, their love story began from one simple picture on the popular I’m Staying Facebook group.
Isaiah Samoan-Joe Harry and Sinead Gabagas first met online when Isaiah shared a selfie to the I’m Staying Facebook group. Sinead was one of many who responded positively to the image, leaving a nice comment. She must have liked what she saw, because Sinead quickly sent Isiah a friend request, which he happily accepted. Isaiah took it even further by sending her a bold direct message, saying “Your name sounds better with my surname next to it”.
The pair quickly grew close, messaging each other until the early hours of the morning and speaking on the phone. At the time, however, Sinead was in hospital in Pietermaritzburg and Isaiah lived in Pretoria. They decided it was time to meet up in early Februrary, and Sinead travelled down to meet her mystery man for the first time.
Luckily, their first time meeting in person couldn’t have gone better. They were inseparable, and the one-week trip turned into two weeks. When the time came for her Sinead to go back home, Isaiah decided to make a grand romantic gesture. He went down on one knee and proposed, and of course, she said yes!
Isaiah an Sinead plan to marry in September this year. Congrats to the happy couple!
Feature image: Facebook
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Back in 1985, Mick and Tracey Hepworth from the UK suffered a terrible misfortune. While celebrating at a pub after their wedding, Tracey’s handbag was stolen – with the film roll containing their wedding pictures.
Unbeknownst to them, Angie McHale had found the empty handbag with the roll of film on the street later that night, and had the photos developed. However, back then, she had no way of reaching the owners of the photos.
Years later, McHale came across the pictures again, and decided to share them on Facebook. To her surprise, within hours the pictures were shared hundreds of times and had over 400 comments with people trying to help. At last, a friend of Tracey saw it online and told her she thinks it might be her!
Angie got in contact with Mick and Tracey and finally reunited the couple with their treasured memories of their special day.
“It was a thoughtful gesture for what was a complete stranger,”Angie said. “It just shows Facebook can be used for good,” added Tracey.
What a lovely anniversary gift, as Mick and Tracey will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary this July.
Source: Goodnewsnetwork.org
Image: Unsplash