Why people are getting their engagement rings duped
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Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
Packing for your honeymoon? Don't forget your fake diamond ring.
Why it matters: More people are buying "stunt doubles" or "travel rings" to wear on vacation.
- The faux engagement rings offer a worry-free alternative to the real thing.
The big picture: Many have snagged such decoys — often featuring a synthetic stone, like cubic zirconia, set in a sterling silver band — from Amazon or Etsy, where some options are cheaper than $50.
- But others are turning to jewelers for custom-made duplicates.
How it works: Those who purchase a bespoke ring from Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Wove get to keep a replica of it.
- Frank Darling, which has locations in cities including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, sells custom dupes and $300 lookalikes of rings in its collection.
- Both companies ship nationwide.
Backup bling is booming as engagement rings get bigger and bolder.
- In particular, lab-grown diamonds have made it cheaper for jewelry lovers to score looks they've always wanted.
Between the lines: Lab-grown gems are not as commonplace abroad, where people, including thieves, might think they are more valuable than they are.
What we're hearing: People buy replicas for travel even if their diamond rings are insured, Frank Darling CEO Kegan Fisher tells Axios.
- The allure of a replica is that it "feels and looks the same, but also still has your story in it," Wove CEO Simone Kendle tells us.
By the numbers: Posts tagged #TravelRing surged by over 480% between 2023 and 2024, according to TikTok data shared with Axios.
The other side: Skeptics say insurance exists for a reason. It's "silly to spend a good chunk of money on a nice ring then [be] too worried to wear it," one Reddit user writes.
- 78% of U.S. adults who recently bought or received an engagement ring say theirs is insured, according to research by insurance company Jewelers Mutual.
The bottom line: Travel rings help some vacationers stress less about their prized possession getting lost or damaged, insurance or not.
