I love love love opals! You can glance in one, and see the
shimmery 'fire' of colours in it, and be mesmerised for a looooong
time! 
OK, recently, I had an encounter at the shop where I had my 2nd
pair of earholes pierced. The salesgirl was trying very hard to
sell me a pair of diamond earrings, which cost almost three times
the cost of the pair of zircon earrings which I had chosen.
She exclaimed, "Look at how lovely the shine of the diamond
is!"
I looked at my friend, my friend looked at me... we couldn't tell
the difference. OK, so it sparkled. So did the zircon! 
So, she placed the pair of diamond earring beside the zircon
earrings. Aaaahhh... yup, the diamond ones sparkled more
brilliantly. But you could only tell when you place the diamond and
the zircon ones together. Apart, you really wouldn't be able to
tell the difference.
So, I smiled and said, "I don't see the necessity for getting a
pair of diamond earrings."
As a last-ditch attempt, she said, "All women love diamonds! Give
yourself a treat!"
So, my lovely pair of zircon earrings now take pride of place above
the pair of earrings in my first pierced earhole. 
I refuse to be a slave to the diamond obsession... especially when
Swarovski crystals and zircons and what-not now sparkle just as
brilliantly, and cost just a fraction.
But hmm... all said, I think the wedding ring should still have a
diamond and not the other stones. Afterall, that's the 'Mother of
All Rings' that a woman owns! 
