Yea i wouldnt go that route if i were you.
I have heard of people getting a copy of their ring made years alter and wearing that day to day with the real one being in the safe, but proposing with a replica ring is definitely not a great idea. My suggesting is buy a good quality stone that you can afford. Then take it to a jeweler and have them create the ring you are looking for. There are a ton of jewelers that can do custom work for you. It will be significantly cheaper for you to go this route than buying direct from Tiffanys or HW. When you buy from these places i would say that at least one third of that cost is for the name brand.
I agree, I didn't know if there were places that replicate a Tiffany or a HW, without the price tag. You'll look like a tit, if you say its a genuine, but if you said its very similar with a better quality stone from a wholesaler I cant imagine that been a problem with her.
Ive checked out Charles Colvard, but they all seem a bit too cheap . Ive just dont know this sector of the market, and dont want my pants pulled down!
This to a T.If you are talking about real stones, its not considered a replica right? So it can be a Tiffanies inspired ring or something along those lines. For example, my wife really liked Tacori rings back when we are dating. Once i found the center diamond (separately) i asked a few jewelers to design a Tacori inspired ring, even gave them a picture. But alas we ended up going a different route. Unless you have **stupid rich** money laying around, i dont see a reason to buy from one of those places or better yet buying the complete ring together. You can get a much much better deal in buying the stone separate and finding/designing a beautiful setting for it. I am sure you have a jewelers row or something similar near where you live right (Like a part of town with many jewelry stores), just take a walk through those stores and see if there are any settings you like and ask if they are able to make you custom settings.
And no one cares what brand your ring or jewelry is. No one has ever asked her if its a tacori, a tiffany, etc. Even her actual Tacori Earrings. no one knows jewelry brands like they know watch brands.