Gemstones For Engagement Rings
When most think of an engagement ring they think of a simple solitaire ring with a big diamond. But diamonds although, strong, sparkly and traditional aren't necessarily the best option for everyone.
Statement gemstones can be used with diamonds, as the main gemstone or as a colour pop alongside diamonds. There are lots of great options if you're looking for a ring which is a little unusual!
Here's our breakdown of the best diamond alternative gemstones which work in engagement rings and which gemstones you should avoid.
1. AMETHYST
At 7.0 on the Mohs scale for strength and toughness, Amethyst's are a great alternative to diamonds and they can add some drama to your ring design. Found in both raw cut shapes and polished diamond cut states you can add a purple hue'd sparkle to your design or go for something a little rougher in cut and make it look and more alternative. Pair it with white metals such as Platinum and White Gold or pink metals like Red/Rose gold. Purple colours also work well with greens so you could always introduce some green gemstones along a side of your statement amethysts.
2. SAPPHIRE
If you're wanting larger stones then sapphires are a great alternative to diamonds. They also look amazing with diamonds if you want to mix up the gemstones in your design. At 9.0 on the Mohs they're super tough making them a great alternative to diamonds. Sapphires are actually the third hardest mineral and around a third of the price of diamonds. They're normally found in either a blue colour or pink shade but they can also be found in peach colours, yellow colours and white.
3. EMERALD
Normally a green shade these beautiful gemstones are great for either mixing with diamonds or stand alone. They can be "gem-cut" which doesn't have the same shape a traditional diamond or they can be "diamond-cut" to have the same facets as a diamond. They tend to be more unusual as they can be cloudy, have natural "inclusions" which give the gemstones their own personality. Although they're not as popular as they once were, emeralds can add a timeless chic feel to your design. They're desirable, luxury and can be truly breathtaking!
4. MORGANITE
Morganites are peach/pink in colour and as a beryl, they are from the same "family of stones" as emeralds, sitting at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. They look amazing with Rose Gold/Red Gold and are soft feminine and beautiful. They look amazing too when combined with smaller melee diamonds or a halo of diamonds around the stone.
Morganite is a little softer than its sapphire counterpart. So make sure you take it off for any physical activity. Morganite probably isn't suitable for a clumsy wearer, so ask about peach sapphires if the recipient isn't delicate in nature!
There are so many amazing gemstone alternatives out there… Here’s a list of some others we would definitely recommend!
5. TOURMALINE
6. GARNET
7. TOPAZ
8. ONYX
9. PERIDOT
10. RUBY
11. AQUAMARINE
12. TSAVORITE
13. TANZANITE
GEMSTONES WE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND FOR AN ENGAGEMENT RING...
1. TURQUOISE
Although turquoise gemstones are a vivid and bright blue colour the gemstones are often matte and don't sparkle. They also range from 5.0-7.0 so can be significantly softer than other alternatives. When it comes to picking a gemstone for an engagement ring its best to pick a stone which is tough, strong, durable and doesn't scratch easily. After all, your partner is going to want to wear this ring for a long time!
2. OPAL
Although beautiful, opals are too soft for an engagement ring and are better suited for fashion or costume jewellery worn on special occasions.
Here’s a list of a couple more gemstones we would urge you to avoid for an engagement ring:
3. PEARL
4. LABRADORITE
Good luck with your engagement ring hunt - if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask!
