Diamond is durable and beautiful.
But is it the only gemstone that is worthy of becoming the center stone of your engagement ring?
Well, no. There are myriads of gemstones that are equally beautiful and stunning. They come in various angelic colors and are perfect for brides who yearn for something different and non-traditional.
Gemstone jewelry is becoming increasingly popular, so let’s take a quick glance at 6 popular gemstones that will make your engagement ring – and your partner – look absolutely gorgeous.
1. Emerald
Nothing looks more royal than emerald’s deep green hue.
The green color comes in several shades that range from light-green to bluish-green. This allows emeralds to blend beautifully with different types of metals and stones to suit all aesthetics and tastes.
On the Mohs scale, emeralds are rated at around 7.5-8. This means that they are softer and more fragile to cut than diamonds, which is why they can be easily crafted into different sizes and shapes.
Another thing that adds to the beauty of an emerald is its inclusions. These are fissures or fractures that appear as tiny lines within the emerald, making every stone unique.
You can take a look at Larsen's emerald engagement rings to get an idea of what the finest-crafted emerald rings look like.
2. Sapphire
Sapphire is the hardest and most durable alternative to diamond. This makes it ideal for everyday wear.
What’s great about sapphires is that they come in a variety of colors such as pink, yellow, white, green, and – the most precious – blue. This gives you plenty of room to choose a color that best suits your partner’s personality.
Some sapphires even change their color, depending on the angle they’re viewed from.
To get the best color results, make sure you get a sapphire that’s cut in oval because this shape allows most of the light to pass through the stone, which enhances its color.
3. Rubies
If you want your ring to look classic but bold at the same time, pick ruby as your center stone.
The most popular hue in rubies is blood-red as it symbolizes love, passion, and courage. This is why rubies are also called the “gemstone of love”, and this association with love makes it a suitable stone for engagement rings.
The red color also contrasts nicely with gold and white metals. If you want to get blown away, check ruby rings that are set with rose gold metals.
Rated a 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale, rubies are pretty resistant to wear and tear.
4. Amethyst
Amethysts belong to the quartz family. These lavender-colored stones give your ring a vintage hint, which makes it perfect for people who want to go old-fashioned.
These are also budget-friendly. Meaning you can show off a larger center stone with amethyst than you can do with other expensive stones.
Unfortunately, amethysts are not as durable as other colored gemstones. Although they are still considered strong enough for everyday wear, they need a lot more care than some of the other options in this list.
This includes removing your ring before performing household chores, protecting it from exposure to bright light, and cleaning it regularly with lukewarm water and soap.
5. Aquamarine
You can think of aquamarines as blue diamonds because they are blue and just as elegant as diamonds. The icy blue hue of aquamarine gives a refreshing vibe to it.
Aquamarines belong to the same family as emeralds and have a hardness rating of around 7.5-8. This means they are softer than diamonds, and storing them with harder stones can scratch and destroy them.
Also, aquamarines are so clear that they could be easily confused with diamonds if they weren’t blue. If your stone is not as clear, ask your jeweler whether it has been treated to enhance its clarity.
Sadly, there is also a disadvantage of owning an aquamarine. Its light blue color means that your stone will get dirty very often. To avoid this, you must clean the gemstone every 3-4 days with a soft toothbrush dipped in soapy water. Remember to be gentle.
6. Opals
If your partner was born in October, this is the gemstone for them.
It displays a unique optical phenomenon — known as the play of color — where the stone flashes multiple colors at the same time. The more extensive play of color is across the stone, the more valuable it is.
Opals don’t need extensive treatment to shine and are popular for their natural beauty and iridescent sparkle.
The only problem with natural opals is that they are very delicate and need to be handled with great care. If you want something stronger and durable, go for lab-created opals as they tend to be a bit stronger than the natural ones.
