So, you’re ready to pop the question and want to find the perfect ring to propose with. But regular diamonds aren’t sparking inspiration?
Then, why not consider a vibrant-colored gemstone that matches your partner’s unique personality?
According to The Wedding Report, the curiosity and acceptance of colored engagement rings have increased by 30%, with about a 10% jump during the past 10 years. After all, colored stones offer a chance to break from tradition whilst feeling authentic.
As you hunt for that special ring, here are five of the best-colored gemstone options, along with their key traits.
Sapphires: A Symbol of Royalty and Enduring Love
Sapphires exude elegance with their spectacular blue hues ranging from sky-blue to deep midnight. Sometimes even heading into teals, grays, and pinks.
Blue sapphires have recently been a hit due to Kate Middleton’s influence. The Duchess of Cambridge flaunts a famous royal blue sapphire engagement ring that once belonged to the now-deceased Princess Diana. Other celebrities who have shown their love for sapphires include Empress Josephine, Penélope Cruz, and Elizabeth Hurley.
Their superior hardness and durability make them great gems for everyday wear. With a 9 on the Mohs scale, sapphires are scratch-resistant, second only to diamonds. Their toughness allows settings with less metal to protect the stone.
Usually known for its deep, majestic blue color, Leibish’s colored sapphire comes in almost every color except red. It’s no wonder modern brides admire the sapphires’ vintage charm and ability to stay timeless.
Rubies: Passion and Romance in Red
Fiery rubies symbolize passion and evoke the heart of the wearer. Their sensational red color grabs the attention while having significant meaning.
Rubies have long been associated with royalty, power, and prosperity, thus making them a symbol of enduring love and unwavering devotion. In ancient Hindu tradition, rubies represent powerful love. Since rubies are among the hardest known minerals, with a Mohs hardness rating of 9, Burmese warriors believed that rubbing rubies on their skin made them invincible in battle.
Today, rubies still convey deep emotion.
The delicate inclusions and imperfections that often grace rubies add to their natural beauty and unique character. These inclusions, known as “silk,” are said to resemble the flames of passion, further enhancing the gem’s symbolic significance.
Emeralds: A Symbol of Fidelity and New Beginnings
Emeralds, with their lush green hue, represent hope, new beginnings, and rejuvenation.
Cleopatra herself loved these lively gems. Like gazing into lush forests or sea-green waters, emeralds enchant with their crisp color pops. Their rarity and royal European ties add to their prestige as well.
Emeralds, known for their inclusions and imperfections, add to their unique character. These inclusions, known as “jardin,” tend to resemble a garden, further enhancing the gem’s symbolic significance.
Do note that emeralds rate from 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, so they prove more fragile than sapphires. Select settings that provide bezel protection. Moreover, be sure to buy from trusted emerald sellers to avoid hidden oiling or clarity enhancements.
Morganites: Subtle Elegance for a Soft and Romantic Love
Seeking a softer, more delicate look?
Morganite might be the answer.
First discovered in Madagascar in 1910, its captivating peachy-pink hue, reminiscent of a blushing bride, symbolizes love, tenderness, and affection. Morganites are often associated with unconditional love, forgiveness, and compassion.
Morganites have been used by Greeks to create the first pair of glasses. Voyagers associated morganite with water and believed it would protect them from hurricanes. Moreover, this stone was also used during droughts to encourage rainfall.
As for the present, newly quarried pink morganite is flooding today’s jewelry market. This lets buyers get far larger stones for less money, too. With its modest price point and sheer aesthetic charm, morganite sells well for engagement rings of late. Opt for Halo settings in 14k or 18k gold, as it excellently displays Morganite’s full allure.
And its durability compares to emeralds in terms of toughness. Find the highest grade clarity available, even at lower carat sizes, for optimal sparkle.
Alexandrites: A Gem for a Dynamic and Everlasting Love
Alexandrite is a rare and mesmerizing stone known for its remarkable color shift.
Its mesmerizing ability to shift from green in daylight to red or pink under incandescent light symbolizes a love that adapts and deepens with each passing moment. This chameleon-like ability made it highly prized by Russian Czar Alexander II, giving Alexandrite its name.
Found in the Ural Mountains of western Russia, alexandrite’s scarcity and captivating hues make it a distinctive choice for an engagement ring. While it is softer and pricier than diamonds, it’s perfect for those wanting something unique and enamoring.
When buying an engagement ring, you’d want something unique, strong, and as graceful as your love.
Instead of going down the traditional route, add some spice to it. Express originality by picking any of the above-mentioned splendid colored gems for your engagement ring.
Whether you are drawn to the timeless elegance of sapphires, the fiery passion of rubies, the refreshing hope of emeralds, the soft romance of morganites, or the dynamic versatility of alexandrites, let the gem’s enchanting qualities guide your decision.
Remember, the most significant aspect of an engagement ring is the love it represents, a love that transcends time, trends, and fleeting preferences.