Diamonds is likely to be the traditional stone of selection for engagement rings, however why restrict your self? There’s a complete world of lovely gems on the market, which are simply as lovely, sparkly, and sturdy as a diamond. From cool colored birthstones and timeless valuable stone decisions, to modern lab-grown stones and inexpensive diamond substitutes – that can assist you know your Alexandrite out of your Zircon, we have rounded up a few of our A-Z of various gems for engagement rings in a single helpful place.

Recommendation for Selecting Different Gems for an Engagement Ring

Diamonds are a ten on the Mohs scale, this implies they’re the toughest gemstone (they’re even utilized in drill bits!), and can climate numerous put on and tear. In case you plan to put on your engagement ring on a regular basis, each day (within the bathe, doing house responsibilities or handbook labour, on the gymnasium and many others), it is at all times a good suggestion to search for stones which are a minimum of an 7 on the Mohs scale for hardness and sturdiness. In case you go for one thing softer, like pearls or opals, search for bezel settings the place the stone is ready into the ring, and be sure you take it off if you’re doing the dishes, or any actions the place it would get tarnished.

There are literally solely 4 valuable stones; diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. A lot of the relaxation on the record are semi-precious stones. These are outdated phrases related to rarity and worth, and will not at all times be mirrored in at the moment’s markets, as some stones get rarer and others lower in worth, however usually talking, the ‘large 4’ might be dearer to buy than the remainder of the gems on our record.

Look out for lab-grown gems. These are stones that, whereas created in a lab, show the identical bodily make-up as naturally occurring gems. There may be nothing mistaken with lab-grown gems, they give the impression of being lovely, they could be a sustainable possibility they usually can usually be extra inexpensive than the pure stones. However it’s savvy to concentrate on them, and know precisely what you are buying. Likewise, some stones are heat-treated to make them extra vibrant so discuss to your jeweller about any results which will have on the stone, and the value.

And Now, for the Final A-Z of Gems…

Alexandrite

Alexandrite is a gorgeous blue-purple gemstone (although it could possibly range from inexperienced to purple as properly) and is number of chrysoberyl. At 8.5 on the Mohs scale it makes a extremely sturdy selection for an engagement ring. Changing into extra fashionable lately, it may be present in Russia, India, Brazil and Tanzania, amongst different locations, but additionally look out for the extra inexpensive, however equally fairly lab-grown varieties.

Amethyst

Amethyst is commonly ignored for engagement rings, as its sturdy purple hue does make fairly the daring assertion, however at 7 on the Mohs scale, it is fairly a sturdy stone, and also you get numerous bang to your buck. Whereas uncooked, uncut amethysts are extra related to homeopathic therapeutic, when well-cut, these attractive jewels (various from deep purple to smooth lilac) look proper at residence in an engagement ring setting – notably fairly when paired with a diamond or emerald halo.

Aquamarine

Aquamarine makes a spectacular engagement ring stone, it is so lovely and putting, however delicate in tone too, with its icy blue hue. As a result of this blue beryl stone is on the extra inexpensive finish of the gemstone spectrum, you possibly can splash out on a bigger stone making this a fantastic possibility for a two or three carat rock. And at 7.5–8 on the Mohs hardness scale, aquamarine is a sturdy engagement ring gemstone too.

Citrine

Citrine varies in color from fiery orange to brilliant yellow, and makes a extra inexpensive various to canary yellow diamonds. As a wide range of quartz, citrine can range wildly in hardness, so be sure you discuss to your jeweller about purity of the stone. An emblem of prosperity, citrine is often known as the ‘cash stone’ – chi-ching!

Diamonds

Okay, so diamonds aren’t precisely an alternate engagement ring gemstone, however simply since you select a traditional stone does not imply your ring cannot be distinctive. Yellow and pink (usually referred to as ‘fancy diamonds’) are sometimes present in probably the most lavish classic items, whereas black, champagne and gray diamonds have grow to be more and more widespread with fashionable brides. And there is no denying, that iconic sparkle is tough to withstand!

Emerald

Emerald is a traditional selection for an engagement ring, however this versatile vivid inexperienced stone appears simply as attractive in a up to date ring setting as a extra classic model ring. A type of beryl, the very best quality emeralds attain an 8 on the Mohs scale. Whereas an emerald reduce is the go-to for its namesake stone, an excellent reduce emerald is equally dazzling.

Fireplace Opal

Fireplace opals are a wide range of clear opal with an orange glow that varies from the fairly delicate to the moderately sensible. The lab-grown hearth opals nonetheless have a extremely vivid orange glow, and have gotten increasingly widespread in superb jewelry. At 5.5 to six.5 on the Mohs scale although, you’ll have to be somewhat cautious with hearth opal ring.

Garnet

Garnets are attractive purple valuable stones, barely browner in tone than rubies. They’re principally present in vintage jewelry, however they’re set to make a comeback as they are surely a gorgeous engagement ring stone. At 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale they are not fairly as hardy as rubies or emeralds, however they’re additionally not fairly as costly.

Iolite

Iolite, often known as Cordierite, is a stone that varies from a cloudy greenish-grey to a to a brilliant purple, although the gem-quality stones can typically be a wealthy blue. The lab-grown varieties specifically have a stunning readability to them, they usually’re beginning to seem extra in additional in superb jewelry. At 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, they’re fairly sturdy, and have been traditionally used as an inexpensive substitute to sapphires.

Labradorite

Labradorite is having a little bit of a second proper now, and is turning into increasingly coveted by jewelry designers all over the world. An iridescent stone that is mostly seen as a grey-brown tone, it is 6 to six.5 on the Mohs scale. Labradorite is understood to symbolise power and shielding and is present in its Canadian namesake, in addition to components of Norway.

Lapis Lazuli

A extremely lovely blue stone, that usually options gold flex, Lapis Lazuli is a cabochon gemstone, that means it is formed and polished moderately than faceted, like a diamond or crystal-style gemstone. At 5 to five.5 on the Mohs scale, lapis may have changing each decade or so, however as they’re a comparatively cheap stone, this does not are usually a serious concern. When paired with diamonds or white sapphires, lapis lazuli take advantage of beautiful various engagement rings.

Morganite

Morganite has been beloved by brides for a number of years now, and is quick turning into one of many hottest engagement ring gems. Notably fairly when paired with purple hues or a glowing diamond halo, these smooth pink stones have such a romantic high quality to them. Like emeralds, morganites are a type of beryl and attain 7.5 to eight on the Mohs scale.

Moissanite

When Moissanite was first found within the late 1800s, it was mistaken as diamonds, and nonetheless at the moment, these shiny white stones are used as an alternative choice to diamonds in engagement rings. Moissanites really are virtually as sparkly as diamonds, and at 9.5 on the Mohs scale, they’re simply as hardy too, except you had them subsequent to one another, an atypical individual in all probability would not be capable of inform the distinction. As of late, moissanites are usually lab grown – in actual fact it was these stones that innovated lots of the man-made gems we use at the moment.

Moonstone

Moonstones are among the many most historic gems for use in jewelry, and lately up to date designers have been slowly bringing them again into trend. A good looking milky hue, you actually can see one thing totally different each time you look into them. Present in areas as various as Armenia, Australia, Sri Lanka, the Alps, Norway, Myanmar and the US, these stones rating a 6 on the Mohs scale.

Onyx

Onyx was used loads in jewelry within the early 1900s and it is beginning to make its comeback in up to date jewelry too. Usually featured as a cabochon model jewel moderately than a faceted gem, these highly-polished black stones have a timeless high quality to them, and are notably putting when paired with diamonds, emeralds or rubies. Onyx is 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale.

Opal

Whereas not probably the most sturdy of stones, opals are nonetheless such a tempting selection for engagement rings as a result of they’re simply so lovely. With a kaleidoscope-worth of colors in every opal, no two are alike, starting from the milky in hue to the icy-clear.  At 5.5 to six.5 on the Mohs scale, selecting an opal engagement ring means taking care of it actually rigorously – however that is a small worth to pay for one thing so fairly, proper?

Pearl

Pearls are among the many most delicate stones, so whereas they’re widespread in necklaces and earrings, they are not as appropriate for the damage and tear of an engagement ring. Made out of calcium carbonate, they’re simply 2.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale, that means they’re simply cracked or scratched. It isn’t all unhealthy information although, you possibly can go for a pearl engagement ring as an occasional, cocktail-style ring or get small pearls deeply set into an vintage-style cluster.

Prasiolite

Also referred to as inexperienced amethyst, prasiolite is a pale inexperienced quartz stone created from heating amethyst – this may be both naturally occurring or, extra generally, artificially in a lab. At 7 on the Mohs scale, prasiolite is a sturdy stone, and whereas it is at the moment underused in superb jewelry, we’ve a sense which may quickly change.

Peridot

Peridot is a vibrant olive-green stone, and a long-standing image of admiration, so whereas the hue will not be for everybody, it does tie within the with the romantic sentiment of an engagement ring. The gem-quality number of the stone olivine, peridots are discovered all through the US, Africa and Asia, and whereas these are typically mistaken for emeralds, at 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, they are not fairly as hardy as their fellow inexperienced rocks.

Rose Quartz

Rose quartz is a fairly pink stone, typically cloudy in color. Typically extra related to trend jewelry than superb jewelry, fashionable designers have been pairing it with extra valuable stones to make lovely up to date engagement rings. Reaching as much as 7 on the Mohs scale, rose quartz may be hardy, however once more it is value chatting to your jeweller to make sure you’re getting a pure selection.

Rose Quartz

Rubies are synonymous with luxurious jewelry, which makes these vibrant purple valuable stones a becoming engagement ring gemstone. At 9 on the Mohs scale, rubies are among the many most sturdy stones, and as they usually attain values as excessive as diamonds, it is value taking your time in choosing a top quality stone. Search for a vibrant purple hue and as clear a stone as potential – be sure you ask if the stone has been warmth handled to enhance its color (the jeweller is obliged to inform you if it has.)

Sapphire

One other traditional engagement ring stone, sapphires are most-commonly related to a wealthy blue hue, however they really are available in a bunch of colors, from yellow and pink to peach, purple or inexperienced – white sapphires are additionally a more-affordable however equally valuable diamond substitute. At 9 on the Mohs scale, sapphires are as hardy as emeralds or rubies, making them a becoming possibility for a hoop that is all about eternal love

Spinel

Spinel is a captivating stone that seems in a plethora of colors, black, blue, pink, inexperienced, gray, that means they’re usually mistaken for colored diamonds and different semi-precious stones. Whereas used loads in vintage jewelry, spinel is not seen as usually in fashionable items, although that’s beginning to change. And at 7.5 to eight on the Mohs scale, this versatile stone works properly for engagement rings too.

Sunstones

Sunstone is a fairly peachy-copper colored stone present in Scandinavia and components of the US. Not generally featured in superb jewelry, a handful of designers have been utilizing to create attention-grabbing clusters and color patterns of their jewelry. A singular selection for an engagement ring, at 6 to six.5 on the Mohs scale, a sunstone ring will want somewhat care.

Tanzanite

Tanzanite is a beautiful blue stone, that was truly given its title by Tiffany & Co after being found close to Mount Kilimanjaro – the advert marketing campaign by Tiffany within the late 60s stated tanzanite may now be present in two locations: “in Tanzania and at Tiffany’s”. Solely present in Tanzania, this uncommon stone is heat-treated (both naturally or artificially) to provide its sturdy violet-blue hue. Tanzanite is a 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.

Topaz

At 8 on the Mohs scale, topaz is each lovely and sturdy, so it is a surprise that it is so usually ignored for engagement rings. Mostly related to a sky blue hue, topaz additionally happens pink, pale inexperienced, orange, wine purple, and white. With symbolism linked to friendship, topaz is a considerate selection for an engagement ring gemstone. Do enquire about heat-treated topaz, as many stones are artificially heated to extend their vibrancy, although this will result in a extra brittle stone.

Tourmaline

Tourmaline is one other a kind of fascinating gems that is available in a wide range of vivid colors from a vibrant inexperienced to a deep purple – and plenty of others in between. A stone that is slowly rising in popularly, it sits at 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, and is typically gently heat-treated to enhance its color. An inexpensive selection for a extremely putting, assertion engagement ring.

Tsavorite

Tsavorite is often known as tsavolite, and is a beautiful inexperienced number of garnet. Found in East Africa within the sixties, and marketed by Tiffany & Co, like Tanzanite, it turned widespread in trend jewelry however was considerably ignored for engagement rings. However with a hardness of seven to 7.5, and a vibrancy and color akin to emeralds, tsavorite makes the proper substitute stone for an engagement ring.

Turquoise

Turquoise is one other cabochon that has been round in cocktail rings and trend jewelry for years, however has solely not too long ago entered extra luxurious design. Paired with diamonds this matte blue stone is elevated from its typical eclectic vibe, or search for flecks of copper for a extra various model ring. At 5 to six on the Mohs scale, turquoise is not the hardiest of stones, however that does make it probably the most inexpensive.

Zircon

Zircon (to not be confused with the man-made cubic zirconia) is a crystal that sits at 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Present in a wide range of colors, it differs with reddish brown, yellow, blue, inexperienced and colourless variations, the color may be modified and enhanced with warmth therapies. Whereas you will discover some particular assertion items (giant blue zircon rings are sometimes flanked with diamonds – just like the one above) as a sometimes cheap gemstone, zircon in a smaller stone works completely for a token promise ring when you maintain out for the true rock.

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