For centuries, romantic hopefuls have
asked for their lover's hand in marriage with the gift of a diamond
engagement ring. While diamond engagement rings are still the most
popular type of engagement ring, other surprising and stunning
gemstones are finding their way into modern engagement ring
settings.
From dazzling opal to flirty morganite,
gemstones come in a wide variety of colors, brilliance, and opacity.
What's more, they can usually be cut to mimic popular diamond cuts,
such as round, princess, emerald, marquise, and cushion.
1. Morganite
Ranging from pale pink to a deeper
bluish pink, morganite is a truly brilliant gemstone that creates a
flirtatious, feminine engagement ring. The stone's subtle color is
caused by manganese traces within. Morganite was first discovered in
1910 in Madagascar.
Morganite is beautiful enough as a
solitaire, but you can also place it in a setting with diamonds
and/or deeper-hued stones for a multi-faceted effect.
2. Ruby
A little on the expensive side, rubies
create an arresting, luxurious engagement ring due to the deep, rich
red color. Rubies are among the hardest stones, which means they
stand up to a lot of wear and tear. This makes them perfect for women
who work with their hands a lot.
When shopping for rubies for your
custom engagement ring, you can expect a wide variety of color and
clarity. The deepest, darkest rubies fetch the highest price, as do
those extracted from certain mines.
3. Pearl
While they are not as durable as other
gemstones, pearls offer a metallic, pearlescent look that's iconic
and easily recognized. Perfect for antique settings, pearls are
timeless, classic, beautiful, and understated. This makes them a
favorite among women who have a sophisticated, classic style.
Since pearls scratch easily, they
should be set within harder gemstones or protected by the setting in
some way, especially if the ring is going to be worn daily.
4. Amethyst
Resplendent in royal purple, amethyst
is a beautiful stone that is full of sparkle and light. The purple
color looks stunning in a silver setting with small diamonds as
accents. It's also a fairly durable stone, which makes it ideal for
an engagement ring.
The better the cut, the more brilliant
an amethyst will look. For this reason, it is important to discuss
the cut with your jeweler. Multi-faceted cuts are usually best for
this gemstone.
5. Tourmaline
Available in a variety of colors,
including green, blue, red, yellow, pink, and brown, tourmaline can
be a solid-colored stone or a multi-colored one. Tourmaline stones
also often change color, depending on the type of light they're in.
All in all, tourmaline is a durable stone that offers endless
possibilities for a custom engagement ring.
Since tourmaline comes in so many
variations, choosing the right stone is often the most difficult part
of crafting a ring using this gemstone.
6. Labradorite
Available in black, brown, and blue,
labradorite is a multi-hued mineral that will create a truly unique
engagement ring. The stone is regarded as magical and special, which
makes it the perfect token of your affection. The stone is most often
placed in oversized settings with very few accents.
The brilliance of this stone varies.
Therefore, it's important to carefully select the stone and the cut
to achieve the look you want.
If you're looking for a unique, custom
engagement ring that perfectly suits your lover's personality and
sense of style, speak to one of the jewelry designers at Marla's
Gem Creations
to discuss the possibilities. Not only do colorful
gemstones create a beautiful engagement ring, but they make a truly
individual piece that your loved one will treasure for decades to
come.
