Diamonds surely make a classic choice for engagement rings, but have you ever considered stepping away from the traditional?
There are hundreds of natural gemstones that, given a chance, can be every bit a soulmate to an engagement ring as a diamond can be.
The wide range of naturally colored gemstones not only add flattering hues to the ring, but also personalize the ring to whatever suits your story. Amethysts, emeralds, garnets, quartz, peridots, kyanites, aquamarines, sodalites, onyxes...the world of alternative gemstones is enormous.
What’s better, all of these stones are famously powerful in the spiritual and metaphysical realm; They are believed to have a wide range of healing and protective powers that make them a talisman as well as a fashionable accessory!
Here are some of our favorites for alternative engagement and wedding ring gemstones:
Emerald: These gorgeous Gemstones are a form of Beryl that have a vast range of green tones and pair beautifully with yellow, rose, or white gold, and silver or platinum. Emeralds are known as the "Stone of Successful Love" and they are believed to be a good luck stone for long-lasting understanding, enduring love, and compassion directly connected to the Heart Chakra.
Morganite: These trendy, romantic, and femininely pink crystals are giving Diamonds a run for their money! Morganite is a variety of Beryl like Emerald, and so it has a hardness of 7.5 to 8.0 making it a perfectly durable crystal to wear daily, and pairs beautifully with silver and gold (particularly Rose Gold) tone bands. Morganite is believed to open the Heart Chakra, and helps address unexpressed emotional needs or feelings. It is also thought to help release old relationships, and aid in activating loving thoughts and compassion.
Aquamarine: For a calm, serene, and elegant design, Aquamarine has been becoming increasingly popular; particularly when paired with a Silver or Platinum band! This blue variety of blue Beryl is known as the "Stone of Courage" and is also believed to reduce stress and "quiet the mind" from unnecessary or obsessive rumination.
Sapphire: Perfect if your loved one has a birthday in September, this variety of Corundum is most known for being a can occur in green, yellow, pink, and even a range of greys to black. As a Corundum, Sapphire sits at a 9.0 on the Mohs Hardness Scale making it one of the most durable stones available.
Ruby: Rubies make a vibrant statement with their fiery and bold red coloring. Like Sapphires, they are a Corundum and sit at 9.0 on the Mohs Scale...perfect for wearing daily. These crystals are known as energy generators, and are believed to be perfect for vibrant personalities that have a thirst for adventure!
...and hundreds of more options are out there!
Each of these minerals make a fine addition to engagement rings; they do not cost an arm and a leg, and add a personalized touch to an incredible time in anyone's life.
With the growing popularity of these crystals in the engagement rings and bridal jewelry section, more people are making the switch to sustainable and ethically collected alternatives to diamonds. They are still popular, but are certainly not the only choice a buyer has.
To top that, these minerals can be used in both polished and rough forms for different looks. Cabochon mineral engagement rings are high in fashion at the moment. They are big, beautiful and sophisticated. If you like glam but don't want to go into debt over it...these are a great choice!
Find more gorgeous Gemstone Rings for inspiration over at our Sterling Silver Rings...here!