How to Opt for a Gemstone Engagement Ring

Choosing Your Design

Add small accents with gemstones. A gemstones color does not have to dominate an engagement ring. If you would prefer subtle splashes of color, choose a ring with gemstones that provide accent colors. For example, pick a ring with emeralds that circle a clear center, such as white gold. This can be a great option if you want a gemstone engagement ring without overwhelming colors. If you're going the gemstone route due to ethical objections to diamonds, be careful. Some rings that are accented with gemstones contain diamonds. Make sure you know what you're getting before selecting a ring.

Try an Edwardian design with color. Edwardian designed rings have become increasingly popular. In these rings, colored gemstones are often dotted around a large centerpiece. Edwardian rings are very feminine and a little showy. If your partner likes bigger, bolder jewelry, opt for an Edwardian ring. Many different types of colors can be added to an Edwardian ring using gemstones. Blues can be added with sapphires, for example, and greens can be added with emeralds.

Pick the right shape and style. Engagement rings come in different cuts and styles. Think about your partner's taste. If it's not a surprise, you can ask them about the style they prefer. If you want to surprise them, assess their general taste in jewelry. The kind of pieces they tend to wear may convey the type of engagement ring they would like. Think about enlisting your partner's friends to help. You can have your partner's friends introduce the subject of engagement rings and report back to your with your partner's preferences.

Picking the Color

Choose sapphire for a blue shade. If your partner loves blue, sapphires are a classic to provide a blue shade in your engagement ring. Sapphires are often lower cost as well, as they're only a carat a piece. You can go for a ring with a single sapphire as the center or a ring encrusted with small bits of sapphire. If you want a "something blue" for your wedding day, a sapphire engagement ring can take care of this.

Go for morganite to capture pink or orange tinges. If you want something in the pink or orange range, morganite is a great gem. Morganite gems come in varying shades of pink and orange. Try shopping for morganite rings online or ask a jeweler in a store about morganite rings.

Choose a ruby shade. Many people love bold ruby red and pink colors for engagement rings. A wide variety of gemstones provide this shade. If you want something in the ruby spectrum, look for gems that get you the right shade. Ruby itself will provide a pure red color without any hints of orange or pink. If your partner loves red, consider a ruby ring. Spinel is a durable gemstone that ranges from red to pink shades.

Find green gemstones. Green is another popular color for engagement rings. In addition to emeralds, there are many gems to choose from if you want a green ring. The following gemstones come in shades of green: Agate, garnet, amazonite, and apatite come in deep shades of green. Chrysoprase and jade come in lighter sea greens. Sapphire, serpentine, and tourmaline come in mossier shades of green.

Choosing a Meaningful Gemstone

Go with moissanite if you want something similar to diamonds. Diamonds seem very meaningful to many people as they symbolize commitment and lifelong togetherness. If you have ethical objections to diamonds, or if they're out of your budget, try a moissanite gem. This gem has a very similar appearance to diamonds, but is about half the cost. Moissanite, while cheaper than diamonds, is slightly rare. You may have to settle for synthetic moissanite if you can't find the real thing.

Select a stone signifying friendship. Many people feel they're marrying their best friend. If you're underlying friendship is important to your relationship, pick a gem that signifies friendship. This can also be a great option if you and your partner started off friends. The following gems are said to signify friendship: Blue topaz Ruby Turquoise

Pick a stone that means courage. Many gemstones are said to signify courage. This can be a great compliment to your partner if you admire their courage or resolve. The following gems supposedly represent courage or determination: Blue topaz Aquamarine Onyx Garnet

Choose a gem that exudes positivity. A gemstone with positive associations can be great to feel like your'e marriage is starting off on the right foot. Think about choosing a gem that represents positive and happy aspects of a relationship. Apatite represents communication, which is a huge positive in any relationship. Opal represents a lot of positives, such as spontaneity, lightness, and creativity. Rose quartz is supposedly associated with the removal of the negative.

Making Practical Considerations

Set a budget. When choosing any engagement ring, not just a gemstone one, it's crucial to have a sense of what you can reasonably afford. Set a price range for yourself before you begin shopping. This will help you avoid the temptation of buying more than you can afford. Have a few options in mind for gemstones you may want. If, say, a ruby ring turns out to be out of your budget, have a similar gemstone in mind.

Evaluate the durability of a gemstone. Gemstones should be fairly durable. You want your engagement ring to hold up over time. When selecting a gemstone, make sure you choose one that's fairly durable. The Mohs scale is a scale for gems and metals that accounts for durability. Diamonds are the most durable, at a 10, but many gems rank in the high range. Aim for gems that rank on the higher side. More durable gems include rubies, sapphires, aquamarines, emeralds, and spinels.

Make sure you know your partner's ring size. Get their ring size before getting the ring. If you're not doing a surprise engagement, you can get them fitted at a jewelers. You can also try to sneak a ring from your partner's jewelry box and get the size from a jeweler.