Are you considering a non-diamond engagement ring? You are not alone! It’s estimated that 10-15% of engagement rings feature diamond alternatives. There are endless, stunning options for colored gemstones, so we are here to help guide you to the gemstone that best suits your style and everyday lifestyle. 

If you’ve done a little research, you’ve probably encountered the Mohs Hardness Scale, which is a ten point system developed by German mineralogist, Friedrich Mohs, in 1812. The scale ranks the relative scratch resistance of minerals from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). However, the Mohs Hardness Scale is an ordinal scale, not a linear one, meaning that the difference between 1-2 is not the same as the difference between 9-10. For example, sapphires rank a 9 on the Mohs Scale, while diamonds, which are much harder than sapphires, rank just above at a 10. Because of this, we recommend gemstones that rank 8, 9, or 10 on the hardness scale for your engagement ring, so that your ring withstands daily wear and tear for decades. 

But what if I fall in love with a colored gemstone that is rated lower on the Mohs Scale? We get it, selecting a colored gemstone can be quite the romantic gesture, and you might be choosing a specific stone for a specific reason. Choosing a deep blue-green sapphire that is reminiscent of the special days you’ve spent on the beach together (or even that oceanfront proposal), or the ruby that symbolizes your passion with its deep red hue is something that she will never forget! In fact, King Louis XV commissioned a diamond shape to resemble the lips of his lover, Madame de Pompadour, which was his way of signifying his love through jewelry. Not to mention that mixing a pop of color into your jewelry wardrobe is the perfect way to express your personality. 

The best way to protect a non-diamond engagement ring center stone is by the way that it's set. Our master jeweler will set your colored gemstone as low as the stone allows based upon its proportions, but there are also some stylistic details you can choose to add that can provide additional protection to your center stone. One option is to add a diamond halo surrounding your gemstone. The small diamonds add shimmer to the ring and make the center stone color pop even more. They also act as a barrier to the girdle of the gemstone, which helps prevent chipping. If that sounds like too much glam, a cathedral solitaire setting may be for you. This is a setting where the sides of the ring come up to meet the center stone in an elegant silhouette of metal. Finally, and perhaps the most protective setting, the bezel. This is a setting where the metal surrounds your center stone on all sides. The edges of the stone are fully protected by the metal and there aren’t any prongs to pull back. 

When selecting a gemstone, two of the most important considerations will also be the cut and the natural saturation of color. These two elements contribute the most strongly to the gemstone’s beauty because the saturation creates the richness of color and the cut essentially shows it off with excellent reflectivity.

While colored gems will make a gorgeous, unique gemstone engagement ring, keep in mind that you may need to replace your center stone down the road if it chips, or if it becomes highly abraded. If you like changing things up periodically, this could be a great option for you! Nothing is sweeter than an upgrade at a future anniversary, and it provides an opportunity to select a different pop of color down the road. That being said, "A Diamond Is Forever" — It’s not just a saying; with diamonds being the highest on the Mohs Hardness Scale, they make the best, and most enduring choice for engagement rings. Now, even the most careful of wearers still subject their rings to a lot of wear and tear over the years - but diamonds are up for the challenge, and can withstand scratching and other abrasions. Again, gems will make a beautiful engagement ring, but you should first consider if they can withstand your daily lifestyle.

Curious about which gemstone is right for your engagement ring? Book an appointment today to view our hand-selected diamonds and gemstones, and to discuss your ideas with our expert sales associates.