9 Beautiful Non-Diamond Stones for Alternative Engagement Rings

James

Written by James

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The Quick And Dirty - Although diamonds are the most popular choice for engagement rings, they are hardly the only exquisite stones available for your proposal. There are precious and semi-precious gemstones that provide a distinctive, unique, and special meaning.

Many couples are opting for alternative gemstones for engagement rings today. Some gemstones, including rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, are great for making a statement. One such statement is: hey, we do things our own way. We don’t conform to the social rules pertaining to diamonds and want to take our creativity and money and do other things with them. If you want her engagement ring to look like a diamond but you are on a budget, white sapphires or moissanites make for great alternatives. 

Moissanite

Moissanites were first discovered by Henri Moissan, a French scientist, in 1893. He thought that they were diamonds at first but later found out that the crystals of the stone were composed of silicon carbide.

One of the things that makes moissanites a popular choice as an alternative gemstone is that they look very similar to diamonds. Natural moissanites are very rare, which means that most of the ones you will find in the market are lab-created moissanites. 

Moissanites are brilliant gemstones that have a hardness of 9.25-9.5 on the Mohs scale. This gemstone is the second hardest gemstone after diamonds, which makes it ideal for everyday wear on an engagement ring. You get the look and hardness of a diamond, at just a fraction of the cost. 


White Sapphire 

Of all the colored gemstones, sapphires may just be the most celebrated ones. A sapphire is one of the most durable naturally occurring elements. It comes from the Corundum mineral. According to many gemologists (and fancy people you might run into at a cocktail party), white sapphires look like moissanites, topaz gemstones and in some cases, diamonds. These stones have a charm and appeal that make them an ideal choice for an engagement ring setting stone. 

They have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale which makes them wear quite well in an engagement ring. They come in a variety of colors except red, with the most popular ones being the blue sapphires. Since they are the most highly prized sapphires, blue sapphires are also the most expensive. 


Ruby

For decades, rubies have been prized for their exceptional beauty. A ruby is an appropriate center stone for an engagement ring since their red color has traditionally been connected with passion and love. The crimson red color of a ruby looks great in both old and modern rings made of shiny precious metals.

Ruby’s hardness is second only to a moissanite and a diamond on the Mohs scale, with a rating of 9. For an everyday use engagement ring, this is really a superb alternative to a diamond. Of all colored gemstones, rubies tend to be the most expensive. The price of a ruby is generally comparable to that of a diamond. You might be surprised by the price, especially if you’re looking at bigger rubies. But we gave you a heads up! Depending on the carat weight and size, some rubies can even be more expensive than diamonds. 


Opal 

If you are looking for a magical engagement ring for your girlfriend, then an opal should be your alternative gemstone of choice. Opals are some of the most spectacular and unique alternative gemstones. These stones flash every color on the spectrum, with an outstanding intensity for a gemstone. They are also rich in symbolism since they have been surrounded by mystery since the Middle Ages. They are believed to fend off bad spirits and bring good luck. 

Despite the unrivaled beauty of the opals, these stones are not as durable. An opal has a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 which makes them quite fragile. You need to take good care of an opal engagement ring for it to last long. One of the ways you can secure your opal gemstones is to use protective settings like a halo or a bezel setting. 

If your girlfriend is active with sports, cooking, yoga, or professional hobbies (i.e. she is a doctor who inspects patients with her hands) an opal ring is likely not the best choice.


Emerald

Emeralds are a popular option for alternative engagement rings, as they symbolize enlightenment, rebirth, and affection. Emeralds are a very well known and highly valued green gemstone, and they are the gemstones of royalty. Unlike diamonds which require a 10x magnification to determine clarity, the clarity of an emerald may be graded with the naked eye.

Emeralds do not last as long as Diamonds or even Sapphires. Their hardness ranges from 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, and they usually include a lot of inclusions. Inclusions can give a gemstone a lovely appearance, but they often reduce its durability. A decent jewelry design, on the other hand, can help safeguard the Emerald on an engagement ring.


Morganite

Morganite, named after enthusiastic gemstone collector JP Morgan, is quickly becoming a great alternative choice to diamonds on engagement rings. It has a Mohs rating of 7.5 to 8, so it’s fairly tough, but you’ll want to avoid scratching it. To avoid damaging a morganite stone, take your ring off when carrying out manual tasks using your hands. 

Morganites come in beautiful shades of pink, starting from light pink hues and move towards darker shades of pink that look like purple. They are prized for their brilliant clarity and great degree of brilliance, in addition to their lovely hue. Morganite and rose gold metals work together beautifully because their warm undertones accentuate each other. 


Pearls 

These stunning stones were discovered in the most magnificent aquatic realms and moved to Earth through tides and erosion. Pearls come in a wide range of colors and shapes, from white to black and round to square. Because of their delicate nature, pearls have traditionally been worn in earrings and necklaces. They are composed of calcium carbonate crystallized in the shell of a shelled mollusk, most popularly known as a clam.

Pearls have a Mohs hardness of 2.5 to 4.5, making them an extremely delicate gem. Because pearl jewelry isn’t designed to be worn every day, you need to take extra care of an opal engagement ring. Some ancient wedding bands, however, were made of pearls. Simply replacing the Pearl as it becomes worn out or damaged is one approach to have a Pearl engagement ring last long. In general, a pearl is not extremely costly.


Topaz

Fashion silver or white gold ring with a blue rectangular aquamarine stone on hand. Elegant topaz ring for women. Jewelry ring with a precious stone. Blue flowers background.

Topaz is a lovely stone with a range of color hues ranging from yellow to orange to blue. With a Mohs value of 8, it is a tough stone. The most amazing aspect of the Topaz gemstone would be the wide range of hues it comes in. You are not limited to just a single color on a ring; you can have a blue, purple, white or even yellow topaz. 

Another benefit is that Topaz is often quite inexpensive. This is one method for getting the size or color you want while staying within your budget. If you want a more conventional style, you can select a clear Topaz engagement ring. The best way of making your engagement special is to make a statement, and a topaz engagement ring is sure to achieve exactly that.


Alexandrite

A beautiful purple gemstone, the alexandrite is at 8.5 to 9 in the Mohs scale. This unique gemstone is very durable and it comes from Russia, India, Brazil, and Tanzania. The most affordable option for this stone is the lab-created version which is just as beautiful.

Alexandrite is considered to bring good luck, good fortune, and longevity to the wearer.


If you desire a one-of-a-kind ring, an alternative engagement ring may just be the way to go. Alternative engagement rings allow you to select the stone, shape, metal, and design that you like. They are a great choice if both you and your partner want to go down an unconventional path or if you simply want something unique that stands out.

There are so many stone types to choose from when looking for the perfect engagement ring. Maybe there is a certain stone that speaks to you, but have you looked into its’ hardiness rating? Depending on the stone you choose, certain ring styles will be better for it. The options are endless when looking into the wide array of options of ring stone types, colors, and shapes. Even more importantly, maybe you love the look of a diamond but not so much the price-point. Don’t worry. There are plenty of options that look like a diamond without breaking the bank.

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