Engagement Ring Stone Types: Everything You Need to Know

Mariana

Written by Mariana

Updated:

The engagement ring stone is the most important aspect of the ring. The stone is the first thing people see and each one of them can have different symbolic meanings. Furthermore, the stone must fit in with your day-to-day lifestyle. If you’re very busy, an easy-to-damage stone is not a good option, instead you should pick hardier stones that are more difficult to damage. On the other hand, if you like to be very careful with your ring and take care of it, a softer stone won’t be a problem to you.

What is The Best Stone for An Engagement Ring?

The best stone for an engagement ring depends on what your lifestyle is like. Each type of stone has a different hardiness rating in the Mohs scale. For example, diamonds are the hardest, so they are a 10 in the scale. A pearl, for instance, is a 2.5 in the scale, meaning that they are much softer compared to a diamond.

The hardiness of the stone needs to reflect your lifestyle. The harder the stone, the more difficult it is to damage it. For instance, if you have a ring with a diamond on it, you can go about your day-to-day life without worrying if it will get damaged. Unfortunately, the lower the stone is in the Mohs scale, the easier it will be to damage it. A pearl for instance, can get damaged by simply opening your car door. As a general rule of thumb, a stone of at least 7 in the Mohs scale is ideal.

What Stones Go with Engagement Rings?

There are so many options when choosing the perfect engagement ring stone. There are the four precious stones, which are diamond, ruby, emerald, and sapphire. The semi-precious stones are not as rare and are lower in the Mohs scale, but are still beautiful. With the advancement of technology, there are also lab-grown stones that look like their naturally-grown version, but are more affordable.

How Do I Choose A Stone for A Ring?

When choosing a stone for your ring, first look into the hardiness, which should be about 7 in the Mohs scale. Diamonds, for instance, come in all sorts of colors and are the most durable stone according to the Mohs scale. Then you need to consider the shape that best fits the stone you picked. Shapes range from round, princess-cut, oval, heart, pear, cushion, and many more. Lastly, you need to choose a suitable setting for the stone and side stones. The solitaire, for instance, is the most popular since it requires only one stone which makes it more affordable. The halo setting incorporates smaller stones into the design to make the ring look busier and bigger, which is good if the stone you chose is particularly small.

What Stones are Better than Diamonds?

Perhaps you want to look into gemstones that are rarer than diamonds, because you want a truly unique ring. These stones will not be cheap, but they might fit your style perfectly. Of the rarer stones, you can pick tanzanite for its beautiful blue shade, or a vibrant ruby, and many other options. These stones are in the hardier side of the Mohs scale, so you don’t have to worry about wearing your ring while going on about your day.

On the other hand, you might want to opt for a semi-precious stone because the cost of the diamond is too expensive for you. If you want a colored stone, you might want to go for the beautiful and royal purple of the amethyst, or the calming pale blue of an aquamarine. Keep an eye on where your choice of stone lies in the Mohs scale to fit your lifestyle.

Types of Engagement Ring Stones

If you don’t want to have a diamond on your engagement ring, there are plenty of gemstone options. Since colored diamonds can be quite pricy, gemstone come in a wide variety of colors and look just as beautiful as a diamond. However, it is important to keep in mind where each one of these stones are in the Mohs scale.

Blue Topaz

Topaz is a beautiful and durable gemstoneThe blue topaz symbolizes faithfulness and loyalty.

Blue topaz and diamonds rose gold engagement ring

Onyx

The Onyx is a beautiful black gemstone that was very popular during the Victorian and Art Deco eras, and looks create for the woman who wants a unique and edgy look when trying to find the perfect engagement ring.

Onyx lies in the 6 to 7 range in the Mohs scale.

Oval Onyx and Diamond Accent Curved Bypass Ring in Sterling Silver

Jade

Jade represents love, eternity peace, and harmony.

Jade is a 6.5 to 7 in the Mohs scale, meaning it requires some care to avoid scratches. However, the stone is still tough and resistant enough to avoid breaking or chipping.

Jade and diamonds yellow gold engagement ring

Garnet

This stone has a deep red color to it and symbolizes love, life force, and victory.

Garnet is a has a hardness of between 7.5 and 8.5 on the Mohs scale.


Peridot

Peridot is an olive-green stone that is believed to bring protection to the wearer against negative emotions.

It is a 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs Scale.


Morganite

Morganite symbolizes unconditional love, it attracts and maintains love.

The gemstone is a 7.5 to 8 in the Mohs scale.


Tanzanite

Tanzanite is a newer gem that is only found in Tanzania, symbolizes eternal truth, honesty, and knowledge. 

The elegant and gorgeous tanzanite is at 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.


Amethyst

Amethyst symbolizes spirituality, integrity, and purity of heart.

At 7 in the Mohs scale, the Amethyst can vary from the deepest of purple to soft lilacs.


Pearl

Pearls symbolize loyalty, integrity, generosity, and purity.

Pearls are among the most delicate stones, at 2.5 to 4.5 in the Mohs scale, meaning that they need extra caution when choosing a pearl engagement ring.


Ruby

Often symbolizing love and courage, the rich red color of Rubies has been synonymous with luxury.

At 9 in the Mohs scale, rubies are some of the most durable stones.

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