Which Gemstone is Best for an Engagement Ring Center Stone?
When looking for a gemstone engagement ring there is a world of options. But while there are a lot of options for gemstones, not all stones are created equal. What separates a rock you’d find at the beach and a precious gemstone has a lot to do with what makes it useful as a jewelry piece.
A stone’s toughness and hardness are the most important aspects to consider when looking for a ring. Things like luster, color, and brilliance, are actually secondary to durability in the world of jewelry. While the scarcity of precious stones adds to their desirability and value, the reason they are desired at all is because of their ability to stand the test of time.
Investing in durable precious stones means your jewelry will last longer, and keep its value better. Choosing the right stone means the difference between having jewelry that almost never loses brilliance or breaks, or a center stone that needs to be repolished every few months. A soft stone could even chip and shatter. Durability is doubly important when selecting a center stone for a ring you will wear every day, like an engagement ring.
To help you in your search we’ve prepared a helpful buyers guide, organized by gemstone color, to help make things simple. We’ve selected the 5 most popular gemstone colors on the market today. Each example would make great choices for your own gemstone engagement ring.
Today we will be covering colorless, blue, green, red, and purple gemstones for rings.
Diamond Engagement Rings are Classic for Good Reason
There really is no substitute for diamonds when it comes to colorless gemstones. There are several good reasons for this: Their stable value, their incomparable durability, and their exceptional beauty. Diamonds are the hardest substance known. It’s quite literally the highest standard on the scale we use to measure hardness.
If you want color, you don’t need to ditch the diamond. Colored Diamonds (commonly called fancy diamonds) can satisfy that itch for a unique colored stone, without the risks that come with using a softer material. But how do colored diamonds work? Where do they come from?
Fancy diamonds come in a rainbow of colors, each owing to a specific mineral inclusion. This may sound complicated but in simple terms when a diamond is completely pure it’s perfectly clear and colorless. If you add even a few atoms of another mineral it can completely change its color. The result is a wide spectrum of color possibilities.
Salt and Pepper Diamonds are one popular type of diamond that’s got a little bit more than your typical white diamond would. These stones feature unique black and white inclusions ‘peppered’ throughout earning it the name. These inclusions mean each diamond is unique in their look and personality.
Lab Grown Diamonds make it easier than ever to get exactly what you want at a price you can afford. Any diamond variation that exists can be recreated in a lab, with even greater degrees of control. Lab diamonds also offer an opportunity to go beyond, and create unique diamond variations not otherwise seen in nature.
To many, however, the charm of natural diamonds is unmatchable. There’s just something romantic about a natural diamond's journey to jewelry. Often waiting millions of years to be discovered, mined, and shaped. They remain the ultimate symbol of undying love.
Add Some Color To Your Unique Engagement Ring
Sparkling Blue Gemstones
Blue gemstones are the most popular diamond alternative, and you can’t go wrong with a Sapphire Engagement ring.
Sapphires come in a variety of shades and are second only to diamonds in terms of their overall strength. This makes them exceptionally desirable and valuable. In fact, the royal family has passed a sapphire engagement ring through two generations now. It’s the perfect way to feel like a princess.
Royal Purple Gemstones
Hands down the most beautiful, precious purple gemstone is the sapphire. Surprised? Don’t be! Sapphires are a large gemstone family that comes in many different colors, usually referred to as fancy sapphires.
Glittering Green Gemstones
Teal Sapphire and the coveted Montana Sapphire are the most durable green gemstone you can buy. With colors commonly compared to the ocean and
Surprised to hear sapphires can be green? Sapphires actually come in every color except one: Red! That’s because the red mineral formations in the sapphire family are classified as rubies. However if you are looking for pink, you might still be looking for a sapphire, depending on how it’s been classified.
Radiant Red Gemstones
If your love burns with fiery passion you need a red ruby engagement ring to capture the intensity of your partnership. Rubies are closely related to sapphires, being in the same mineral family, and are equally durable. This makes rubies just as sensible an investment as they are beautiful.
Colored Gemstones - Shine with Cline!
Now you know the big five of colored gemstones: Diamonds, Sapphires, Emeralds, Rubies, and Amethysts. This should hopefully give you a bit more insight into which gemstones are which colors, what makes them unique, and which are best for engagement ring center stones. However, this is by no means a complete list of all your options for gemstones.
A Colorful Partnership - Roger Dery Gem Designs
Another point worth mentioning when regarding precious gemstones and all of the wonderful options to choose from here at Cline Jewelers when on the lookout for a dazzling center stone for your fashion ring or unique engagement ring is our trusted and rewarding partnership with Roger Dery Gem Designs!
Roger Dery and his incredible team of gem experts partner with some of the most incredible jewelry stores around the country, and we’re so happy to partner with his team to bring you and our awesome community here in Edmonds access to the most beautiful precious stones the world has to offer!
Known in the jewelry and gemstone industry as the leading resource for the world’s most cherished and prized gemstones. Roger is a world-renowned and award-winning precision flat faceter with decades of experience in the gemstone industry. Roger is committed to holistic gem sourcing, and he purchases gems in a way that supports the local communities that he visits around the world, all the while encouraging the success of the miners and their families.
Roger travels directly to the mines where the rough gemstones are found, with a focus on East Africa, working with Gem Legacy to impact artisanal colored gemstone mining communities for success and growth. We’re honored to partner with Roger Dery and his amazing team, and you can view which of Roger’s gems are available to view and purchase from Cline Jewelers here. Remember to visit our website often, because fascinating gems from Roger Dery Gem Designs make their way into our store often!
For A Stunning and Unique Gemstone Engagement Ring, Shop Cline Jewelers!
If you are looking for a unique gemstone engagement ring, look no further than Cline Jewelers. Our team of certified gemologists has the skills and experience to find the perfect jewelry for you. Don’t forget to book an appointment with one of our jewelry experts on staff so that we can provide you with the personal time and attention that you deserve! We’ll see you soon at Cline Jewelers in downtown Edmonds, Washington!