Why choose gemstone engagement rings?

You’ve heard a million times that diamonds are forever. So what’s up with all the people -civilians and celebs alike- wearing gemstone engagement rings lately?

While diamond rings have traditionally been associated with romantic milestones like getting engaged or married, they aren’t the only way to say “I love you.” Get ready to learn more about this growing trend and three uber-exciting reasons to choose an engagement ring with a gemstone!

So What’s a Gemstone Engagement Ring?

The short answer is that it’s an engagement ring that doesn’t have a diamond as the center stone. It comes in the same styles as traditional diamond rings, like a solitaire, halo, and pave, but instead of an oval or princess sparkler, you’ve got a rich-hued emerald or sapphire stealing the show.

Now for the long answer. Gemstone engagement rings are lively and creative ways of expressing your love in color. Passionate about your bae? Say it with a bright ruby engagement ring. Want to tell them you’ll be together forever? A rich blue sapphire stands for loyalty.

But, wait! There’s more...

Reasons Why You Might Want to Ditch the Diamond

Here are some more reasons why you might want to present your bae with a gemstone engagement ring when you’re ready to pop the question.

Gemstones Are Super Personal

Everyone has their favorite gemstone. Whether it’s their birthstone or it has a color that just vibes with them, they rarely wear jewelry without it. Add this stone to an engagement ring and you’re guaranteed to blow the recipient away.

It doesn’t get more personal than that. We’re floored!

Gemstones Are Mega-Symbolic

Sure, engagement rings symbolize love, but when you top it with your b-loved’s fave gemstone, you’re saying more than “I love you.” More like “I love you and I know this ring is totally you.” Trust us, no one can resist that.

While some of us dig gemstones for their brightly-hued sparkle, others are into the meaning behind each stone. For example:

• Sapphires are all about faithfulness and loyalty

• Emeralds mean you’re successful in love

• Rubies symbolize red-hot passion

So what’s your loved one’s story? Choose a gemstone that tells it to a T, add it to an engagement ring, and you’re symbolizing something equally important: that you understand them as much as you love them.

That’s a major win.

Gemstones Make an Impact

Most gemstones grow as large crystals. This means that you can get them in sizes and shapes that diamonds can’t match. If you love the idea of a large and unique shape for your special ring, you have a lot more choices.

So What Do All the Different Gemstone Engagement Rings Mean?

We mentioned earlier that each gemstone represents something awesome and gave a few examples. That was only a teaser, people. There are a LOT of gemstones out there to choose from, which makes it even more likely you’ll find something that will slay your bae.

Here are some possibilities. Anything hit a bullseye?

Emerald Engagement Rings

Emeralds have been around for ages, but for centuries, you could forget about wearing one in an engagement ring unless you were royalty or a Rockefeller.

It wasn’t until the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 30s that jewelers began adding this gorgeous green gemstone to their engagement rings. Even then, it didn’t become a thing until JFK gave the future Mrs. Kennedy a 2.84-carat emerald set in platinum and surrounded by diamonds.

Today, emerald engagement rings are a hit with those who want a colorful and unique alternative to traditional diamonds. Their rich green color and association with fidelity, love, and new beginnings makes them a slam-dunk choice for an engagement ring.

Emeralds are prized for their rich green color and their association with love, fidelity, and rebirth, making them a meaningful choice for an engagement ring. They were reportedly Cleopatra’s gemstone of choice, and if they’re good enough for a queen....

Blue Sapphire Engagement Rings

Blue sapphire is one of the hottest picks for a non-diamond engagement ring. Its gorgeous color, which ranges from icy-cool to deep and vivid shades of blue, symbolizes faith, hope, and connection to a higher power.

For centuries, sapphire rings also represented fidelity. Medieval communities believed that if an unfaithful person wore one, the color of the stone would fade. Knights coming back from the battlefield would often test their wives and sweethearts with sapphire rings!

Although most of the sapphires you see on engagement rings are blue, they actually come in every color except red. Some rare stones can even change color under different light sources and one- the star sapphire- has a star-like optical effect that’s out of this world.

Ruby Engagement Rings

Is your b-loved romantic? Bold? Passionate? Then they were born to wear a ruby engagement ring!

Rubies have always been a hot commodity. History has it that Chinese emperor Kublai Khan offered an entire city in exchange for one especially gorgeous ruby. On engagement rings, they represent passion, romance, and success.

Aquamarine Engagement Rings

The ancient Romans used to call aquamarine the ‘water of the sea.’ We totally see why- it comes in calming shades of crystal and blue. Speaking of calming, it symbolizes harmony, inner peace, and tranquility. If your s/o is looking for peace and contentment in their lives, they’ll fall in love with an aquamarine engagement ring.

Aquamarine engagement rings look stunning when paired with white gold or platinum bands. For added appeal, go for a vintage cut like marquise, pear, or princess.

Amethyst Engagement Rings

This February birthstone makes a super-stunning engagement ring. With its lilac and lavender shades (bonus points for Siberian purple, which is the priciest), amethyst looks out of this world on a platinum or white gold band.

Even if your s/o wasn’t born in February, what’s not to love about amethyst as an engagement ring? It represents grace, understanding, and trust, which are cornerstones for all good relationships. If the recipient is an art fan, tell them that Leonardo da Vinci used this tranquil purple gemstone to clear his mind.

Ready to Choose an Engagement Ring With a Gemstone?

Don’t get us wrong- diamond engagement rings are seriously iconic. But in the game of love, they’re not the only player in town. Gemstone engagement rings come in a wide range of cool colors, they have their own unique meanings, and they’re super personal. Kind of like love itself.

Enough said.