Blue Zircon in Yellow Gold
Blue Sapphire in Platinum
Tanzanite in White Gold
Tip #13– Considering Gemstone Hardness:
Another characteristic of gemstones that should be considered when selecting the right one for a gemstone engagement ring is the hardness of the gem. The Moh’s scale is a hardness scale that characterizes the scratch resistance of a gemstone by the ability of that gemstone to scratch another gemstone. All gemstones are given a rating on a scale from 1 to 10. 10 is the hardest and only a diamond has a rating of 10. Believe it or not, the only thing that can scratch a diamond is another diamond.
Beautiful example of a unheated/untreated sapphire engagement ring set from MyJewelrySource
Sapphires and rubies are the hardest gemstones with a Moh’s scale rating of 9 and so they do make excellent choices for an engagement ring, particularly if she has a very active lifestyle. The next hardest gemstones are blue topaz and aquamarine. Emeralds rate a 7.5 to 8 on the scale and are notably softer than their precious counterparts, ruby and sapphire. Some of the most popular gemstones are rated between a 6.5 and 7.5 on the Moh’s scale. These include amethyst, blue zircon, citrine, garnet, iolite, peridot, tanzanite and tourmaline. If you are concerned about the hardness (or lack thereof) of a gemstone that you would like in an engagement ring, there are a couple of things you can do to compensate for that hardness. Choosing rings with bezel or semi bezel set center stones is a great option for softer stones. The bezel helps to protect the stone from sudden impact and scratches. You can also look for a gemstone engagement ring with a lower profile. Rings that sit closer to the finger and rings that do not sit up high will also generally be a better choice for a softer gemstone.
Example of Amethyst Engagement Ring set.
Yellow Diamond Alternative: A Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Ring from MyJewelrySource
Tip #11- Looking like a Diamond-Alternatives: If her first choice for an engagement ring is a diamond, but you just don’t have the budget for this option, did you know that there are a few gemstones which have the colors of diamonds? A white diamond, the most common color for diamond, can be substituted with white zircon, white sapphire or white topaz.
The best way to get the yellow diamond ring look for a fraction of the cost is to choose a yellow sapphire ring. You may know that yellow diamonds come in many shades of yellow from the light banana to fancier and more vivid colors like bright golden lemon yellow. MyJewelrySource has a fabulous selection of yellow sapphire rings that very closely replicate the gorgeous yellow diamond.
Pink Diamond Alternative: A Untreated Light Pink Sapphire and Diamond Ring from MyJewelrySource
Pink diamonds are one of the rarest of diamonds. Often with a hint of lavender or peach, pink diamonds have been a favorite of celebrities and can very closely be simulated with light pink sapphires and light pink tourmalines. Light pink sapphires are very hard to find but MyJewelrySource does have a gorgeous selection of about a half dozen light pink sapphire engagement rings. Each of our light pink sapphires is carefully hand selected for its amazing resemblance to a pink diamond.
Blue Diamond Alternative: A Blue Zircon and Diamond Ring from MyJewelrySource
If you are interested in the color of a blue diamond, please take a look at our blue zircon rings. Not only does the color of blue zircon look like that of a blue diamond but it also sparkles like a diamond too. This is due to the high refractive index of the gemstone. Not all gemstones have high refractive indexes and that is one characteristic that contributes to sparkle and brilliance.
Example of Padparadscha Sapphire Ring from MyJewelrySource
Tip #10- Peach Sensations: Peach gemstones include morganite and the prestigious padparadscha sapphire. Morganite is generally a light peach or light pink color. The padparadscha sapphire has an exquisite combination of peach and pink, just like the lotus blossom, from which it gets its name. Padparadscha sapphires are extremely rare, more rare than any other color sapphire. The shade of peachy-pink can vary from lighter to vivid. Lower quality padparadscha can be found with brownish tones. At MyJewelrySource, we strive to always offer at least one or two padparadscha sapphire rings for the lady who truly wants a special one of a kind ring.