Gemstone Engagement Rings

The perfect engagement ring means different things to different people. To many, it insinuates a ring with a large diamond while to others it implies a ring with shimmering flawless stones. Yet, to some, the perfect engagement ring is entirely different: it includes a stunning gemstone promoting brilliant colors. 

Vivid Blue Cushion Sapphire & Diamond Ring (3.93Ct TW) 

Now, gemstones are by no means new to the engagement ring scene and yet many individuals who are in the market for one are a little lost when it comes to selecting the ideal gemstone engagement ring. Lower-end gemstones are widely available, but the high-end fine gemstones are a little more difficult to obtain. Most people are not even aware that these stones are often more expensive than the majority of diamonds available in the market. So needless to say, you absolutely must educate yourself when seeking out a good stone. So, what is the perfect gemstone engagement ring and how does one go about finding it? Let’s take a look at some different types of gemstones, possible settings, and where you can source these stones.

Emeralds, Rubies, and Sapphires

In order to make some sense of gemstones, let’s split them into two categories. Now this actually no longer exists, but until not too long ago, the first was known as precious gemstones and the second were semi-precious gemstones. (Today they are all categorized as gemstones.) There are four stones in the first category and they are diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. Emeralds are known for their mesmerizing green hue, but they are found in other colors as well including yellow. Though they are softer than the other three gemstones, they are still quite durable and are used quite often for engagement rings.

A 4.00 carat Ruby Diamond Designer Ring

Browse our diamond and emerald engagement rings

Rubies and Sapphires are actually the same stone from the same mineral. The main factor separating between the two is the color. Both of these stones rank 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Rubies refer to sapphires that are red. In fact, the finest rubies are classified as Pigeon Blood Red. Any stone that is not red enough to qualify as a ruby is called a pink sapphire. Sapphires appear in a number of colors as well, including orange, green, and purple. Needless to say, the most popular is blue, such as the ring of Kate Middleton, which previously belonged to Princess Diana.

Semi-Precious Gemstones

Now that we have briefly discussed the precious stones we can move on to semi-precious stones. Regarding one’s budget, while precious gemstones can be quite costly, semi-precious gemstones for the most part are considered more affordable. Since there are far too many stones to list, we will merely mention some of the most popular types of gemstones. Alexandrite, amethyst, aquamarine, citrine, garnet, jade, opal, onyx, pearl, peridot, rubelite, topaz, tourmaline, and tanzanite are the most popular, but still just a fraction of the world’s semi-precious gemstones.

LEIBISH 3.37Ct (TW) Tanzanite Cushion & Marquise Diamond Ring

If you are looking for pink, garnet could be your stone. Lovers of red will delight in the sensuous hues of the rubelite stone while orange fans can enjoy the bright color of a Mexican Fire Opal or a topaz stone. Citrine offers yellow and orange hues, and green can be found in jade and peridot stones. 

A Belle Citron Lemon Quartz Diamond Ring

For blue, there are many choices including tanzanite, tourmaline, and aquamarine. Purple seekers will do best with an amethyst and alexandrite can do if one is looking for a more neutral, grayish stone. Pearls are another option of course in the neutral department while onyx is the go-to stone for the black color.

Diamond and black Onyx gemstone jewelry

Engagement Ring Settings

The most important part of obtaining the perfect gemstone engagement ring is deciding what color you are interested in and whether you prefer a crystal or a matte stone. This should help you decide on a gemstone, especially once you include the budget factor too. Next up is the setting. Similar to diamond ring settings, there are solitaire, halo, three-stone, and side stone ring settings.

Read more about the setting styles

It’s mostly about taste, but it also has a little to do with your build and your gemstone of choice. Daintier rings will look better on smaller frames while bulkier rings can complement a wider build. Loud and vibrant gemstones look phenomenal on their own and don’t need other stones stealing their thunder. Paler stones, however, could use some help and may look more impressive when paired with another colored stone or alternatively, with a colorless gem.

In order to end up with the perfect ring you must dig deep into your personality and your very essence. That will help you connect with a stone, which will pave the way for finding the ultimate ring for you. Finding the perfect ring is a little like finding love; you will know when you find it because it will feel right.

Browse our collection of gemstone rings for some great inspiration