When getting engaged a diamond engagement ring is the first thing that comes to mind, but if you love color and prefer a colored gemstone to a diamond, you’ll find a variety of stylish vintage engagement rings with a colorful center stone, or maybe you like a diamond as the center adorned with colored gem side stones. You may choose a ring that showcases your favorite color, or perhaps you would like to wear your birthstone as an engagement ring, for a little extra luck. Let’s take a look at some colored gemstones and the meaning behind those gems and colors.
Something Blue
Blue is one of the most beloved colors because it evokes water and the sky. According to Colorpsychology.org, people who like blue are good listeners and great partners. People who like blue are also said to be self-confident, loyal and calm. There are many blue gemstones, but blue sapphire and aquamarine are two of the most popular.
Blue sapphire is a great choice for an engagement ring; the hardness of the gem makes it a very good stone to wear every day. Blue sapphire became a popular choice for an engagement ring back in the early 1980s when Prince Charles (now King Charles) proposed to Lady Diana Spencer (who upon her marriage became Princess Diana) with a blue sapphire ring with a diamond surround. It is one of the most famous engagement rings in the world and is now worn by Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales. Sapphire is the birthstone for September and is said to bring harmony to lovers, as well as promoting wisdom and truth.
The lighter hued Aquamarine is another beautiful choice for those who love blue. Aquamarine is a lighter color sometimes with greenish blue tones. Aquamarine is strong enough for everyday wear and is easily available in larger sizes. Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and is said to bring happiness to marriage and clear communication, while embodying serenity and calm.
Passionate Red
Red is warm and passionate, a high octane color that grabs attention. Associated with love and romance, red is also considered a lucky color. Colorpsycology.org notes that those who love red are enthusiastic, energetic, optimistic and charismatic. With its connection to love and passion, red is a great choice for an engagement ring. Two beautiful red gemstones for an engagement ring are ruby and garnet.
Known as the “King of Gemstones”, ruby symbolizes love and passion. Ruby is a very hard stone that will hold up to daily wear, making it a good choice for an engagement ring. A rare gem, ruby is generally found in sizes under 5-carats. Ruby is the July birthstone and is said that in addition to love and passion, it is also associated with courage, vitality, prosperity and success.
Another beautiful red gemstone is garnet, which is very popular in vintage jewelry especially from the Victorian era. Garnet comes in a few shades of red ranging from an orangey red to a purplish red, offering a variety of choices. Garnet is much less expensive than ruby and makes a lovely colored gemstone engagement ring as it is said to be a stone of commitment. January’s birthstone, garnet, is also believed to be a symbol of strength and connection.
Sunny Yellow
If you love yellow, you already know it’s one of the most vibrant colors. Associated with the sun and its power, Colorspyschology.org says that those who are attracted to yellow are cheerful, fun, friendly and happy. Yellow diamonds and yellow sapphires are attractive choices for engagement rings as both are hard gemstones that can stand up to daily wear.
Yellow diamonds can be found in shades ranging from soft pastels to bold vibrant tones. Yellow diamonds marry the sparkle of a diamond with the color of sunshine, the best of both worlds. Also, yellow diamonds, like all diamonds, are the hardest of all gemstones and are uniquely suited for everyday wear. Diamond is the birthstone for April and yellow diamonds represent warmth, joy, happiness, fresh starts and renewal as well as positivity.
Like its blue counterpart, yellow sapphire is another exciting choice for an engagement ring. It’s sunny hues are uplifting and the strength of sapphire makes it a good gem to wear every day. Yellow sapphire, like blue, is also the birthstone for September. Yellow sapphire is said to bring prosperity to the one who wears it, as well as a positive outlook on life.
Going Green
Relaxing and soothing, like grass and trees, green reminds us of nature. According to Colorpsychology.org, those who are attracted to green are independent, intelligent, harmonious and diplomatic. Emerald and tsavorite garnet are both green gemstones that are beautiful for an engagement ring.
Emerald is well loved for its rich green hues and its amazing green glow. These gems are known for “le jardin”, the garden of fissures inside the stone that are part of its natural beauty. However, those same fissures make emeralds more delicate and prone to cracks or breaks if they are accidentally knocked into something, making them better suited as side stones. A favorite of the ancient Egyptian Queen Cleopatra, emerald is the birthstone for May, symbolizing fertility, rebirth, successful love and emotional strength.
Tsavorite is a form of green garnet, first discovered in 1967 in Kenya by geologist Campbell R. Bridges. A few years later, it was brought to market by Tiffany & Co. in the early 1970s. It is a hard stone that can be worn daily. Tsavorite garnet, the green version of January’s birthstone, is associated with rebirth, prosperity and enhanced intuition.
Any color of gemstone will make a unique engagement ring, maybe an amethyst sets your heart racing, or a pink topaz makes your pulse pound, perhaps a pink or green tourmaline has you tingling. Any gemstone can become an engagement ring, as long as it is gifted with love and commitment.
Top of Page: Getting engaged with a colored gemstone engagement ring, photo Hoi An and Da Nang, courtesy Unsplash.
Art Deco, 2.82-carat unheated sapphire, diamond and platinum engagement ring; Art Deco, 1.70-carat Burma ruby, diamond and platinum engagement ring with hand engraving; Contemporary 2.52-carat yellow sapphire, diamond, yellow gold and platinum engagement ring; Contemporary 4.04-carat tsavorite garnet, diamond, 18-karat gold and platinum engagement ring.
Authored by Amber Michelle