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How to Choose the Best Gemstone for Your Engagement Ring
When it comes to choosing the perfect stone for an engagement ring, diamonds have long been the traditional choice. However, more couples are now exploring other gemstones that offer unique colors, meanings, and, often, more affordable price points. The perfect engagement ring stone should balance beauty with durability to ensure it stands up to everyday wear for decades to come. When selecting the perfect gemstone for your engagement ring, consider these key factors:
Durability: The Mohs hardness scale ranks minerals from 1-10, with diamonds at the top (10). For daily wear, choose gemstones rated 7 or higher to ensure longevity. Active lifestyles particularly benefit from harder stones like diamonds, moissanite, or sapphires.
Personal Style: Consider whether you prefer the traditional brilliance of colorless gemstones or the character of colored options. Your ring should reflect your unique personality and relationship, whether that means a classic look or something distinctively yours.
Budget: Prioritize what matters most to you — exceptional color, size, clarity, or origin. Lab-created gems offer identical properties to natural ones at lower prices. Remember to include setting costs in your budget, as protective settings for softer gemstones may add to the overall price.
Setting Compatibility: Your setting should showcase and protect your chosen gemstone. Bezel settings shield softer gems, while prong settings maximize light in harder ones. Metal choice affects appearance too — white metals enhance cool-toned gemstones, while yellow gold complements warmer types. Lower-profile settings reduce catching risk for active wearers.
The Top 8 Gemstones for Engagement Rings
1) Diamond
Diamonds are the hardest known gemstone, scoring a perfect 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. This unmatched hardness makes diamonds exceptionally resistant to scratches, chips, and other forms of damage, ensuring they retain their brilliance over a lifetime. Beyond their durability, diamonds are renowned for their sparkle and ability to reflect light in a mesmerizing array of colors. These attributes make diamonds the classic choice for engagement rings, symbolizing enduring love and commitment.
2) Moissanite
Moissanite is another top contender for engagement rings, with a hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale. Though slightly softer than diamonds, moissanite is still incredibly durable and resistant to scratches. It is also known for its exceptional brilliance and fire.
3) Sapphire
Sapphires, with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, are well-suited for engagement rings. They are available in a wide range of colors, though the most popular is the classic deep blue. Sapphires are highly durable and resistant to scratches, making them ideal for daily wear. Their rich hues and strong durability have made sapphires a beloved choice for centuries. Perhaps the most famous example is Princess Diana's sapphire engagement ring, which has become an iconic piece of royal jewelry.
4) Ruby
Like sapphires, rubies also rank 9 on the Mohs hardness scale. Rubies are known for their vibrant red color, which ranges from deep, rich crimson to lighter pinkish-red shades. The gem's hardness ensures it can withstand the wear of everyday life without losing its beauty. At Brilliant Earth, we offer lab grown rubies.
5) Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a unique and rare gemstone with a hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale. It is prized for its remarkable color-changing properties, shifting from green in daylight to red or purplish red under incandescent light. This chameleon-like nature adds an element of surprise and mystery to the gem. While slightly softer than diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, alexandrite is still durable enough for daily wear in an engagement ring.
6) Aquamarine
Aquamarine, with a hardness ranging from 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, is a beautiful and durable gemstone. Its serene blue to blue-green color evokes the tranquility of the sea. While aquamarine is slightly softer than some of the other gemstones on this list, it is still hard enough to be suitable for daily wear, provided it is treated with care. Aquamarine’s calming hue and durability make it a favored choice for those who prefer a cooler color palette.
7) Emerald
Emeralds, with a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, are among the most cherished gemstones for engagement rings, but require regular care including periodic oiling. Their vivid green color is unparalleled, symbolizing loyalty and growth. With proper setting and care, an emerald can serve as a stunning centerpiece for an engagement ring.
8) Morganite
Morganite, with a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, is a gemstone known for its delicate pink to peach hues. While not as hard as diamonds or sapphires, morganite is still sufficiently durable for an engagement ring, especially when set in a protective setting like a bezel. Morganite’s soft, romantic color makes it a popular choice for those seeking a gemstone that is both beautiful and meaningful.
What Gemstones Shouldn’t Be Used for Engagement Rings?
While the gems listed above are well-suited for daily wear, certain gemstones are not recommended for engagement rings due to their lower hardness and greater susceptibility to damage. Gemstones such as opals and pearls, though stunning, are more easily scratched or chipped. Opals, for example, have a hardness of around 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, making them more fragile. Pearls, even softer, rank between 2.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale, meaning they can be easily scratched or damaged. While these options are beautiful and a good fit for other types of jewelry, they are not ideal for engagement rings that are meant to be worn daily. Ultimately, the choice of gemstone is a personal one, but for those seeking durability, it is advisable to select gemstones higher on the Mohs scale.
By considering the durability and hardness of these gemstones, you can make an informed decision when choosing the perfect gem for your engagement ring, ensuring that it remains as beautiful as the day you first wore it.
