ENGAGEMENT RINGS - ALTERNATIVE GEMSTONES

You’ve probably read a heck of a lot about diamond engagement rings and been bombarded by talk of them. With that in mind, the following statement may well come as a big surprise to you, but we'll make it anyway - you aren't contractually obliged to buy a diamond engagement ring at all!

Now that we've made that point loud and clear, and you've picked yourself up from the floor, we can get on with the serious matter of looking at alternative engagement rings...

There are a whole host of alternative gemstones around, and each can provide an attractive, meaningful and perhaps cheaper alternative to their diamond counterparts. They can be just as beautiful, and help to add that personal touch to an engagement ring. So whilst it may be the case that ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend’, it's also the case that diamonds are a wallet’s worst enemy and to look beyond them is not necessarily a bad idea.

So, if your bride-to-be doesn’t particularly like diamonds, has strong Astrological beliefs, or is after a bit of colour in her life then read on. However, if, like many others, she believes (incorrectly we may add, but don’t tell her that!) that engagement rings aren't official unless they're furnished with a huge financially-crippling diamond, then you may wish to look away now and whatever you do, don’t bookmark this article!

Assuming that you are still reading, let’s outline the alternatives to diamonds in a little more depth. There are three common ways for choosing an engagement gemstone, namely; by birth-month, meaning and by star-sign.

Gemstones by Birth Month
The following list of birth-month gemstones originates from Biblical times. It originated when 1st Century Jewish High Priests used to decorate their ceremonial outfits with the twelve gemstones shown below (in case you are interested – Exodus 28, 15-30!):

Gemstones by Meaning

For those of you who wish to know a little more about the meanings of the gemstones, the following handy table should help you out.

Gemstones by Signs of the Zodiac

Astrologers have also allocated gemstones to star-signs. In certain cases, these coincide with the same stone as the birth-month stones, whilst in others they differ. In terms of engagement rings the most popular allocations of gemstones to zodiac signs are outlined in the following table.

If you are planning to include one of the gemstones detailed above in an engagement ring, or for that matter any other stone that you have a particular liking for, it is wise to first of all be 100% certain that your partner is not expecting a big bold diamond ring to show off to her friends.

Expensive gems such as sapphires, rubies, and emeralds and other can combine perfectly with a diamond to create a visually impressive ring, or alternatively stand alone to create a beautiful alternative to traditional engagement rings.

At the end of the day, engagement rings are simply a symbol that announces to the world that you love each other and are ready to commit to a long term future together – it is not about how much it costs. Less expensive stones such as garnets, opals and tourmalines can convey the message of love just as effectively as a whopping big diamond, and at the end of the day, it really is the heart, and not the wallet, that counts.

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Recommended Reading

For those of you wanting to find out more, we've a whole host of other engagement articles on our site packed full of expert information and helpful advice, not to mention our online wedding directory that's filled with jewellers, bespoke ring makers and more.

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