When it comes to engagement rings, tradition often dictates that a diamond is the ultimate symbol of love and commitment. For decades a diamond has been synonymous with the promise of forever! However, due to changes in taste and the impact of lab grown diamonds many couples are turning to coloured gemstones to find a unique stone that speaks to them.
By opting for a coloured gemstone you get a full rainbow of colours, each with their own distinct personality, to choose from. From the deep, regal blues of sapphires to the lush greens of emeralds or the soft pastel of a pink morganite, coloured gemstones can provide many options for creating a one of a kind, bespoke ring.
The draw of coloured gemstones is not a modern trend. Throughout history, some of the most iconic engagement rings have featured vibrant gems. Examples include Napoleon and Josepehine's Sapphire and Diamond Toi et Moi to the most famous sapphire engagement ring of them all which was worn by Princess Diana and is now worn by Catherine, the Princess of Wales. This deep blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds remains one of the most recognizable pieces of jewellery in the world.
Beyond royalty, many historical figures and celebrities have favoured coloured gemstones. Elizabeth Taylor's love affair with emeralds, rubies, and sapphires was as legendary as the actress herself, and Jackie Kennedy’s emerald engagement ring was truly unique.
Jackie Kennedy's Engagement Ring
My favourite modern coloured engagement rings include Halle Berry's Emerald and Diamond ring that celebrated her engagement to Olivier Martinez and Kary Perry's ruby and diamond floral ring, that marked her engagement to Orlando Bloom.
Here’s our guide to each of the coloured stones we offer for you to make your bespoke piece of jewellery unique.
Emerald - May birthstone. 20th and 35th Wedding Anniversary.
Green is the colour of spring which has long been associated with love and rebirth. As the gem of Venus, it was also considered an aid to fertility. Cleopatra was never seen without her emeralds. Ancient Egyptian mummies were often buried with an emerald carved with the symbol for verdure – flourishing greenness – on their necks to symbolise eternal youth.
The most popular cut is the emerald shape due to the original shape of the crystals. Well cut stones maximize the beauty of the color while minimizing the impact of fissures, and creating a bright, lively stone
Ruby - July birthstone. 15th and 40th Wedding Anniversary.
The ruby is all about fiery love and passion. They also represent courage and strength. It was believed that wearing a fine red ruby bestowed good fortune on its owner and throughout history they have been a prized possession of kings and emperors. They come in many different colours from a pinky hue to a deep, blue tinged red.
The finest ruby has a pure, vibrant red to slightly purplish red color. As the color becomes too orangy or more purplish, the ruby moves down in quality. The highest-quality rubies have vivid color saturation. The color must be neither too dark nor too light to be considered finest quality.
People in the trade expect rubies to have at least some inclusions because inclusion-free rubies are rare. Ruby value depends on how visible the inclusions are. Obvious inclusions or inclusions that reduce transparency or brightness lower a ruby’s value dramatically.
Mogok is Myanmar’s legendary valley of rubies and is the source of many of the world’s most fabulous gems.
Ruby can command the highest prices of any colored gemstone. The per-carat prices of fine-quality rubies have been rising consistently, many times breaking auction records.
Sapphire - September birthstone. 5th and 45th wedding anniversary.
Sapphire is Greek for blue and for as long as anyone can remember the blue sapphire has represented honesty, loyalty, purity and trust. However sapphires are not only blue, they also come in every colour of the rainbow and are a great way to add colour to a piece of jewellery. Fancy sapphires come in violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and intermediate hues. Some stones exhibit the phenomenon known as color change, most often going from blue in daylight or fluorescent lighting to purple under incandescent light. Sapphires can even be gray, black, or brown.
Sapphire is found in many parts of the world, but the most prized sapphires are from Myanmar (Burma), Kashmir and Sri Lanka. Intensely saturated and velvety, rare sapphires from Kashmir set the standard for blue.
The most highly valued blue sapphires are velvety blue to violetish blue, in medium to medium dark tones. Preferred sapphires also have strong to vivid color saturation. The saturation should be as strong as possible without darkening the colour and compromising brightness.
“Through our stone dealers in Hatton Garden we can source beautiful and ethical stones and create a piece of jewellery that is truly personal to you.”
Related Articles
