Explore our top three picks for unique engagement and wedding rings.
Morganite
If you love all things vintage or appreciate the tones of an elegant dusty rose, take the plunge into the morganite world. This rare mineral recently got a lot of attention after it was found in Madagascar in the 20th century, making it a new and exciting stone in the world of fine jewellery. The subtle, elegant hues of refined morganite are like a cool glass of pink lemonade—certain to satisfy.
Durability
While not as tough as a diamond, morganite is a durable choice that can remain in top shape if cared for properly. This mineral ranks a 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, perfect for occasional wear or daily wear protected against hard scratches and knocks.
Pricing
Though it’s a very rare stone, it’s surprisingly affordable. Morganite is rare enough that it hasn’t been picked up by most jewellery manufacturing companies, so its price is actually kept down by its scarcity. What’s more is that carats of the gemstone don’t really affect the price either, as morganite is often found in larger sizes. All in all, it’s a beautiful and affordable stone.
Colours
You can find morganite in a variety of pinks, from soft pinkish lavender to bright peach to pastel salmon. Since every piece is different, you can match your stone to your band of choice and skin tone. Our favourite band-stone combination is a rose gold with rusty pink ring.
Clarity
As a type 2 gemstone, morganite rarely has visible inclusions. You can enjoy the crystal-clear clarity of a high quality gemstone with tasteful colouring.
Ruby
For those that like the idea of a jewel that’s both rare and catching of the eye, a ruby may be the right choice. Though large, quality rubies are high in value, the vivid colour of well-cut rubies draws attention to any carat size. If you’re looking for wow factor on a smaller scale (literally), a ruby is a spectacular match.
Durability
Ruby scores a 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it perfect for withstanding everyday wear and tear.
Pricing
With its high durability and unique, vivid colouring, a ruby can fetch a high price. The quality of the ruby, its colour, its size, and its source will all impact how much an individual stone is worth.
Colours
The most coveted feature of rubies is their deep romantic red hue. There can be slight variations of colour along a pink-to-red spectrum, but most variations are only noticeable to the trained eye.
Clarity
Top class, “loupe clean” rubies will have no detectable inclusions, meaning they’re perfectly clear to the naked eye. Lower tier rubies can have few too many inclusions, affecting their overall value. If you’re looking at a loupe clean ruby, be sure to have an expert confirm its treatments and origin, as loupe clean rubies are quite rare.
Sapphire
Some of us like a subtle difference, and some of us want it bold! Sapphire is a great choice for anyone that’s ready to sport a little colour. The royal family loves sapphire too: did anyone else notice Kate Middleton’s sapphire engagement ring, formerly Lady Di’s? Sapphire is a bright, classy choice for any skin tone or style preference.
Durability
With a Mohs scale hardness of 9 out of 10, sapphire is right up next to diamonds when it comes to toughness. A sapphire ring or pair of earrings will last you a long time without much wear to show.
Pricing
The cost of the gemstone depends on its colour. As blue are the rarest, they can be the most expensive, though still less expensive than diamonds. Some shoppers will choose to combine diamonds and sapphire on the same jewellery piece to reduce the price (compared to an all-diamond piece of jewellery) and balance the colour.
Colours
Sapphires come in almost any colour imaginable, but we usually picture sapphires as blue gemstones. That’s because blue is the rarest colour and ultimately the most valuable. Aside from rich blue, some of our favourites are teal green, blush, and unique bi-colour stones.
Clarity
As a coloured stone, sapphire is rarely free from inclusions and sparkles slightly less than a diamond. But what they lack in shine, they make up for in beautiful colour!
