Posts Tagged ‘sapphires’

 

A Guide to Buying a Sapphire Engagement Ring

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Traditionally, sapphires are symbolic of faithfulness, which make them a perfect choice for use in an engagement ring. While most people associate a deep royal blue color with sapphires, they are not the only colors to choose from. Whichever sapphire strikes your fancy, there’s no denying the gem makes a beautiful, unique alternative to a traditional diamond engagement ring.

 

What Colors do I have to Choose From?

 

Sapphires are known for their brilliant, deep blue color, but they are also available in a variety of other gorgeous shades. In fact, there are several “fancy” sapphires couples have to choose from when selecting a sapphire engagement ring.

  • Pink

Pink sapphires are often confused with rubies; however, if the stone has a purple tinge to it, it’s most definitely a sapphire. Pink sapphires are a beautiful alternative to the traditional blue stones.

  • Purple

Ranging in shades from light to deep, purple sapphires are a gorgeous alternative to the classic blue stones. The lighter purple sapphires may even look slightly pink in tone when exposed to light.

  • Green

Though unique in color, green sapphires are actually the least valuable of all sapphires. Green sapphires range in color from a light yellow-green to a blue-green. If you are looking for a deep green stone, however, you are better off selecting an emerald. Green sapphires simply cannot attain the same dark green shade emeralds can.

  • Orange

Orange sapphires are exceedingly rare and valuable, with the most valuable being a stone with a dark red-orange hue. Yellowish orange sapphires are less valuable.

  • Yellow

When selecting a yellow sapphire, look for a light yellow hue. Because of the transparency of yellow sapphires, you want to check for visible flaws and imperfections that can detract from the overall beauty of the stone.

 

Important Things to Consider

 

Before buying a sapphire engagement ring, you should carefully examine the clarity of the stone. Even though most gemstones will have some type of minor flaw, you should check the stone carefully for any visible cracks that can cause further damage to the stone at a later date. If there are flaws, make sure those flaws do not detract from the overall appearance of the stone. When checking a sapphire’s clarity, the stone should be transparent and the color uniform throughout the gem.

 

While most people commonly choose ovals or round cuts for their sapphires, other cuts can be used provided it is proportioned to allow the most brilliance possible. Different cuts will be more expensive than others, so compare pricing on a variety of sapphires before you purchase one. Additionally, you should verify the stone’s origins before you purchase a sapphire engagement ring. If the stone has been treated in any way, jewelers are required to disclose this up front. If you are unsure, ask!

 

Purchasing a sapphire engagement ring is a beautiful alternative to a traditional diamond ring. Deep royal blue sapphires are classic, but other colors offer a distinctive look any bride-to-be would be happy to wear on her finger.

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Alternative Gemstones for Your Engagement Ring

Friday, May 8th, 2009

Engagement rings are meant to symbolize something precious and beautiful. Diamonds are undoubtedly gorgeous, but they are not your only option when selecting an engagement ring. Many couples are choosing rings with center gemstones instead of the traditional white diamond.

 

If you choose to go this route, there are many gemstones that are historically linked with love and similar emotions. A gemstone engagement ring with this kind of symbolism can be a wonderful break from tradition and offers an affordable, unique alternative to traditional rings.

 

Red Gemstones

 

Red gemstones are usually associated with love and passion. Rubies are used to symbolize love and enduring friendship, but other red gemstones can be used as the center stone for an engagement ring. Garnets are an affordable alternative to Rubies, and symbolize passionate devotion to your loved ones.

 

While more pink than red, rose Quartz has long been used to promote love and bring peace to relationships. This gemstone would be an exceptionally unique stone to use in an engagement ring.

 

Green Gemstones

 

Symbolically linked to faithfulness, green gemstones are a beautiful alternative to traditional diamond engagement rings. Emeralds are the most popular choice and were historically believed to promote love and faithfulness among partners. Green Tourmaline, Jade, or Tsavorite (green Garnets) are also excellent choices.

 

Blue Gemstones

 

Blue gemstones have long been linked to purity and spirituality, and are an excellent choice as a center stone for engagement rings. Sapphires are a popular choice because they symbolize reliability, permanence and harmony. Lapis Lazuli, while traditionally more expensive than other gemstones, symbolizes friendship and trust, making it the perfect stone for an engagement ring.

 

Aquamarine signifies trust, harmony and lasting relationships and can be very attractive as a center stone. Iolite also works well as the center stone because of its amazing durability and beautiful color. Blue Tourmaline, said to represent honesty and tolerance, can also be used.

 

Pearls

 

Pearls have long been associated with weddings and would make an exceptionally unique choice when used in an engagement ring. Said to represent purity and innocence, pearls are a gorgeous testament to undying love between a couple. If you choose to use a pearl as the center stone, look for a setting that will complement the stones beauty, such as an antique setting.

 

 

If you’d like, you can have small diamonds on each side of the center pearl for a truly unique engagement ring that combines the symbolism of both stones.

 

Birthstones

 

Birthstone engagement rings are truly symbolic of a couple’s love for one another. Combine a birthstone ring with small diamonds within the setting, or allow the ring to stand alone as a testament to your love. Whatever you choose, the ring will be a lasting reminder of the one you love and are an excellent choice for an engagement ring.

 

Gemstone engagement rings are an affordable alternative to traditional diamonds and are a unique way to express true love and passion. Because many gemstones are historically symbolic of love, purity and enduring relationships, choosing a gemstone engagement ring offers a beautiful representation of your love and life together.

 

 

 

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Gemstone Alternatives Instead of the Traditional Center Diamond

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Purchasing a white diamond for the center of your engagement ring is no longer the only choice there is. You now have other choices based upon what you like as well as your moral and ethical positions.

 

If you are determined to purchase a diamond for the center of your engagement ring, and seek an alternative to a white diamond, yellow diamonds have become incredibly popular. They are more expensive than white diamonds, of similar quality, but really make an impact when seen on a woman’s finger.

 

Another popular choice is pink diamonds. These diamonds are rarer than yellow diamonds and also cost more than the traditional white diamond.

 

Still, many women have learned about an issue that has taken place for some years. This issue was dramatically brought to the world’s attention via a movie called “Blood Diamond” staring Leonardo DiCaprio. The issue, also known as “non-conflict” diamonds or “conflict-free” diamonds has forced some women, and men, to look at the ethical issue of purchasing diamonds that may have been the cause of torture, rape and murder.

 

When this issue became better known, some women, who still wanted a center diamond for their engagement ring, insisted upon learning where the diamond was mined and how it was delivered to the jeweler. If the jeweler is reputable, he can produce documentation showing the origins of the diamond and proof that the diamond is a “conflict-free” diamond.

 

However, some women do not accept this documentation as proof positive and have decided to go in a different direction. Some have opted for other precious gemstones including Sapphires, Rubies, Emeralds, and the rare, and very expensive, Paraiba Tourmaline.

 

If you are searching for a gemstone to replace a white diamond, there are two substitutes that I can recommend that most people will think are real white diamonds. There are cubic zirconia and white sapphires. Cubic zirconia is well known as an extremely low cost replacement for real diamonds. Then there are white sapphires. White sapphires cost a fraction of diamonds the same size, but good quality white sapphires are not that easy to come by.

 

Sapphires, rubies, emeralds and Paraiba tourmalines are all very good replacement gemstones for diamonds. They all come in either different colors or different shades. For example, sapphires come in white, green, pink, purple, blue, yellow and variations of all these colors.

 

Paraiba Tourmaline also comes in a few different colors with variations of blue and green being the most widely available.

 
There are quite a large number of precious and semi-precious gemstones that can substitute for the traditional center white diamond in your engagement ring. Here are just a few of the gemstones that you could substitute: Alexandrite, Amethyst, Andesine Labradorite, Apatite, Aquamarine, Blue Topaz, Citrine, Fire Opal, Green Beryl, Green Tourmaline, Kunzite, Mandarin Garnet, Morganite, Peridot, Pink Tourmaline, Precious Topaz, Red Spinel, Rubellite, Tanzanite, Tsavorite and Yellow Beryl (just to name a few).

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