Beautiful Gemstone Alternatives To Diamond
Diamonds are undeniably beautiful gemstones, however, some people, like the thought of adding more colour to their jewellery collection. There are so many colourful gemstones out there that are breathtaking, with such important meanings behind them. So, we are here to introduce a few alternatives to diamonds, along with a few reasons why they are so special!
Rubies
Firstly we have rubies, a beautiful deep red coloured gemstone that has been treasured for centuries. Rubies are known as protective stones that can bring happiness and passion to those who are in their presence. In addition to this, the stone is believed to bring positive energy, vitality and wellness to the wearer. The ruby is a symbol of 40 years of marriage, to represent the inner flame of a strong marriage that has lasted for that long and continues to burn.
In terms of their structural integrity, rubies score a 9 on the Mohs scale, making it one of the strongest possible gemstones aside from diamonds which score a 10. Rubies are ideal for everyday wear and are resistant to heat and light exposure (although keeping this to a minimum is advised).
Overall, rubies are passionate and positive gemstones that also happen to be exceptionally beautiful, making them a wonderful alternative to diamonds in jewellery.
Emeralds
Next, we have emeralds, which are bright green stones representing truth and love. In Ancient Greece, emeralds were said to be the stone of the goddess Venus, who represented love and hope. In Egypt, they were thought to be the secret to eternal life. The stunning green colour is known to represent vitality and new beginnings, which is why they are such a popular choice for vintage engagement rings. The true love that is within emeralds is thought to bring partners closer together when they are in the presence of this stone.
Emeralds are very slightly less strong compared to rubies, scoring a 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale. Whilst they are still suitable for everyday wear, the wearer needs to be slightly more careful to avoid contact with water, chemicals or soaps.
Sapphires
Another beautiful alternative to diamonds is sapphires, a breathtakingly beautiful blue stone that represents calm, clarity, truth and nobility. Sapphires have long been connected to the Royal Family, with this becoming more public when Prince Charles proposed to Princess Diana with one of the most popular engagement rings of all time. When the same ring was presented to Princess Kate by Prince William, there was another huge surge in the popularity of sapphires, and it’s not hard to see why.
Sapphires are another stone that scores a 9 on the Mohs scale, making them extremely durable for everyday wear. Again, this, combined with the deep meaning behind the stone, makes sapphires a very popular choice for engagement rings.
Pearls
Although this isn’t technically a gemstone, we cheated a bit as pearls must be mentioned! Pearls are not best suited to rings as they are delicate but make amazing necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
Aside from their undeniable beauty and value, the main reason we have mentioned pearls as an alternative to diamonds is because of what they represent. Pearls are known to be the ultimate symbol of wisdom, with their strong connection to the sea bringing out calming effects, clarity, serenity and strength to the wearer.
Pearls are exceptionally special in the world of jewellery and should seriously be considered when looking at alternatives to diamonds.
Special thanks for the great images
Photo by Tiffany Anthony on Unsplash Photo by Joshua Fuller on Unsplash