gemstone engagement rings

Gemstone engagement rings have the potential to be timeless pieces of jewellery that will never go out of fashion. They can offer a unique and elegant look, as long as the type of gem, the size and the style are right.

Ultimately, it all comes down to personal taste. If you're unsure as to whether a gemstone engagement ring has the potential to be seen as tacky, get a second opinion from friends and family.

Certain gemstones are best avoided when it comes to engagement rings, purely for durability reasons. As an engagement ring is to be worn every day for years on end, the stone you choose needs to withstand whatever life throws at it: the last thing you want is a stone that will break just through everyday wear and tear.

For this reason, you'll probably want to choose a stone that measures 7.5 or more on the Mohs hardness scale. Gemstones that exceed this hardness level include diamonds, emeralds, aquamarine, topaz, sapphire, moissanite and ruby.

Of course, it's not just the hardness of a gemstone that determines whether it is the right choice for you. Some couples choose birthstones as the centrepiece of their engagement rings. It could be that you choose a gem that's linked with your month of birth or one that's linked with the month in which you are getting married: each gemstone has its own symbolism which can provide a beautiful personal touch to your choice of jewellery.

There are many factors to take into consideration when choosing a gemstone engagement ring:

• Personal taste: How would you like the ring to look?
• Colour: Gemstones come in a vast array of colours from which to choose.
• Durability: As the ring will be worn constantly, the stone and the setting need to be hardwearing.
• Meaning: You may wish to choose a gemstone that has symbolism that means something to you as a couple.
• Size: There is a huge amount of variation in size - both of the gemstone and of the ring itself.

Diamonds are by far the most popular choice of expensive gemstone for engagement rings. They symbolise commitment and partnership, and are the traditional choice.

However, there are many other expensive gemstones that couples choose for engagement rings. Dazzling green emeralds are a popular choice, as well as others such as tourmaline, opal, beryl, moissanite, sapphire, ruby and garnet.