Fact: Engagement rings don’t always have to include diamonds. While a diamond is a common choice for a center stone, it’s hardly your only option. In fact, according to The Knot 2021 Jewelry and Engagement Study, real couples are tossing tradition when it comes to their wedding jewelry. We surveyed over 5,000 couples who got engaged in 2021, and 10% of respondents said their engagement ring includes an alternative precious gem center stone.
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If you’re looking for something completely unique (either for yourself or your S.O.), a colored gemstone might be the right pick. After all, your engagement ring should be a piece of jewelry that embodies your personal style—especially because you’ll wear it every day for the rest of your life. “Most people immediately think of a diamond for the center stone of an engagement ring because that’s what they have always known or seen,” explains jeweler Stephanie Gottlieb, noting that your engagement ring design is a good opportunity to show off your favorite hues. “Mixing color into your jewelry wardrobe is the perfect way to express your personality and add a pop of fun.”
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Beyond serving as a piece of self-expression, opting for a unique gemstone color also allows you to sport a ring that’s unlike anyone else’s. “A colored gemstone engagement ring is a one-of-a-kind look that not many other people have as opposed to, say, a round brilliant diamond solitaire,” says Jillian Sassone, founder of Marrow Fine.
Yet, if opting for a bold center stone like red rubellite, green peridot or yellow sapphire feels like too much of a commitment, you can always create a colorful wedding stack with bands or multi-stone rings that show off your favorite gems. “A lot of our clients experiment by introducing color in a two-stone design, with one diamond and one gemstone paired together,” Gottlieb explains. Adds Sassone: “Adding an alternative gemstone stacking band is less of a monetary commitment, but it adds a little personal touch to your stack to create a bespoke look.”
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So, if a unique gemstone color is right for you, there are a few things to know before you buy. That’s why we’ve compiled this comprehensive list of gemstones by color. Start with this chart below to brush up on common colored gemstones—then read on for detailed information about each gemstone’s meaning and birthstone correlation, the colors it’s available in, and how durable it is. From vibrant blue topaz to moody black opal, here’s what you need to know about gemstone colors for engagement rings.
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Alexandrite
Kicking off our list of different colored gemstones is alexandrite, which is a variety of the mineral chrysoberyl. Because it was discovered in a Russian mountain range, it was named after Czar Alexander II, the heir to the throne at the time.
Alexandrite Colors
Alexandrite’s characteristic blue-green to red color change makes it a desirable gemstone, with plenty of options for your jewelry. Its color can range from deep purple to dark blue with green tints.
Alexandrite Birthstone
Alexandrite is the birthstone for June, along with moonstone. It also represents the 55th wedding anniversary.
Alexandrite Meaning
Alexandrite is the gemstone of luck and prosperity. It also represents balance between the physical and spiritual realms, and can bring you into the balance of who you are.
Alexandrite Durability
Alexandrite is an 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which is a system used to classify a gem’s resistance to scratching. When it comes to gemstone jewelry, a stone with a higher number is generally safer for use as it’ll be less prone to scratches or chips. Generally speaking, experts recommend opting for a colored gemstone with a rate of 7 or higher for engagement rings.
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Amethyst
Next on our list of different colored gemstones is amethyst, which is a purple variety of quartz. According to The Knot 2021 Jewelry & Engagement Study, 3% of precious gem engagement rings are amethyst.
Amethyst Colors
Amethyst gem colors are available in a variety of purple hues, from light lilac to deep purple, or sometimes even red, blue or green.
Amethyst Birthstone
Amethyst is known as February’s birthstone. But beyond that, amethyst is also the gem that represents the sixth wedding anniversary.
Amethyst Meaning
The name “amethyst” comes from Ancient Greek, and it’s loosely derived from the word “intoxicate.” According to folklore, wearing amethyst gems and drinking from amethyst cups could protect from intoxication.
Amethyst Durability
Amethyst is a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it a safe choice for an alternative engagement ring gemstone.
Aquamarine
If you have a hunch that aquamarine gemstones have a greenish-blue hue, you’re correct. As a variety of the gem beryl, this gemstone color has a clear connection to water and the ocean—and it makes up 4% of precious gem engagement rings.
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Aquamarine Colors
Aquamarine gems come in a range of blue-green hues, from very light blue to pale green. This gem can also be color-treated to have a dark blue appearance.
Aquamarine Birthstone
Aquamarine is March’s birthstone, and it’s also the gemstone representation of the 19-year anniversary.
Aquamarine Meaning
Given its light, playful color, aquamarine is associated as a symbol for youth and happiness. Aquamarine was also known as the “mermaid’s stone,” as early sailors believed the gem was blessed by Neptune to provide fortune and protection. Some even carved the likeness of Neptune into aquamarine gems and wore them as necklaces during journeys at sea for safety.
Aquamarine Durability
Aquamarine falls between 7.5 and 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it a suitable choice for a gemstone engagement ring.
Citrine
Of all the different colored gemstones, citrine—a variety of quartz—is one of the rarest.
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Citrine Colors
Citrine is generally known to be a yellow gemstone, though its colors can range from pale yellow to earthy brown or reddish-orange. However, because natural citrine is so rare, most offerings today are heat-treated amethyst quartz.
Citrine Birthstone
Along with topaz, citrine is the birthstone for November. It’s also used to commemorate the 13th wedding anniversary.
Citrine Meaning
Because its color is light and bright, citrine is known to promote spiritual qualities of joy, abundance and energy.
Citrine Durability
Citrine’s Mohs hardness rating falls around 7, making it safe for daily wear.
Emerald
As one of the most beloved alternative engagement ring gems, vibrant emeralds are a timeless crowd-pleaser, as evidenced by our survey: Emeralds make up 5% of precious gem engagement rings. “Emeralds are very popular with our clients, and have been for a while,” says Sassone. It’s a variety of beryl, and because it’s so renowned it’s considered the standard for green gemstones.
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Emerald Colors
Emeralds are most closely associated with a vibrant green color, though they can be found in varieties that range from yellow-green to blue-green.
Emerald Birthstone
Emerald is May’s birthstone gem. It’s also associated with the 20th, 35th and 55th wedding anniversaries.
Emerald Meaning
Throughout history, this precious stone has been a symbol of truth and love. They’re also known for offering healing powers and protection.
Emerald Hardness
Emeralds are ranked 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale—however, because this gemstone often has inclusions visible to the naked eye, this makes them more prone to daily wear and tear. If you’re thinking of buying an emerald engagement ring, you’ll want to be sure the design has a supportive, low setting to avoid chips or scratches.
Garnet
Garnets are generally known to be red gemstones. It’s a silicate mineral, and it has a glass-like luster.
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Garnet Colors
Although the name translates to “dark red,” garnets can actually be found in a variety of gemstone colors, ranging from dark red to blue.
Garnet Birthstone
Garnet is January’s birthstone, and it’s the gemstone iteration of the second wedding anniversary.
Garnet Meaning
It’s said that the name for garnets was inspired by the rich red hue of the pomegranate.
Garnet Durability
Garnets tend to fall between 6.5 and 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, so proceed with caution when it comes to this jewelry variety. If you opt for a garnet engagement ring, make sure it has a strong, protective setting that sits lower on your hand, like a bezel or a halo.
Moonstone
If you’ve got an affinity for astrology, you might love the mystical vibe of moonstone jewelry.
Moonstone Colors
The moonstone gem is aptly named for its milky, lustrous sheen. While moonstones range in color, they often have a shimmery finish with blue, purple or gray swirled shades.
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Moonstone Birthstone
Along with pearl and alexandrite, moonstone is known as June’s birthstone.
Moonstone Meaning
Ancient Romans once believed that moonstone came from—you guessed it—the moon. While we know this not to be true today, the stone has plenty of associations with supernatural and lunar folklore thanks to its ethereal iridescent sheen.
Moonstone Durability
Moonstone generally has a 6-6.5 rating on the Mohs scale, making it one of the softer rocks on this list of gemstones by color.
Morganite
Pink lovers will have a soft spot for morganite engagement rings thanks to their warm, rosy hue. As the rarest beryl variety, it’s the most expensive—but it’s also a trendy alternative engagement ring center stone because it’s still more budget-friendly than a diamond. Our survey data found that 6% of precious gem engagement rings are morganite.
Morganite Colors
Morganite gems come in a range of light, peachy-pink tones.
Morganite Meaning
Although morganite is sometimes referred to as a “pink emerald” because of its natural beauty, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) states that this term is misleading since it has a different composition from an emerald gem. The stone, which is named after financier J.P. Morgan, is believed to be a symbol of divine love.
Morganite Durability
Morganite falls between 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, which means it’s durable enough for daily wear.
Opal
There’s something inherently captivating about this celestial stone, which accounts for 6% of precious gem engagement rings. When it comes to jewelry, most opal gems are cut and polished to create a cabochon, which is a gem that’s completely smoothed and polished without internal facets.
Opal Colors
Opals come in many different colors. While the most common styles have a milky, multicolor blue-gray finish, they can also come in almost any shade, from yellow, brown, gray or onyx. So, if you’re looking for jewelry that undergoes color change, you might love opal given its ability to appear in different shades through various angles and lighting.
Opal Birthstone
Opal is the birthstone for those born in October, and it’s used to mark the 14th wedding anniversary.
Opal Meaning
In the Middle Ages, opals were believed to bring good luck to the wearer because they can include every shade of the color spectrum. This is one gemstone to heed with caution, though—some myths said that opals were bad luck to wear on your wedding day. That superstition has since faded, though, and you can find plenty of stunning opal engagement rings on the market today.
Opal Durability
Opals fall between 5.5 and 6.5 on the Mohs scale, which is an important consideration to keep in mind when looking for an engagement ring. Because it’s a softer gemstone, look for a ring with a protective setting and avoid wearing it for activities that heavily involve your hands.
Rose Quartz
As you might be able to guess from its name, rose quartz is a quartz variety named for its light, rosy color.
Rose Quartz Colors
Unlike smoky quartz, which is known to be a light gray or black gemstone, rose quartz has a feminine pink-ish tint. Rose quartz gems can vary from very light and delicate to medium pink.
Rose Quartz Birthstone
Rose quartz is a secondary January birthstone, behind garnet.
Rose Quartz Meaning
Considered to be a healing crystal, rose quartz is believed to emit vibrations of love which can support your emotional relationship.
Rose Quartz Durability
The Mohs hardness scale rates rose quartz a 7, so it’s safe for daily wear.
Ruby
Even if most of these gemstone colors are new to you, you’ll probably be able to identify a ruby. This deep, blood-red gemstone is a jewelry staple. And as a variety of the mineral corundum, it’s a great diamond alternative—it makes up 2% of precious gem engagement rings, according to our data.
Ruby Colors
The word “ruby” is of the Latin word “ruber,” which translates to red. It’s for this reason that rubies are found in the red color spectrum, from dark pink to deep purple.
Ruby Birthstone
Ruby is the July birthstone, and it signifies the 15th and 40th anniversaries.
Ruby Meaning
Ruby red is the color of love, so this precious stone is understood to represent purity and passion.
Ruby Durability
Rubies are given a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them almost as hard as diamonds, and thus very suitable for engagement rings.
Sapphire
As one of the most well-known precious gemstones, sapphire is a beloved choice for an alternative engagement ring—partially because of its history in pop culture. Royal wearers like Princess Diana and Kate Middleton made blue sapphires mainstream. In fact, our study indicates that it accounts for 17% of precious gem center stones, making it the second-most popular choice (behind moissanite at 28%). of But although it’s most often associated as a blue gemstone, sapphires are much more diverse than that.
Sapphire Colors
Sapphires belong to the corundum family, and they come in just about every gemstone color, including pink, orange, yellow, purple and black. They even come in colorless or white gemstones, making them an alternative to a traditional diamond. Different varieties also have various finishes, like a star sapphire—this form includes intersecting needle-like inclusions in a star pattern on the face of the stone. Based on our data, 4% of precious gem center stones are white sapphire, while 2% are pink sapphire and an additional 2% are ice blue sapphire.
Sapphire Birthstone
The September birthstone is sapphire, and it represents the fifth and 45th wedding anniversaries.
Sapphire Meaning
Unsurprisingly, sapphire is associated with royalty. It’s believed to attract abundance and gifts while repelling negative energy.
Sapphire Durability
Sapphire is relatively hard—it’s a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it very comparable to the strength of a diamond. “For alternative engagement rings, we typically recommend sapphire because it’s a great, sturdy alternative to diamond, ranking right below it on the Mohs hardness scale,” Sassone says.
Spinel
A crystal variety, spinel is a gemstone available in a number of colors.
Spinel Colors
Spinel is often confused for ruby because it’s commonly available in a similar deep red hue. But red isn’t the only option—spinel crystals can be found in pink, blue, purple, brown, black and green gems.
Spinel Birthstone
Although it’s a relatively new addition, spinel is considered to be a secondary birthstone for August.
Spinel Meaning
Some say that spinel promotes feelings of hope and revitalization, as it’s a stone that represents joy and having zest for life.
Spinel Durability
Spinel tends to fall between 7.5 and 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it a durable gem for daily wear.
Tanzanite
Only found in Tanzania near Mount Kilimanjaro, tanzanite is a blue and purple variety of the mineral zoisite. It makes up 1% of alternative gem center stones, according to our study.
Tanzanite Colors
Not to be confused with sapphire, tanzanite also comes in a deep blue hue. Beyond this, the rare gemstone can also be found in shades of purple and red.
Tanzanite Birthstone
Tanzanite is known as a secondary December birthstone. Thanks to its vivid blue colors and high clarity, there’s potential to opt for a tanzanite gem with a high carat weight.
Tanzanite Meaning
While its true meanings vary, tanzanite gems—which are rarer than diamonds—are believed to represent new beginnings and prosperity. The gem was formally brought to the jewelry market by Tiffany & Co. in the 1970s.
Tanzanite Durability
Tanzanite is rated 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Since it’s a softer gem, look for tanzanite engagement rings with low, protective settings.
Topaz
Known for its earthy, brownish tint, topaz is a silicate mineral. Blue topaz makes up 2% of precious gem center stones.
Topaz Colors
Although common topaz is colorless, it also comes in a natural pale yellow hue. Topaz can also be treated to come in shades of blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink and purple. A special variation—known as imperial topaz—comes in a fiery, golden red color.
Topaz Birthstone
Like citrine, Topaz is the November birthstone. Blue topaz also represents the fourth wedding anniversary.
Topaz Meaning
Topaz has long been associated with fiery energy and is thought to represent love, passion and purpose.
Topaz Durability
Topaz has an 8 rating on the Mohs hardness scale, making it suitable for daily wear.
Tourmaline
If the phrase “watermelon sugar” was a gemstone, it would be tourmaline. This crystalline mineral is quickly rising as a popular wedding ring gemstone thanks to its playful, colorful hues associated with watermelon (think: greens and pinks).
Tourmaline Colors
The composition of each individual tourmaline gem impacts its appearance. Some tourmaline stones can have a greenish-blue look, while others skew more yellow. Alternatively, some tourmaline gems can be significantly pinker, with red and purple undertones. Paraiba Tourmaline is a special variety that comes in bold neon blue and green hues.
Tourmaline Birthstone
Today, tourmaline is a modern October birthstone.
Tourmaline Meaning
With strong grounding forces, tourmaline is thought to offer powerful healing and protection powers.
Tourmaline Durability
Generally, tourmaline gemstones tend to fall between 7 and 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale.