If you’re looking for a truly unique stone to centre your engagement ring, look no further. Amethyst is an unconventional choice, but oh so beautiful.

The deep purple hue of this stone is a standout choice for bold brides, and can easily give a vintage feel depending on one’s ring settings. Here’s what you need to know about amethysts.

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Amethyst is an ancient semi-precious gemstone, and a purple variety of quartz. The stone ranges in purple tinged shades, from deep violent to lavender.

It got its name from the Greek word “Amethystos” meaning “not intoxicated”. According to legend,  the wine god Bacchus was angered over an insult and vowed that the next person he met would be devoured by his tigers. A maiden named Amethyst was that person. Upon the attack, she sought protection from the Gods and was saved by being turned into a clear white crystal. Bacchus, feeling immense guilt, poured his wine over the stone as an offering, turning the stone purple in the process.

The Ancient Greeks believed this stone could prevent people from getting drunk, and would thus stud their wine goblets with it. The stone was also considered a master healer, and the ancient Greeks would wear it on their armor during battle as protection and to stay focused.

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Amethyst is the birthstone of February and the stone of St.Valentine, who was said to have frequently worn it. As such, the stone’s meaning is often connected to faithful love and passion.

During the Middle Ages, a lady would present an amethyst in the shape of a heart set in silver to a knight or her husband, and was said to encourage the greatest possible happiness and good fortune for the pair.

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Amethysts are relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to diamonds, making it a great choice for brides and grooms on a budget. However, a disadvantage is that they are not as durable as diamonds. Amethysts has a 7 ranking on the Mohs scale of hardness, compared to a diamond’s 10 ranking. It is, however, durable enough for everyday wear.

The best varieties of Amethysts come from Siberia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and the far East.

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Speaking to Brides.com, Madeline Fraser, the founder and CEO of Gemist, explains that those wanting to purchase an amethyst stone should hold it up to the light to check for quality.

“When held up to the light, it should travel completely through the stone,” she says. “Amethysts of high quality should be completely clear and should not have inclusions.”

Remember to be conscious of the band as well. The type of metal chosen could affect the colour of the stone. For example, a white gold band could bring out bluish undertones, while a warmer metal could enhance the deep purple tones.

Feature image: Pinterest

As the traditional diamond engagement or wedding ring slowly loses popularity, various alternatives are being used in its place. One newbie on the scene, be it a bit uncommon, is the birthstone.

Elle reported that in 2019, Etsy named birthstone engagement rings as one of their breakout wedding trends. “On Etsy, we’ve seen 34K searches for ‘birthstone engagement rings’ in the last three months, and I predict the trend will continue to grow,” Etsy’s trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson explained at the time.

According to The Jewellery Editor, there are a few things to consider when opting for the birthstone engagement ring, which could mean that you’re walking down a path that comes with many more decisions. However, they claim that this option is becoming more and more popular.

Canadian jeweller Kat Florence, who launched her own brand of jewellery specialising in unusual gemstones and owns a store in London, told The Jewellery Editor that “a lot of people are going in that direction”, adding that “Everyone feels attracted to their birthstone, and jewellery represents who we are, so birthstones are the perfect point to begin.”

Of the things which need to be considered, one of the most important is the hardness of the stone. When selecting the birthstone as the gem for a ring, depending on your partner’s birth month, they may end up with a stone which is not durable. For example, it is not recommended that opal be used for a ring, as it is a fragile stone. We’re sure you want the ring to last a lifetime! So keep this in mind when making your final choice, and be sure to ask your jeweller about durability, hardness, and inclination to be damaged with scratches.

It is reported that any stone which ranks above 7.5 on the Moh’s Hardness scale, which measures how easily you can scratch a gem, is a good option. Those below 7.5, of course, can be used for a ring too. However, you’d have to be much more careful with your ring.

Regardless, birthstones are pretty, colourful, meaningful and trendy. If you love the idea of a ring that represents you and when you were brought into the world, then perhaps your mind is already made up.

Here is a guide to your options, including Moh’s Scale values from Gem Rock Auctions, for birthstone engagement rings: 

January:  Garnet (6.5 – 7.5 Mohs)

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February: Amythyst (6.5 – 7.5 Mohs)

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Also read: Stone of the Gods: Amazing amethyst rings

March: Aquamarine (7.5 – 8.0 Mohs)

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Also read: Amazing aquamarine engagement rings

April: Diamond (10 Mohs)

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Also read: How to choose the right diamond for you

May: Emerald (7.5 – 8.0 Mohs)

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Also read: Enchanting emerald engagement rings

June: Pearl (2.5 Mohs)

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Moonstone (7.5 – 8.0 Mohs)

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Alexdandrite (7.5 – 8.0 Mohs)

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July: Ruby (7.5 – 8.0 Mohs)

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Also read: The fiery king of gems: Romantic rubies

August: Peridot (7.5 – 8.0 Mohs)

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Sardonyx (7.0 Mohs)

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Spinel (7.5 – 8.0 Mohs)

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September: Sapphire (9.0 Mohs)

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Also read:The royal touch: Sophisticated sapphire rings

October: Opal (5.5 – 6.5 Mohs)

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Also read:The Queen of the gems: Opulent opals

Tourmaline (9.0 Mohs)

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November: Citrine (7.0 Mohs)

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Topaz (8.0 Mohs)

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December: Tanzanite (6.5 – 7.0 Mohs)

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Also read: Say ‘I do’ to tantalising Tanzanite

Blue zircon(7.5 Mohs)

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Turqouise (5.0 – 6.0 Mohs)

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Blue Topaz (8.0 Mohs)

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Also read: Why we wear diamond engagement rings

Image: Instagram / Fauverie

What is yours will always come back to you. This saying is especially true for this story. A wedding ring that was accidentally flushed down a toilet back in 1940 has just been found mere metres from where it was lost.

Margarete Herzog accidentally dropped her ring into a public bathroom toilet while she was washing her hands back in 1940. Her daughter, Sonja Güldner, explains to Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung, a Brandenburg-based newspaper that Herzog was heartbroken over the loss.

After all the years, Herzog eventually lost hope that she would ever recover her precious band. She died in 1996 at age 87, never getting the chance to wear her ring again.

Now, however, the ring has miraculously been recovered. According to Beelitz city spokesman Thomas Lähns, hobby metal detectorists uncovered the ring in a fruit orchard near a water mill in the city, only metres away from where it was lost.

“Hobby archaeologists who recently traveled with the metal detector on the site of the old watermill exposed for the State Garden Show and in the immediate vicinity have brought to light all sorts of things, including a gold shimmering ring on which the initials H.H. and the date March 30, 1940 are engraved. ”

The detectorists then took the ring to the civil registry office to find the owner.

“Based on the few details provided, it was determined that Hans Herzog and Margarete Fechner were the only couple who got married on the day engraved on the jewelry,” Lähns said.

Feature image: Unsplash

Diamonds are forever, but creativity is boss. While anyone can buy an engagement ring, sometimes a handmade gift is even more meaningful.

Here are some people who got creative and thought out of the (ring) box. Using common household items, they crafted unique rings that tell a story.

Fingernails

Yes, really. A Japanese man collected his fingernail clippings for a year, then ground it to a powder and baked it to create a “stone” for an engagement ring.

Hex nuts:

Everyone has nuts and bolts lying around, so why not use them? This crafter transformed this common household appliance into a 1 carat diamond ring!

A coin:

Coins are meant to be good luck, so it seems fitting to make an engagement ring out of them. Here’s how.

A spoon:

Who knew a spoon could be so handy?

3D printing:

When printing was first invented, we never thought it would come this far. This man worked with a local jeweller to create a printed ring out of castable 3D printing resin to pop the question to his love. Here’s the process from start to finish.

Feature image: screenshot from video