Gemstone engagement rings have been trending in the wedding world for years. From emerald to ruby, there are so many unique stones to choose from.

Moonstone may be a lesser known gem, but that doesn’t make it any less special. This unique stone has a stunning iridescent finish perfect for a boho bride.

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Moonstone is made up of two minerals: orthoclase and albite. Both of these minerals fall under the feldspar family, which makes up more than half of the Earth’s rocky crust. During formation, the minerals first intermingle then separate into alternating layers.

When light falls between the various layers of this stone, it creates a unique phenomenon called adularescence where the light appears to billow across the gem and make it appear as if it is glowing.

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Moonstone has been revered by many cultures over the years. The ancient Romans believed it was formed by the moonbeams and thus associated the stone with lunar deities. Hindu mythology also suggests the stone is made of solidified moonbeams. In Indian culture, the stone is a sacred stone and is said to bring special dreams.

Adularescent moonstone was once named’ adularia’, named after Adular, a city in Switzerland where the first yield of high-quality moonstone was discovered.

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The stone varies in colours from completely colourless to yellow to blue to pink, meaning any bride can find a shade she likes. Its value comes in its size. The thinner, the more valuable as more light is scattered off the stone, creating its characteristic mesmerising iridescence. Transparent blue moonstones are the rarest form.

As with diamonds, moonstone is also judged on the four C’s: cut, clarity, colour and carat.

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Moonstone is said to bring good luck. Some even believe if you hold a moonstone in your mouth during a full moon, you’ll see the future.

The stone ranks a 6.0 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it durable enough for everyday wear. It complements a range of cuts and metals, making it a jack of all trades in the gem world. However the ring is designed, your moonstone will shine bright.

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For those looking for a unique engagement ring, jade is an unusual and unexpected choice. The ancient ornamental mineral is revered in Chinese culture for its healing properties.

With many colours to choose from and good durability, this compelling stone will make an amazing centre for your ring.

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Jade refers to two separate mineral: nephrite and jadeite, which are both metamorphic rocks made up of tiny interlocking mineral crystals. The stone appears in various colours, including green, white, orange, yellow, lavender and black. However, the most valued shade is semi-transparent emerald green.

They often have a unique, streaked colouration that provides a compelling visual texture. The tones in nephrite tend to be more muted than that of jadeite, which is also the rarer of the two.

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Early Spanish explorers named the stone after the Spanish expression ‘piedra de ijada’ which translates literally to ‘stone of the pain in the side’. They were inspired to choose this name after finding Central American natives holding the stone to their sides to relieve pain. The ancient Mayans and Aztecs are believed to have used jade for medicinal purposes, as well as to create jewellery, ornaments and religious artefacts.

Historically, jade has been used since the time of prehistoric humans, who fashioned it into weapons, tools, ornaments and ritual objects.

Sometimes, carvings were etched onto the stone to invoke the powers of heaven and earth.

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The stone has long been considered heavenly. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the philosopher Confucius wrote that it is like a virtue and it’s brightness represents heaven. In fact, a flat disc of jade with a hole in the middle, known as a ‘bi’, is symbolic of heaven in Chinese culture.

The stone is called ‘yu’ in China, which means heavenly or imperial. This explains why jade is often considered the imperial gem in Chinese culture, and has been found in the tombs of Shang kings.

The stone is also symbolic of prosperity, success and good luck. The Chinese associate the stone with a clarity of mind and purity of spirit. They often carve specific shapes using the stone to represent motifs. For example, a bat is symbolic of happiness, a butterfly of long life and a peach of immortality.

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The stone is quite tough and durable, making it a good choice for an engagement ring stone. Jadeite ranks a 6.5 to 7 and Nephrite a 6.0 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Its quality is determined by looking at five key factors: colour, transparency, texture, cut and carat weight.

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Peridot may be an unusual and largely unknown stone for an engagement ring, but that’s exactly what makes it so special. Modern brides wanting to be different should opt for this unique and incredibly rare green stone that is truly otherworldly.

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Peridot is a remarkable stone found in lava, meteorites, and deep in the earth’s mantle. Most of it is formed deep inside the earth when the seafloor spreads and splits the earth’s crust. Rocks from its mantle are then pushed to the surface of the earth. The gem also often occurs in volcanic rocks called basalts.

This unique stone is truly out of this world. According to the Gemological Institute of America, a rare version of peridot was found in pallasite meteorites, remnants of our solar system’s birth. In 1749 a meteorite containing peridot crystals was found on a desolate hilltop in Siberia, and it is believed to have fallen to the earth’s surface some 14.8 million years ago.

In 2005, peridot was found in comet dust brought back from the Stardust robotic space probe.

Some scientists even believe large portions of the moon are made of these crystals.

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It’s name is derived from the French word ‘peritôt’ meaning ‘unclear’, as a result of the stone’s numerous imperfections and internal fractures. The word also comes from the Arabic ‘faridat’, meaning ‘gem’.

While typically yellow-green in hue, the stone can range in colour from brown-green to pure green.

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Early historical texts suggest it was first mined in an island of the Red Sea called Topazios, now called St. John’s Island or Zabargad.

This stunning stone was much loved by the Egyptians, who called it ‘the gem of the sun’.  Some wore it as a form of protection to ward off evil spirits.

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Peridot is the birthstone of August babies and also symbolic of 16 years of marriage. It is considered the stone of compassion and believed to bring good health, peace, and balance to relationships.

It ranks a 6 and a half to 7 on the Mohs scale of Hardness, meaning it is durable enough for everyday wear. However, it is sensitive to heat, acids, ammonia, and hot water so wearers must be cautious.

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Many may consider pearls to be old-fashioned and matronly, but we disagree. This timeless gem adds a vintage feel but can easily be updated to reflect more a modern design.

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Trends come and go, but style is eternal. A pearl engagement ring is the perfect choice for a timeless bride. This classic gemstone is also known as the ‘Queen of the gems’ and can be dated back to 520 B.C. A pearl fragement was discovered in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess, making this stone the oldest known gem to be worn as jewellery.

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The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all revered this gemstone. In fact, the Greek word for pearl can also translate to ‘unique’, in honour of the fact that no two pearls are the same. Pearls quickly became a symbol of wealth and status, and at one point int time, a law was passed allowing only nobles to wear this gem in public.

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Pearls are the only gemstones that grow inside another living organism. They come in various types, which will determine the price. The most rare and expensive is the natural pearl. This type is formed when an irritant like a parasite naturally enters a a bi-valve mollusk like an oyster, mussel or clam. A fluid coats this irritant as a defense mechanism, and continues to deposit multiple layers of this coating until a pearl is formed. 

There are an estimated 8000 different species of bi-valve mollusks, of which only 20 can consistently produce pearls. As a result, natural pears are incredibly rare.

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Cultured pearls are made in a similar fashion, except the process requires human intervention. An irritant like a bead or piece of shell, known as Mother of Pearl, is surgically inserted into the mollusk.  The cultural process takes years to complete. After 3 years, mussels are at a mature stage and are able to receive an irritant either naturally or via implantation. Once there, it take another three years for the pearl to reach its full size. Only 5% of pearls produced are true gem-quality.

Cultured pearls are grown in pearl farms under strict conditions, and fall into two categories: saltwater and freshwater.

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Imitation pearls are typically made of glass beads coated in a solution made from fish scales. It’s easy to tell whether a pearl is an imitation by rubbing it against you teeth. A fake pearl will glide across, while a real pearl will feel gritty.

While this gemstone is most commonly round, it can also come in alternative shapes like pear or baroque pearls.

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Dreaming of a truly unique wedding ring? We might have the stone for you. While emeralds and sapphires are understandably popular, a garnet is a standout choice for the unconventional bride.

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This gemstone is typically red, but can actually be found in almost any colour and even a rare colourless form. It’s name comes from the latin word ‘garanatus’, meaning ‘seedlike’. This is in reference to the pomegranate, as red garnet stones closely resemble the bright red seeds one finds in this fruit.

In Greek mythology, the pomegranate was a gift given as a symbol of love and eternity. Hades gifted his love Persephone with a pomegranate before she left to ensure she returned home fast and safe.

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According to Gem Society, garnet is one of the most complex gemstones in the world as it consists of several species and varieties.

“Unlike minerals such as beryl or corundum that are a single species with colored varieties created by trace elements, garnets come in different species and are never found in their pure state. They are always mixed with other garnet species,” write Gem Society on their website.

“Garnets are called a solid-state series or a blend. Some of these blends have distinct features and are recognized as varieties of garnets in themselves. What makes them all garnets is the same crystal structure and similar properties.”

Garnets were favoured by royalty. Red garnet necklaces adorned the necks of Egyptian pharaohs, and they were even buried with these mummified corpses in their tombs because they were considered prized possessions for the afterlife. In fact, a garnet bead necklace was found in a grave in Egypt that is estimated to date back to 3000 BC.

Garnets have featured in many ancient traditions and legends. In medieval times, people believed garnets could cure depression, protect against bad dreams and even relieve liver disease. Legend says that Noah used a glowing garnet to light the ark during wet days and nights. Garnet was even one of the gemstones on the breastplate of the High Priest, the chief religious official of Judaism from the early post-Exilic times.

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Diamonds are forever, but they’re also expected. Unique, alternative stones have been trending for years as modern brides seek to be different on their big day.

While topaz is an unusual and underrated stone for an engagement ring, it is slowly growing in popularity.

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Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine. The gemstone ranges in colours from green, yellow, orange to its most common hue, blue. The most popular forms are London Blue and Imperial Topaz. According to the Gemology Institute of America, the colour of the stone depends on impurities or defects within the sructure of the crystal rather than its chemical composition.

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There are conflicting reports on how topaz got its name. Many authorities believe that the stone got its name from the old Greek name of a small island in the Red Sea called Topazios, now known as  Zabargad. While topaz was never produced on the island, peridot was. Many confused peridot for topaz before the development of modern minerology.

Others argue that its name can be traced back to the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit and the word topas or tapaz, meaning “fire.”

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The ancient Greeks loved topaz for its supposed ability to give them strength.

“In Europe during the Renaissance (the period from the 1300s to the 1600s) people thought that topaz could break magic spells and dispel anger,” explains the Gemology Institute of America. “For centuries, many people in India have believed that topaz worn above the heart assures long life, beauty, and intelligence.”

In the 19th century, topaz was restricted for the Russian royal family. The majority of topaz came from the Ural Mountains at the time, and the pink gemstone varietal was mined there in honour of the Russian tzar.

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