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

Today’s brides are unique, and deserve a ring to match. Rather than going for the expected diamond, modern brides are turning to alternative stones to adorn their ring fingers. For a sweet, soft look, why not consider going for morganite? This pink gemstone has become a trendy alternative in recent years.

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Morganite is a semi-precious stone in the beryl family, making it related to emerald and aquamarine. While it is typically light peach in colour, it can range in shades from orange to pink.

The stone was discovered in Madagascar in 1910. It was named after famous financier J.P. Morgan, who was well-known for his love of gemstones. Today, the majority of morganite comes from Minas Gerais, Brazil.

According to Crystal Vaults.com, morganite “cleanses the emotional body of stress and anxiety, old wounds and hidden traumas, and enkindles lightness within the spirit, as if a burden has been lifted.”

The stone also encourages and maintains loving thoughts.

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The stone has slowly grown in popularity over the years.

“While diamonds are still the most popular gemstone used in engagement rings, other gemstones, including morganite, are becoming increasingly sought after,” Brilliant Earth co-founder and co-CEO Beth Gerstein told Vox. “We continue to see an increasing interest in pink engagement rings following the rise of millennial pink in 2017.”

Morganite scores 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, making it softer than diamond yet still quite durable. However, it is more susceptible to scratches and damage.

Besides being unique, morganite is also way more affordable than diamond, making it a great choice for an engagement ring.

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Feature image: Pinterest

Diamonds are forever, yes, but they’re also a bit…expected. If you want to make a statement with your engagement ring, why not opt for a unique stone? From ruby to sapphire, there is no end to colourful stones to say yes to.

Another unique option is onyx, perfect for someone wanting to take a walk on the darker side of life.

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Onyx is a semi-precious gemstone, a sub-variety of the microcrystalline quartz called chalcedony. This gemstone is typically black with white lines, although can sometimes also be green or reddish-brown. The stone is perfect for fans of the art deco or Victorian style as that’s when it was most popular.

The name is derived from the ancient Greek word for claw. Speaking to Brides, New York City-based fine jeweler Ashley Zhang explains the mythology.

“The story is that while Venus slept, her fingernails were trimmed, and the gods turned these clippings into the stone known as onyx,” she says.

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Its beautiful striped appearance symbolises the various phases of the planet. Black represents the night, gray is dawn and white is day. Together, these colours stand for the interconnectedness of the world and the yin-yang of the universe, helping to restore balance to life.

The transformative power of onyx is what makes it perfect for an engagement ring. Onyx is said to stamp out fear by absorbing and transforming negative energy, thus helping to prevent the drain of personal energy. Onyx also helps develop emotional and physical strength and stamina, especially when support is needed during times of stress, confusion or grief.

Seems like the perfect stone to have on hand, literally.

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Feature image: Pexels

When you hear the words “diamond ring”, the first thing that comes to your mind is probably an engagement ring, right? These days, the gems are closely connected to love and romance. However, as with many wedding traditions, it has a not-so-romantic beginning.

According to Marie Claire, the first recorded bride to have received the sparkling surprise for her engagement was Archduke Maximillian of Austria’s bride-to-be in 1477. However, this was not the inception of the diamond ring proposal.

That achievement is attributed to the jewellery giant, De Beers. Insider reports that diamonds have become the world’s most popular choice for engagement rings as a result of a marketing ploy by De Beers.

Early in the 1900s, diamond production was low. Engagement rings were often given to women for the purpose of marriage, however for the most part the gem was not a diamond. By 1938, the diamond had become more popular for this purpose. But, as its value dropped with the Great Depression, their popularity dropped once again.

In 1947, De Beers launched a clever advertising campaign. The slogan for the campaign was “a diamond is forever”.  De Beers built their marketing around the idea that diamonds – with their brilliance, unbreakable character, and everlasting nature – are symbolic of the commitment of marriage, which is forever.

De Beers’ tactics were elaborate, as they targeted the psychology of human beings. In 1982, an investigating journalist named Edward Jay Epstein wrote an exposé in The Atlantic about the campaign.

In this tell-all, 20 000 word piece, Epstein revealed shocking truths about the advertising campaign. “Even though diamonds can in fact be shattered, chipped, discolored, or incinerated to ash, the concept of eternity perfectly captured the magical qualities that the advertising agency wanted to attribute to diamonds,” he wrote.

According to Epstein, part of the advertising strategy included sending lecturers to schools to ensure children knew the value of diamonds. He said that they also created a weekly service called “Hollywood personalities” which  “provided 125 leading newspapers with descriptions of the diamonds worn by movie stars.”

The campaign was so rigorous and aggressive that it spread across the ocean to other countries. It may, however, not be that surprising as they had spent millions a year on the campaign which even reached Japan, a country that had not included engagement rings in their traditions prior to this. The campaign lasted about 4 decades, and remnants of it can still be seen today in some advertisements.

These days, however, diamonds are falling in popularity. Many refuse to participate in the diamond business for ethical reasons. De Beers is a massive, powerful company though. Who knows what their next ad campaign will achieve.

Feature image: Unsplash

For those ethically opposed to the diamond trade, there are a multitude of alternative stones to choose from to centre your engagement ring. If you like the look of diamonds but desire something more sustainable and affordable, why not consider a moissanite stone?

Moissanite stones finely resemble diamonds, and only experts can tell a difference between the two.

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Made from meteorites from outer space, natural moissanite is much more rare than diamonds. It was first discovered in a meteor crater in 1893 by scientist Henri Moissan. Moissan mistakenly thought the crystals inside the crater were diamonds because of its extreme likeness.

Today, the majority of moissanite stones are lab grown and it takes about 2-3 months to make a single stone.

To tell a moissanite and a diamond apart, one would have to look very closely at its fire and brilliance. With a refractive index of 2.65, moissanite is much more brilliant and is known for its “disco ball” effect in which rainbow light quickly flashes from the gem.

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The main differences are not visible, they are technical. With a 9.25 rating, moissanites rank lower on the Mohs scale of hardness than the diamonds hardy 10. Moissanites also typically weigh about 15% less than diamonds. As a result, moissanites are sold by their length and width in millimeters rather than carat size like diamonds are.

Since the majority of moissanite stones are lab grown, it’s a much more ethical choice than natural diamonds. The reality of diamond mining is anything but romantic. Environmental devastation and human rights abuse has been synonymous with the trade for decades, leading many modern couples to avoid going for ‘blood diamonds’.

Of course, the biggest difference is often the price point. Moissanite is much cheaper than diamond. Gem Rock Auctions estimates that a moissanite stone of a similar size in appearance can cost up to 90% less than a diamond would.

Opting for a moissanite over a diamond is down to preference. The differences are miniscule, so it is reallythe production of the stone and the price of the stone that sways buyers.

Feature image: Pexels