Engagement rings - coloured stones

[therumoursaretrue]

Anyone have a coloured stone in their engagement ring? DP has been floating the idea of rings about a bit...looking for hints it seems!

I have seen a stunning tanzanite and diamond ring but worry I'll wish I'd gone more conventional. Also worry about it fitting in with my lifestyle as jeweler warned us coloured stones are more liable to get damaged. If you went for a non diamond were you happy with it?

I know that I will be delighted regardless and the meaning behind it is obviously the most important thing! However would be interested in hearing from anyone with a coloured stone?

[Startail]

Mines blue topaz and six tiny diamonds.

Zilch point in a solitaire when you are both students and broke.

Anyway they are boring.

[AKissIsNotAContract]

I have a sapphire. They were traditional for engagement rings before Debeers told everyone to get diamonds.

[beatofthedrum]

Mine is an amythest, would never have got a non-coloured one!

[OddSockMonster]

I have a sapphine too (a dark blue one, though I think the light blue ones are lovely too). I love it.

[therumoursaretrue]

That's interesting akiss. Think De Beers are responsible for a few myths along the lines of engagement rings!

[OddSockMonster]

Mum had peridot (light green) and even though I don't remember it (DB lost it in the sand) I love the stones and think it must have really suited her.

[pegster]

I have a (natural) yellow diamond, its a gorgeous cats-eye colour, I picked it & still love it.

[EugenesAxe]

Just to say that despite LOADS of people having it as their wedding colours, red and white is considered bad luck. I have got boring (but sparkly lovely) diamond... I can relate to the damage thing as I keep mine on all the time. Other stones aren't as hardy.

I have always liked the idea of a massive (or as massive as possible) square-cut ruby mounted in gold. I think that would be a really 'statement' item of jewellery I'd like to own but never will.

Don't get white gold if you want a silver colour, as it will eventually go a mouldy grey. Pay the money for platinum; it is a colder white but it's strong so good for setting stones in.

I don't like the idea of mixing coloured stones with diamond at all, come to think of it. I think the clothes colour-matching thing is irrelevant.

[DramaAlpaca]

Mine's an oval ruby surrounded by twelve small diamonds (but then I did get engaged in 1989!)

It's like Princess Diana's/Kate Middleton's ring on a MUCH smaller scale!

I love it. I wouldn't have considered anything other than a coloured stone.

[fedupofnamechanging]

I have a rectangle sapphire with 3 little diamonds either side, in a platinum band. I really like coloured stones in white gold or platinum. I wear it all the time and haven't managed to damage it yet.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Emerald and diamond (central stone emerald with a diamond on either side)

The most impractical, fragile stone.(and it doesn't fit my hairy trucker hands now )
I can only wear my wedding ring at work and occasionally wear a CZ set ring.

[BackforGood]

3 little sapphires, with the tiniest little diamondy bits around them

[Showtime]

Mine's two emeralds and a diamond, emeralds being birthstone. Because it's a gypsy-style setting, stones are well-protected, but the eternity ring DH spent a lot on (modern inlaid version) has two missing and (at least) one damaged about thirty years later. They can be replaced at varying costs, depending on quality of course, but can't be bothered now.

[Troubleintmill]

I have a teardrop diamond and 2 Burmese sapphires (dark blue) also tear drop but much smaller set at either side of the diamond on opposites to each other. Hard to explain without seeing pic!
I wanted a yellow diamond but was put off by the jewellers who made my ring. Go for what you're happy with and unless you have huge stones then I can't see how they can damage more easily.

[Feelslikea1sttimer]

We sell a lot of coloured stones as engagement rings, and more and more people are moving away from solitaire diamonds.

I am currently wearing an aquamarine and diamond ring which is gorgeous and I would happily wear as an engagement ring if only OH would pull his finger out and propose I think it is all about personal taste, just look after it :)

I would agree with the other comments, go for platinum rather than white gold, much nicer metal.

[MrsDoomsPatterson]

The only colour I would ever consider is Aquamarine.

[therumoursaretrue]

I adore peridot oddsock it's a lovely colour. Also i think it is my DS's birthstone!

Thanks for advice about the metals eugene that is useful to know.

[DorisShutt]

Oval-ish deep blue (almost black) sapphire surrounded by diamonds.

Sapphire has one tidy ding in it, but I rarely took it off (only recently due to weight loss) and have done everything wearing it; including grouting tiles, digging the garden - you name it.

It's still in very good condition 14 years later...

[AmberNectarine]

I have a 3 carat square cut purple sapphire with a princess cut diamond either side. It gets commented on near daily. I've never wished for a more conventional ring.

[cardamomginger]

Have an antique yellow diamond in a modern setting with (modern cut) white diamonds.

I think a coloured gemstone can be lovely - several friends have sapphires (of different shades of blue) and they look gorgeous. Some stones are brittle/soft - emeralds and aquamarines, for example. So for a ring that is to be worn everyday and may come in for some knocks, they might be best avoided.

Agree that platinum generally looks nicer than white gold, which can look a bit grey after a while.

[cardamomginger]

Amber - that sounds GORGEOUS!

[FaddyPeony]

I have an emerald flanked by two diamonds. I adore it. Emeralds are my birthstone and I had always fancied one. I chose it myself.
I don't wear it every day, because emeralds aren't hardy and I don't want to be wearing it while cleaning shitty nappies etc. But I don't regret it at all and loving wearing it when going out.

Haven't been married very long though!

[FaddyPeony]

Oh and mine's antique; the band is yellow gold which I believe is tres unfashionable these days. Again I don't care because my wedding band is Dh's grandmother's and yellow gold too.
Seriously just go for what you fancy. You can always buy another 'significant' piece of jewellery for yourself down the line if you find your tastes have changed over the years.