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Original poster

Sapphire engagement rings...old fashioned?

54 replies

extrastrongblackcoffee · 20/11/2015 12:26

Hi,

I know this of course subjective, but would just like to get your thoughts.

I'm already engaged. My gf proposed to me last year and I have a ring, but until now, I've not really been able to buy one for her.

Dp is quite alternative in her style and taste and I was initially was looking at black diamond rings, but can't really afford that tbh. I have seen some lovely white gold, diamond (in shoulder) black sapphire ring. She's not materialistic at all, so I don't think she'd mind it wasn't a diamond.

So, what do you reckon? Shall I wait until I can afford a diamond? Or go with the black sapphire?

TIA Smile

OP posts:
Epilepsyhelp · 20/11/2015 14:16

I have a large sapphire flanked with two smaller diamonds and I love it, so much more interesting than a diamond solitaire but still has diamonds for that rainbow sparkle.

I agree with getting whatever she would like best/would suit her - the 'diamond' tradition was as everyone says manufactured so isn't relevant.

dreamingofsun · 20/11/2015 15:09

i think you should let her choose the ring. maybe do some investigating first and then show her some options. she is going to be wearing this ring for a very long time, so important that its to her taste and looks good on her finger - some size rings look better on bit/little fingers

MirandaWest · 20/11/2015 15:15

I had my sapphire ring designed ans made for me and am pleased to say that slug mentioned the the person who made it already :)

I'd done the diamond solitaire thing before and much prefer this one

Sapphire engagement rings...old fashioned?
Nabootique · 20/11/2015 15:17

That's lovely, Miranda Smile

BadlyBehavedShoppingTrolley · 20/11/2015 15:20

If I had an eye on budget but wanted something lovely I would TOTALLY look at second hand (ideally antique/vintage) emerald or sapphires with some small diamonds surrounding it. Or a 1920's diamond ring that could be picked up reasonably cheaply but be nicer quality and a more charming setting than you could buy for the same price brand new.

rainybaking · 20/11/2015 15:31

If you want the diamond look and durability without the price tag you could also look at Moissanites or the Amora Gem.

And YY to letting her choose the ring or at least finding out what type of stones and settings she likes.

MitzyLeFrouf · 20/11/2015 15:36

Oh yes, definitely let her choose. I'd hate someone to present me with a ring.

mumsnit · 20/11/2015 15:54

I love sapphires but went with diamonds in the end because I don't wear a lot of blue and I felt it would never match with my clothes. Sounds stupid but was the right choice!

I would love to have been surprised with a ring from DH but felt that as its the one item I wear every single day it was important to get exactly what I wanted.

Donge13 · 20/11/2015 15:56

Sapphire ring is a timeless classic

FishOn · 20/11/2015 16:00

I have a friend who had a large rectangle pink emerald with two small diamonds each side and it was gorgeous and really reasonable she said

Diggum · 20/11/2015 16:05

My hairdresser has an engagement ring of white gold and a black stone of some kind and it looks class. So different but still timeless looking.

Go for it!

TrollTheRespawnJeremy · 20/11/2015 16:46

I have a sapphire and diamond ring. It's edwardian but looks very modern. I love it. It's a bit different from the boring old diamond solitaire route.

niminypiminy · 20/11/2015 16:57

I have a second hand blue opal - it looks like a drop of the Mediterranean in a very plain setting. I don't wear it all the time because opals are slightly fragile but Italians gets noticed when I do. It's really unusual and the most beautiful thing I have.

Sapphire engagement rings...old fashioned?
niminypiminy · 20/11/2015 16:59

Italians? It always! ^ that's not my ring btw, but a blue opal of the same colour.

midnightmoomoo · 20/11/2015 20:18

I think that as long as you're sure she'll like it you should go ahead. If not, go shopping together.

I think an engagement ring is such a personal choice that you need to be sure she'll love it, or at least be prepared for her to want to change it if she really doesn't like it.

FWIW, I was always dead against having a diamond solitaire until I was let loose in the jewellers.....guess what I came out with? But I love coloured stones, and I also have a ruby ring and an amethyst. My mum had a lovely sapphire ring made for their sapphire anniversary and she's thinking of an emerald one for that next year. It's personal choice, plus having a setting which suits your fingers/hand. My friend inherited a huge emerald ring from her MIL which suited her hands but looked awful on me!

Congratulations, by the way!!

GrinAndTonic · 20/11/2015 20:26

The diamond as an engagement ring plus the three maths salary was a marketing ploy by DeBeers. Buy what you want end spend what you want.

I have a sapphire and I love it.

Sapphire engagement rings...old fashioned?
Scarletforya · 20/11/2015 20:30

Sapphires are to my eye a little bit dated. Also dark. What about an aquamarine?

WhyDoesGastonBark · 20/11/2015 22:23

Mine is sapphire. People comment on it all of the time

JaceLancs · 20/11/2015 22:27

I have a pale blue Ceylon sapphire ring
If you fancy something different what about iolite?

iwantgin · 20/11/2015 22:33

It's a very personal choice

How about casually trying to find out what her preferred choice of stone and style would be?

DH had a lot of hints as to what I would like. It's not exactly what I would have chosen but not far off

Crusoe · 20/11/2015 22:44

I've a sapphire and I love it. My Mum has a beautiful sapphire that I've always admired, it felt right to have one too. I think it all depends on the setting, Mums does look old fashioned in a gold traditional claw setting perhaps but mine is platinum and has a totally different look.

Dowser · 21/11/2015 08:28

I'm not a fan of the Diana ring or the fergie ring...she got a ruby. I like a diamond because that's the only time I'll get to wear a diamond.

My second engagement/ wedding ring as I only wanted one is shaped like an eye. The diamond is in the centre like the pupil and the shaft splits around it.

At each corner of the eye there is a small black diamond. I'm glad you decided against black diamond as being so opaque they don't sparkle. Mine are small and are just for decoration only.

Mine is a platinum ring ( I didn't want yellow gold, had that first time round, and I didn't want white gold as you might have to keep having it replated with rhodium and I new I didn't want to take it off ever)

We had it specially made. It was expensive but not prohibitely so but I knew I was only having the one ring.

I love it. The man who gave it to me is so lovely and this beautiful ring is a token of that love.

Dowser · 21/11/2015 08:36

Well there you go, apparently my ring is a bombe ring.

If you take this ring and remove all the fancy bits round the main diamond and the filler bits and then imagine the black diamonds either side. That will give you some idea of mine.

Mine was nowhere that price and I do think it's a lovely ring

www.berganza.com/ref-19916-Antique-old-cut-diamond-ring-circa-1910.html?feature_id=188

Stokey · 21/11/2015 09:08

I have one - it's lovely, square with 2 diamond baguettes. I knew I wanted a sapphire and Dh found one and got it made for me. Why don't you ask her what stone she'd like and then you can chose the ring?

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