The best gemstones for an engagement ring should not be solely based on the look and should take the Mohs’ scale into consideration. Mohs’ scale provides a measurement for the hardness of gemstones and delineates which types of gemstones are fit for everyday wearing. Looking up the best engagement ring gemstones online can be confusing, so we’ve decided to make a complete list of the best and worst choices out there to make it easier.

Opals and Pearls

Rings with these gemstones can look dashingly beautiful, that much is true. But opals and pearls are not the best choice for a ring you plan on wearing every day. The reason is that they are extremely soft, which makes them prone to damage. If you wear a ring with these gemstones while running everyday errands, at the pool or out dancing, chances are you are going to end up seeing scratches and nicks on its surface after only a few months.

Emeralds

Emeralds are also a popular choice in Buzzfeed or Pinterest posts. While they are slightly harder than the previous entries, they are prone to internal fractures. This can cause your ring to break if you accidentally hit it against a hard surface. While emeralds are not as prone to scratching as opals or pearls, you’ll still have to be extra careful while wearing it.

So what are the Best Engagement Ring Gemstones?

There are several alternatives that look just as fascinating. While diamonds top the Mohs’ scale list, corundum closely follows. The most popular corundum variant is the bright red stone known as ruby. Its other variant is the sapphire which comes in many colors, contrary to the popular belief that it’s exclusively blue. White sapphires are also commonly used, especially as an alternative to diamonds. While not as flashy or sturdy, sapphires are extremely durable and can look quite exquisite when set in a ring.

Diamonds are Forever!

There’s a lot of truth to this saying since diamonds are one of the hardest gemstones for engagement rings and it’s the main reason why a diamond is still the most popular choice for an engagement ring. If you are a fan of vivid colors rather than a diamond’s crystal clear radiance, you should know that diamonds can come in various colors too. These diamonds get their color from internal structural impurities and the rarest among these options is the red diamond.

Your Choice

If you’re really excited about the idea of wearing an emerald, you should go for it! Just know that some of these uncommon choices will mean routine maintenance and being mindful not to scratch, drop or hit the stone. Opals and pearls should not necessarily be worn every day and should be left for special occasions, and even then it’d be best to take extra care not to damage them. Our experts at Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers can help you find rings with these uniquely colored gemstone and make sure they are in a setting that will protect the stone as much as possible. And we’ll offer maintenance tips and other useful advice as a bonus!