What is a non-traditional engagement ring?

First off, can we just say that we have a teeny tiny issue with the term ‘non-traditional’ when applied to engagement rings.  In this context, a non-traditional engagement ring is any ring that isn’t the standard white diamond solitaire, or cluster.  As we’ve been designing and making engagement rings with coloured gemstones set in them for many years, we can assure you that there’s nothing non-traditional about them!

Indeed, solitaire diamonds only became the most ‘traditional’ form of engagement ring after WW2, when DeBeers Diamonds needed to shift some of their massive stockpile of diamonds, so created the advertising campaign, A Diamond is Forever!

A growing trend

There has been a growing trend over the last few years for engagement rings that take advantage of all the glorious coloured gemstones available to us, from ‘traditional’ blue sapphires, green emeralds and red rubies to the less well-known peachy-pink Padparadsha sapphire, golden-brown Jacinth Zircon and the lavender and gold ametrine (see below) , but prior to De Beers’ ‘A diamond is forever’ marketing campaign (launched in 1947 in response to fears that their growing stockpile of diamonds would take a nose-dive in value if they didn’t come up with some way to sell them faster) engagement rings came in all colours, shapes and sizes – whatever the bride loved best (and the groom could afford!)

We find it odd that over the last couple of decades, only the bold and the beautiful – royalty and Hollywood heroines – have opted for coloured gemstones, but we’re thrilled that now women everywhere are recognising the coloured gemstones.

Listen to your heart

So, what advice do we offer to our customers considering a coloured gemstone for an engagement ring?

First: don’t be worried that a coloured stone will cost more than a diamond of similar size.  Just as diamonds vary in cost according to their Cut, Colour and Carat weight, so do coloured gemstones.  Emeralds and rubies are generally more expensive than diamonds of the same size, but there are so many fabulous gemstones to consider, that you really needn’t limit yourself in such a way.

Second: don’t think a coloured stone needs to be boldly coloured – a bright blue sapphire isn’t for everyone.  Consider a pale lilac shade, perhaps, or a pink one.  Sapphires come in pretty much every shade there is, except red.  Check out this stunning orange sapphire, above.  This is a serious wow gemstone if ever we saw one.  Diamonds too come in all sorts of colours, from pale pink to canary yellow.  You can even find them in blue or red, but these are a rarity and priced accordingly!

Traditional, with a twist

Finally, if you believe deep down that only diamonds will do, but you’re keen to create a ring that’s as ‘un-traditional’ as you are, then there are plenty ways to design an eye-catching ring without straying from bright, white diamonds.  Consider the brushed over setting, as seen here in this wave ring, or a square cut, or emerald cut, or oval, or pear… Look at halo settings, and built up shoulders…really, as we say, when you go bespoke you dream it and we do it.

Remember that it’s your marriage, your ring, and your hand that it will be adorning, so don’t hesitate to do whatever you love that makes you happy, now and forever.  Just make sure your ring is the one you’ll want to wear every day, forever.  (Having said that, we do have customer who come for ring ‘upgrades’ as their finances change!)