Human beings are drawn to colors like fish and water. A world in monochrome would soon tire us, so the fact that we can see and experience the wavelength of vibrant colors is no short of a miracle. Naturally, we try to locate the meaning of our existence in these drops of heaven that we see in gemstones.
Historical Significance of Colored Gemstones in Wedding Rings
Colorful wedding rings have been a part of our Egyptian history for over 3000 years. When wedding ring exchanges became a thing, people’s suitors would choose rings of different materials and colors or designate the strength of their love to their partners. Distilled across space and time, this tradition lived on in colored gemstone wedding rings.
Popular Alternative Gemstones For Wedding Rings
There are quite a few staples when it comes to hued stones for your wedding or Engagement Rings:
- Sapphire Wedding Rings
Sapphire, whether in its blue, pink, or yellow variations, symbolizes intelligence, wisdom, and erudite nature. This was considered the stone of wisdom in Ancient Greece and was believed to be able to soothe ailments. Hence, sapphire wedding rings symbolize moving out of adversities on your own merit.
- Emerald Wedding Rings
True love speaks through green emerald wedding rings. These gems, associated with Goddess Venus, symbolize love and truth in Ancient Greece. They also represented rebirth and the cycle of life to Ancient Egyptians.
- Ruby Wedding Band
This is the birthstone of the month of July and has been associated with the idea of abundance and plenty. The red color in Lab Created Ruby Wedding Rings is commonly associated with the idea of passion, which not only gives it a romantic meaning but also suffuses it with the idea and promise of abundance and luxury.
- Aquamarine Wedding Rings
The sere bleu tones of aquamarine are known to have calming effects on the mind. While the Greek gods of the ocean, like Poseidon, are known to be harbingers of storms, Aquamarine rings belong to the sirens who lured the sailors with their sweet voices.
- Tanzanite Wedding band
This stone is said to have come into being when the gods of lightning struck their bolt into the earth, lending it a distinct blue and violet color as if electricity had distilled into the very stone. Tanzanite engagement rings symbolize sharpness and resolution in the face of adversity.
Benefits of Choosing Colored Gemstones
Now that we know some of the aesthetic reasons and symbolism behind hued gemstones, we are safe to traverse into the territory of the benefits of choosing colored gemstones for engagement rings:
- Unique and personal touch.
Creating your jewelry is an art form that takes practice and good eyes. It also takes a deep and deep understanding of your partner, which means the piece that you bring to this world will make for some of the most intimate and unique engagement rings.
- Range of colors and meanings.
Human beings are known for associating meanings and symbolism with colors. This is a part of how we make sense of the universe. With colored gemstone wedding rings, you can tinker with the shades and hues to no end and find a rainbow at your fingertips.
- Often more affordable than diamonds.
Lab-grown gemstones, as options for non-diamond engagement rings, give you greater clarity and control over the final look of the stones on your wedding ring. They are also devoid of inclusion, far more cost-effective, and less environmentally invasive.
- Ethical and sustainable options.
Colored gemstones are most often going to be created in the lab. This means there is no exploitation, child labor, environmental degradation, or war funding with the money that you spend.
Customization and Design Ideas
Among the popular colored gemstones for wedding rings, there are a few types of jewel and gem settings that are preferred because they make room for more hues:
- Three stone Rings
This is arguably the most popular gemstone engagement ring choice that allows endless scope to tinker around with 3 stones of different colors.
- Toi et Moi Rings
A toi et moi ring translates to “you and me” in French and just has two stones symbolizing the union of two people, so you can add colors.
- Halo Rings
These are arguably the best suited for colored accent stones to add dimension to a clear ring and make a rainbow effect. You can also tinker with the color of the big stone to create an ethereal look.
Ethical Considerations
It’s a known fact that extracting metals and stones from nature is a highly laborious and time-consuming process. This not only destroys natural habitats and accelerates environmental degradation, but it also creates extremely dangerous working conditions for miners, who are often children from impoverished countries. This is where you should heed some serious ethical considerations when buying colored gemstone rings. Always keep an eye out for these things:
- Kimberley Process: There are instances where diamonds are mined in war zones and used for funding atrocities like war, violence, and insurgency. They are also filled with exploitative practices such as child labor.
- Accreditations: You should also ask to see accreditations from your atelier whenever you purchase any colored gemstone as a sort of safety check.
- Fair trade: This implies that the ethical gemstone rings that you purchase have been made through raw materials that are sourced from non-exploitative operations. This implies good working conditions for miners, livable wages, and the maintenance of strict regulations regarding material consumption.
Buying Tips
If what you’ve read so far has seemed convincing, you might be wondering how to choose the right colored gemstone for your wedding ring. To be able to tell a good ring from a bad one, you need to know these 3 things:
- Color
The hue of your stone is immediately noticeable and what sets it apart from others. Color is an important defining feature that also makes it memorable.
- Cut and shape
When creating colorful alternative engagement rings, it is crucial to consider each shape’s geometry. In essence, all of the stones should complement each other in their symmetry and proportion.
- Clarity
These can be air bubbles or other impurities trapped inside. The fewer the inclusions, the clearer it appears. Clarity essentially makes it “eye-clean” and easy to look at.
Conclusion
Recently, we’ve been charting the rise of alternative colored gemstones in wedding rings. This means people are certainly moving away from the traditional mold and taking the creation of one of the most important jewelry pieces of their life into their own hands. And it’s a given considering it is human nature to pursue our own meaning and creations even when they are not naturally endowed to us. With that, the gemstones of different shades on your ring are sure to open portals to different worlds for you, just like the Egyptians believed!
Author Bio – Harshita is a Business Analyst at Rosec Jewels, specializing in market trends, consumer insights, and e-commerce strategies in the fine jewelry industry. Passionate about jewelry craftsmanship and innovation, Harshita plays a key role in shaping the brand’s approach to bridal jewelry, including engagement rings, and fashion jewelry, ensuring a seamless shopping experience.
