Not everyone thinks diamonds are their best friend. Nowadays, there are many types of rings in the market that suit all types of people.
We’ve compiled a list of beautiful non-diamond engagement rings that would make anyone feel special when wearing them. The only question is, which one is right for you?
When it comes to proposals, diamonds are the gemstone of choice.
Popularised by an ad campaign from De Beers in the 1930s, people began to see diamonds in a completely different way. It was smart and the tagline has stayed with us ever since – A Diamond is Forever.
During that time, the diamond gave people status and it was a rare stone you couldn’t just get anywhere. Today, diamonds are a lot easier to find and a lot more accessible.
A diamond may still be the stone to buy if you’re planning to propose. Some of us see it as a symbol of forever, while others have moved onto gemstone jewellery that makes them feel the same way.
At the end of the day, it’s about what the ring means to you no matter the stone that sits on it.
Let’s talk about the Moh Scale. It’s used to measure the rating on a stone’s hardness from 1 to 10, which is important to know when you’re looking for a stone that you want to last for years to come.
Since this is something that you’re hoping to wear on a daily basis, the Moh Scale will tell you whether your stone can tough it out.
Think of it this way – our nails are rated 2.5 on the scale out of 10, so you’re looking at a rating of 7 and above if you want a sturdy stone on that finger.
The rise in popularity of these gemstones have made them great alternatives to a diamond, moissanite, or cubic zirconia.
This gemstone usually comes in a royal blue, but you can get them in champagne, pink, yellow, and green hues.
Browse our sapphire ring range
This is a beautiful pale blue stone rated a 7.5 - 8 on the hardness scale. Known as the ‘lucky stone’, aquamarine rings dazzle brightly when cut well.
Browse our aquamarine ring range
The cousin to aquamarine, this stone is as green as the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz. The rich green tone of an emerald ring can make some fall head over heels. It also rates 7.5 - 8 on the Moh Scale.
Ruby rings are deep and intense – one look at the stunning reds of this stone can whisk you away to another world. Rubies join sapphire, emerald, and diamond as one of the four precious stones with Burmese rubies being the most expensive. They are rated 9 on the Moh Scale.
An opal engagement ring is unique. With diamonds, you have a good chance of finding a gemstone that looks similar, if not identical, to the real deal. Australian opal engagement rings are different and can be spotted from afar.
They often look as if they have a rainbow inside of them, reflecting different colours all at once. If you want to move it up a notch, black opals are Australia’s national treasure and start at a higher price than white opals.
Although beautiful, opals rate 5.5 - 6 on the Moh Scale.
Pearl rings are classic. Not only do pearls look great on a ring, they’re also popular to wear as earrings and necklaces. There’s something about pearls that give them a personal and elegant touch which is why it’s well liked as an engagement ring.
However, be careful if you end up with a pearl as they rate 2.5 - 4.5 on the Moh Scale.
Topaz engagement rings are an 8 on the Moh Scale, so they’re a safe and beautiful choice for many. A pure topaz is actually clear, but it’s the stone’s imperfections that can sometimes give it a blue, red, green, orange, or pink hue.
Are you or your partner a fan of purple? Amethyst engagement rings are rich in purple hues that are perfect for lovers of lavender. Rated 7 on the Moh Scale, they’re not as strong as the four precious stones, but they still do well with everyday wear.
Browse our amethyst ring range
For those who want a light shade of pink, morganite engagement rings are great when it comes to a chic look. They’re from the same family as emeralds so they sit on the same scale of hardness.
Browse our morganite ring range
This is a rare gemstone. In fact, it’s rarer than a diamond and is limited to a handful of lucky people per year who can get their hands on one. Even though it’s rated 6.5 - 7 on the hardness scale, people have no problem showing off a tanzanite engagement ring so long as it means they have something extremely rare on their finger.
Browse our tanzanite ring range
Whether you’re a diamond person through and through or a gemstone enthusiast, there’s no doubt that whatever you choose will be timeless.
Our second-hand ring collection is constantly updated with new precious gemstone rings that would make great alternative to diamond engagement rings. Added bonus: the money you could be saving from buying one of our rings could be spent on organising your wedding day.
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