Gemstone vs. Diamond

[bubbly1126]

Just wondering who, if any of you, would prefer a gemstone instead of a diamond?

And if you prefer a gemstone is it just one in particular that you like, your birthstone or your FF birthstone?

My new avatar is of the ring I would LOVE to have. It''s a pink sapphire and I feel that''s close enough to my birthstone (pink tourmaline/opal for october). I would love for the gemstone to be FF''s birthstone but it''s amethyst and I''m not a big fan of it.

But anyway, I''d love to hear what everyone else thinks!

 

[MoonWater]

Interesting topic. All during my teens and in my very early twenties I thought I would have a ruby as an engagement ring. It''s my birthstone and I never had an interest in diamonds. I''ve always found the traditional solitaire boring (and still do, altho I have seen quite a few on this site with interesting features that I really like). I thought a ruby would make the ring more interest...then i tried them on. I hated them! So, that was off my list. I didn''t really pay much attention to engagement rings in general until about a year ago...

So, for a 1st year anniversary present from my bf, I got me a pink sapphire solitaire and I love it. We both comment (it''s now 3 and a half years later) on how awesome the color is with my skin tone (i''m a nice caramel brown according to my bf). I stare at it daily and still think how awesome the color is after all this time. So, then I thought, maybe I could have a pink sapphire engagement ring. But I''m a bit of an obsessive planner so I just fast fwd to 20 years later in my mind and wondered if I would get tired of seeing a pink stone. So, I decided on colorless. It matches everything. I also decided on a halo and giving it a more antique feel in order to rid myself of the "boring" solitaire look.

I still think a pink sapphire would be awesome however. It really depends on how well you know yourself and knowing you won''t change your mind in the future (unless of course you are relying on upgrades and in which case go for it).

 

[musey]

If gemstone hardness/wearability were no issue, I'd have gone with an aquamarine in a second. I LOVE them. Then again, I am a 24/7-engagement-ring-wearer, so an aqua would really have to be stronger to not get beaten up on me.

Sapphires really fit the bill for a lot people (hardness-wise) but I never found a color I was crazy about for "every day for the rest of my life" kind of wear. Well, I suppose I could stand a yellow sapphire beauty like poshpepper's...

 

[TravelingGal]

It was always very clear to me. It was either a diamond, or squat. And I was really fine with squat. But squat is very hard to give (even though lots of people do), so TGuy decided on the diamond.

Personally, I think squat is much easier for every day wear than a diamond, but it certainly doesn''t have the fun and entertaining sparkle factor!

 

[marcy]

I absolutely love sapphires - royal blue and pink especially - but I have a diamond for my ering / wring. We upgraded my ring last summer and I thought about going to some blue sapphire accent stones but wanted to keep my wring all diamond. Of course, I think your ring in your avator is stunning! I think colored stones in erings are very pretty but I guess I would rather have the colored stones as RHRs.

 

[Picos]

I''m a diamond person. I never asked for gemstones for the ring.

Of course, for other jewlery, I prefer my gemstone (peridot! peridot!) or fiance''s gemstone for the significance. I''ve never really seen a pretty gemstone that I _must_ have. I do have a peridot necklace that was his first christmas gift to me.

 

[poshpepper]

Date: 10/2/2007 7:21:36 PM
Author: musey
If gemstone hardness/wearability were no issue, I'd have gone with an aquamarine in a second. I LOVE them. Then again, I am a 24/7-engagement-ring-wearer, so an aqua would really have to be stronger to not get beaten up on me.

Sapphires really fit the bill for a lot people (hardness-wise) but I never found a color I was crazy about for 'every day for the rest of my life' kind of wear. Well, I suppose I could stand a yellow sapphire beauty like poshpepper's...

Thanks Musey!

Im a big fan of your ring!!!

bubbly --- obviously I will be a little biased since my ering has a gemstone center, but I think its a great choice for those that like a little color (or a lot

) but cant afford a colored diamond or just don't want a diamond. My setting has enough diamonds in it that I don't miss out on any sparkle. And as a matter of fact my sapphire has a lot of sparkle and fire to it, I am still surprised how much it has.
Anyway, I think the ring in your avatar is gorgeous and I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to have that as my ering (if I didn't already have mine

)

ETA -- you should check out the gemstone/colored stone eye candy thread... its the first thread in the colored stone forum. There are many examples of erings (and other rings) with colored stones. A great resource for ideas (and just fun to look through).

 

[sera]

I have worn blue sapphires for years and years and never get tired of them. I also love blue topaz, tanzanite, rubies, tsavorite, emeralds, pink sapphires, etc etc etc. I chose a diamond for my ering and I would love some color in the setting... I go back and forth between yellow diamonds and pink diamonds or all platinum with some gemstone stacking rings. I do love diamonds and gemstones but I also love versatility! I''m hoping I can do some stacking rings but the problem is that I want a 3-sided pave ering or wband.

 

[bubbly1126]

LoL TravelingGal with your "It was either a diamond, or squat." That made me laugh!!

Actually, I think I have created quite the dilemma for myself...

I have ALWAYS told BF that I wanted a princess cut diamond. I have showed him the rings online that I like (one being the one I have for my avatar) in case he decides not to get me a diamond. (Because I was never a big fan of diamonds and have told him several times it is completely up to him on what he gets me.)

BUT... While I would LOVE the Pink Sapphire ring, I would now also LOVE to have a round diamond! (one or the other of course, not both! I''m not that spoiled! haha) --this darn site and all it''s pretty ring pictures and information!! gahh!!! lol--

What am I to do now? I don''t believe he''s already purchased a ring (the ring/proposal we have decided will be surprises but he also likes to have my input) but what if he has? I would definitely adore any ring he gets me, whether it be princess cut, round or a sapphire ring. But I would also like to tell him that I now like round diamonds instead of princess cut. But what IF he''s already got the ring? Or picked it out? Or paid for half of it? I don''t want to hurt his feelings!

Should I just say something along the lines of "oh for the record I also like round diamonds" or should I just leave it the way it is since I know I WILL be happy with whatever he decides to get me?

 

[sera]

Date: 10/3/2007 8:32:28 PM
Author: bubbly1126
LoL TravelingGal with your 'It was either a diamond, or squat.' That made me laugh!!


Actually, I think I have created quite the dilemma for myself...


I have ALWAYS told BF that I wanted a princess cut diamond. I have showed him the rings online that I like (one being the one I have for my avatar) in case he decides not to get me a diamond. (Because I was never a big fan of diamonds and have told him several times it is completely up to him on what he gets me.)


BUT... While I would LOVE the Pink Sapphire ring, I would now also LOVE to have a round diamond! (one or the other of course, not both! I'm not that spoiled! haha) --this darn site and all it's pretty ring pictures and information!! gahh!!! lol--


What am I to do now? I don't believe he's already purchased a ring (the ring/proposal we have decided will be surprises but he also likes to have my input) but what if he has? I would definitely adore any ring he gets me, whether it be princess cut, round or a sapphire ring. But I would also like to tell him that I now like round diamonds instead of princess cut. But what IF he's already got the ring? Or picked it out? Or paid for half of it? I don't want to hurt his feelings!


Should I just say something along the lines of 'oh for the record I also like round diamonds' or should I just leave it the way it is since I know I WILL be happy with whatever he decides to get me?

Well, I prob'ly wouldn't suggest blurting out, "Hey by the way, I don't want a princess anymore, it's a round diamond or squat!" You could just mention it when the opportunity comes up through talk or tv or whatever, and just say it in a way that tells him you like the round diamonds now but wouldn't make him feel bad if he already got the princess. Like, "Ya know, I'm really starting to like round diamonds. What would you think of that?" And then just see how he responds to get an idea if you could get a round or already are getting a princess.

You could get a diamond with pink sapphire sidestones. Or you could do stacking rings- have a pink sapphire band between the ering and wband.