Thoughts on Sapphires as Engagement Stones?

My sister got an aquamarine stone and it's beautiful! I think it's really really depends on the bride and what she is looking for. Also- speak with a jeweler. I know some stones get cloudy overtime. Btw I would have loved a blue sapphire.

Sapphire is my birth stone and I've always loved it, so FH looked at sapphire rings for me. I ended up picking out a simple band of diamonds and sapphires (will have just one ring).

Hi Jacob! Have you talked with your significant other about their expectations, wants, etc? I think many of us with non-diamond rings had voiced opinions on diamond vs non-diamond rings to our significant others prior to engagement...it absolutely does not have to ruin or take away the surprise of an engagement is that is important to you. My husband and I talked about rings for quite awhile and I still was totally caught off guard when he proposed! We discussed quite a few stones and narrowed it down to morganite (pinky/peach in color) and moissanite(clear, looks more like a diamond than white sapphire) and the general look of rings I tended to be attracted to. From there he custom designed exactly what he wanted me to have. I ended up with a 8mm (equiv to 2.8 carat) morganite, set in rose gold. It is stunning....and far less expensive than a diamond.

I would probably not steer away from a diamond if you know that is exclusively what she wants or has never expressed interest in an alternative ring/look. I think this is really something to bring up with her. Also would you be choosing a white sapphire in attempts to look like a diamond at a lesser cost? If so, she may be disappointed. However, if she wants a diamond alternative there are so many beautiful options! good luck!

As PP's have said, white sapphires are much less "sparkly" than a diamond, but colored sapphires usually have pretty nice fire and refraction. My E ring is a pale yellow sapphire and it sparkles but definitely less than a diamond. My MOH and myself both got our sapphire center stones from www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com - awesome prices and huge selection of colors and cuts. But I would definitely check that your future spouse isn't in the diamond camp first!

I agree with all the other posters who recommended that you talk to your future fiance about her/his choices before you purchase something. There have been several posts on here, where the ring wasn't her/his taste - some even leave it in a drawer and don't wear it.

Sapphires are beautiful! My center stone is a sapphire and I absolutely love it! it's my birthstone so it has more meaning behind it. Sapphires aren't cheap though. You can get a lab created stone and save some money if you'd like - again, run that by your FI before purchasing something.

Last, everyone's financial goals are different. We considered my ring an investment piece and splurged a little on it - knowing it was something I would wear everyday for years to come.

My e-ring is a lab created blue sapphire and I love it!! To be fair, I didn't want a diamond or other colorless stone. Don't worry about what seems "cheap", that will make you nuts.

My FH talked to me about what I like in engagement rings (it was easy since a lot of our co-workers were getting married and he would just ask what do you think of so-and-so's ring?)

I love gemstones, but was set on a diamond for my engagement ring.

I actually really wanted a Sapphire ring but FH bought into the diamond hype and got me a diamond ring. I thought about moissanite but I saw some posts online about it looking cloudy if it's overcast. But moissanite rings can pass for diamonds oftentimes

If you're afraid of your girlfriend guessing about when you're proposing, you can always just ask her family/friends if she's talked about what style rings/stones she likes. If not, ask them to talk to her about it and get back to you.

I have a sapphire in my e-ring and i love it. the ring was vintage and came as a total surprise to me (i had no idea H was going to propose when he did). i love it so much--it's unique and the setting which you can't see here is really cool. i was happier to be surprised than to be asked about my ring preferences, but every person is different in that regard!

More than a year before DH proposed he asked me about my preferences for future engagement rings and told me what styles he liked and asked my opinions on them. Gemstones came up, as he has an aunt with an emerald ring that he thinks is really special. We talked about emeralds and sapphires. Both of us liked the idea of blue sapphire and while I didn't think an emerald was right for me, I also loved yellow sapphires. He even had me send pictures to him of e-ring styles I liked and we discussed that I would be fine with either a colored sapphire as the center stone or with a diamond in the center and sapphires as side stones. We also talked about other features of rings (metal, halo style, side stones, pave diamonds, twisted shanks, the fact that I didn't want a huge ring, and on and on). He ended up going with blue sapphire side stones and a diamond in the middle, as well as incorporated a few of the other style elements I had said I liked.

My point is, you can have a conversation about ring preferences with your FW and still surprise her with a proposal. I would suggest starting a conversation with her and ask if she's ever thought about what kind of e-ring she'd want and say things like "I think gemstone rings are very unique and pretty. What do you think of rings with gemstones, like sapphire, in the center or as side stones?" She'll either tell you she definitely wants that, she would be fine with that or a diamond, or she really would prefer a diamond. And she might tell you whether there are any specific gemstones she would love.

How does your SO feel about it? I would have been disappointed with anything less than a diamond setting.

I have an orange sapphire and I freaking love it...ETA pic doesn't do it justice. It sparkles like any other diamond

I love my blue sapphire and diamond e-ring and am really glad I was able to save FH money by not wanting a diamond, but like PP's have said you should really talk to you partner about what they would like to wear forever. I totally picked out my ring but didn't know when FH bought it and was totally surprised when he proposed.

I have a blue sapphire with pave diamonds around it and I prefer it much more than a regular diamond. I agree with others though. It's a personal preference thing. What other type of jewelry does your SO wear?

I really wanted a gem stone ring until I looked up how they were more likely than a diamond to crack, they will get cloudy after some time, or they just weren't very sparkly. I ended up with a diamond due to those realizations. We had a pretty strict budget and managed to stay within it. I really think the only way for you to get something your girlfriend will like is to ask her what she has in mind. Or ask her best friend, her sister, her mom... whoever knows her best or can be enlisted to get the scoop for you about what she likes on the sly.

It should be the nicest ring that you can afford that she likes.

My mom never wanted a diamond - my dad gave her a birthstone ring (turquoise for her Christmas birthday). Must have worked - they were married 62 years as of yesterday!)

Definitely consult with your lady to see what she has been thinking about. We went the gemstone route and couldn't be more happy! My stone is a peachy pink morganite with diamonds on the band. My only complaint is the stone gets very cloudy if I don't clean it every couple of weeks. Cleaning is simple though: a little Dawn dish soap bath and a little scrub with a baby toothbrush and it shines like new!

I think you should get what you want. If you don't, you'll be on a forum about not liking your ring. Diamonds are classic and never go out of style.

I agree with everyone. I personally love colored stones, but it doesn't matter what I love, or what anyone else loves. It matters what your future spouse loves!

My engagement ring is a diamond heirloom ring from my husband's family. It's probably about seventy five years old, and very special to us. My husband and I talked about whether I wanted the heirloom ring or "my own" ring (for lack of better phrasing). I preferred the sentimentality and history of an heirloom over a particular style of ring. And he offered to show it to me, but I didn't want to see it beforehand--I wanted to be surprised. But, there's nothing wrong with someone who would have made the opposite choice. I wasn't much of a jewelry person and didn't have a preference on style. But I loved that my husband was so invested in making sure I had something I loved.

And like @Fallbride said, it didn't spoil the proposal for me. I think by the time you propose, your future spouse should know it's coming. It shouldn't be a huge shock. A pleasant surprise on the timing and method, sure. But not a shock that you're proposing at all. If that makes sense.