Are you looking for different types of stones for your ring? Be it diamond or stones other than diamonds, we’ve got you covered.
There are various types of stones available, each of which comes with their unique set of aesthetics and characters.
From their hardness indicated by Moh’s value, clarity, price, and color to the meanings of the stones, we’ll discuss 15 types of gemstones you can choose from based on your personality and your preferences and give a beautiful and personal touch to your ring.
1. Diamond
With Moh’s scale value of 10, diamond is the hardest stone available. Diamond rings are classic and timeless. Considering its durability, one cannot argue with the fact that diamond is believed to symbolize everlasting love.
However, if you are looking for a more expensive and unique option than a traditional diamond ring, you can go for colored diamonds. Among the many colors available, pink ones are the most expensive.
Although diamond is an extremely popular option, especially in engagement rings, not everyone can afford it as it costs in thousands.
2. Ruby
Lying under the corundum family of gemstones, red-colored gemstone ruby, is also one of the most valuable and desired stones, especially among brides. Red symbolizes love and affection, so does the ruby.
With a hardness value of 9, this stone is also highly resistant to scratches and is impressively durable. Burmese Ruby, a deep red colored stone with a faint blue hue, is the brightest and most valuable shade of the ruby.
Ruby, among all colored gemstones, besides colored diamonds, demands the highest price ranging from $100 to $15,000/carat. Ruby is also considered as April birthstone.
3. Sapphire
This is another gemstone that belongs to the family corundum. Many types of fancy pink, yellow, orange, peach, or violet colored sapphires are also available. However, the most celebrated sapphire is bluestone.
With the same Moh’s value as of Ruby’s, sapphire is the third hardest gemstone. Sapphires represent honesty, trust, and loyalty which makes this stone one of the most popular stones for a promise ring or engagement ring.
Although sapphires are less sparkly, you’ll save yourself a huge deal of money if you go with this option. Depending upon the quality, a renowned blue sapphire can cost from $450 to around $1600/carat. Sapphire is also the birthstone for September making it famous in Virgos and Libras.
4. Emerald
Emerald is a gorgeous green stone and ideal for nature enthusiasts with a Moh’s value of 7.5-8. Emerald comes in various spectrum of greens ranging from light to deep bluish-green.
Emerald is associated with noble characteristics such as memory, intelligence as well as healing power and growth.
Emeralds, composed primarily of beryl, contain trace amounts of chromium or vanadium which contribute to the green color, whereas iron is responsible for yellowish/bluish tints.
Since emerald has a lower density than that of a diamond, the 1-carat emerald will be larger comparatively. High-quality emerald may range from $525 to $1125 or more. Emerald is the birthstone for babies born in May.
5. Pearl
Also known as ‘Queen of gems’, it is the only gem formed within a living creature. Although a range of colored pearls are formed, white and cream-colored pearls are very common and high in demand.
Pearls are often associated with purity and innocence. However, the downside of this gem is that these are made of calcium carbonate which is very soft and can scratch or tarnish easily at 2.5 – 4.5 on the Mohs scale value.
Pearls would be an excellent choice of a gem in those rings you’re planning to wear occasionally. You can also cover a small piece of pearl and surround it by other gemstones with higher Moh’s value.
The average price of a string of pearls can range from $35 to $1000s, depending on type, size, quality, luster, color, and form. Pearl is the birthstone of June babies.
6. Aquamarine
Aquamarines also belong to the family of beryl crystals with an impressive 7.5 to 8 hardness. Aquamarines, however, have greater endurance than their emerald brothers. It is believed that Aquamarine offers bravery, mental insight, and good health.
Aquamarines come in hues of blue and can cost from $10 to $1,000/carat mainly depending on its color, depth, and carat. Aquamarine is the birthstone of March babies.
7. Morganite
Morganite, which lies at Moh’s scale on 7.5-8, is a rosy-pinkish feminine stone and an excellent choice for an engagement ring. Morganite crystal is associated with healing, compassion, inner strength, joy, and unconditional love.
Morganite is a type of Beryl crystal and its faint pink color is caused by manganese traces. One big downfall of morganites is that it gets as well as looks dirty sooner.
With color being the most important criteria, the price of morganites can range from about $80 to $450.
8. Alexandrite
Alexandrite, also known as ‘emerald by day, ruby by night’, is an excellent choice if you want a color-changing stone for your ring. It appears greenish-blue under daylight/fluorescent light and reddish under incandescent light.
Alexandrite can be a very suitable option for your ring since it is extraordinarily durable with a Moh’s value of 8.5.
Alexandrite is considered to bring good luck and fortune and is a birthstone of June babies, besides pearls. Top-quality alexandrite costs up to $15,000/carat. However, the price can hike up to $50,000 to $70,000/carat if the stone is over one carat.
9. Peridot
Peridot has its aesthetic uniqueness with its color ranging from shimmering olive to brown-green. Also known as the ‘stone of compassion’, peridot is also believed to bring good health and peace to relationships by balancing emotions and mind.
With an impressive hardness of 6.5-7, peridot can be a unique choice for your ring, especially if you’re born in august or getting married in August, as this stone is the birthstone of the month.
Peridot is extremely affordable and costs about $50-$80/carat. However, for well-cut pieces of around 1-2 carats, prices can hike up to around $450.
10. Topaz
Topaz is an eye-clean stone that comes in several hues and saturations namely pink, red, orange, yellow, green, violet, and, most typically, blue.
One who wears a topaz is considered to receive love and emotional support, thus making topaz a popular stone choice for an engagement ring these days.
The topaz price range can vary from $25/carat for a typical blue sapphire to $3,500/carat for red/pink sapphires, mostly depending on the color, preciousness, and carat.
11. Opal
Just as Alexandrite, opal also exhibits a rare gem optical phenomenon called ‘Play of color’ which causes multi-colored flashes to move around the gem surface. Every opal stone differs from the other in the pattern, color, or tones making every stone unique.
Opals have a low 5.5 to 6.5 Moh’s value making them extremely vulnerable to scratching. They also have great resilience to abrupt temperature changes. Opals are infamous of cracking when moved from room temperature or higher to cold.
As the birthstone of October, the opal symbolizes purity and hope. Rare, high-quality opals can cost up to $1,000/carat, whereas less precious opals reach around $600/carat.
12. Sunstone
Although rare and uncommon, sunstone is a very beautiful stone that comes in warm shades; commonly gold, orange, and brown. As in its name, this stone shimmers and sparkles like the sun. Sunstone is believed to provide energy and radiance to the wearer’s life.
With a hardness of 6-6.5, sunstones are not very resistant to scratching and should be properly taken care of. Depending upon color, type, clarity, rareness, and carat, sunstones can cost as low as $25/carat to thousands of dollars per carat.
13. Onyx
Not everyone has a bright taste in gems. Onyx has a hardness of 6.5-7 and comes in its natural and unique black color. Onyx is supposed to help the wearer to fight their fears and with healing.
Black onyx ranges from $1 to $500/carat.
14. Lapis Lazuli
It is one of the oldest and most captivating semi-precious stones with a matt blue color that matches a gold band perfectly. These are very inexpensive and can be replaced easily since with a hardness of 5-5.5, this stone can be easily scratched.
You can buy this stone at less than $1 to $150/carat or more depending upon the color and quality.
15. Labradorite
With a dark base color and metallic-looking color plays of brighter colors, Labradorite exhibits labradorescence which makes them very captivating. It has a hardness of 6-6.5, thus, requiring additional care.
Labradorite is associated with releasing physical, mental, and spiritual tensions. It is extremely affordable and price can range from $1 to $50/carat.
Summary
There’s a common saying ‘The ring always believes that the finger lives for it’, which signifies the fact that ring is one such jewelry item that we wear almost every day. As you now know various types of stones that are used in rings, select one, or mix two or more stones that goes with your personality as well as your belief and create a unique piece for yourself.