Forever marketed as a woman’s best friend, diamonds have kind of become the cliched choice for wedding rings. There is also no debating the fact that they are quite expensive. Thanks to these factors, an increasing number of couples are now looking for alternative gemstones for their wedding rings. This allows them to find something more unique without paying the premium price.
We are ignoring subtle hues and instead focusing on the primary shades. For example, Prasiolite has a greenish tinge, but we featured it under white because it’s primarily a pale looking stone. This is also not a comprehensive list. There are many other natural as well as lab-made gemstones available in the markets that are used to make beautiful wedding rings. Following is a list of gemstones sorted by color that are cheaper than diamond.
Blue
Blue Topaz: Even though topaz is available in a wid fore range of hues, the dazzling blue shade of a blue topaz looks best when fitted on wedding rings for women. Topaz has a Mohs hardness value of 8, which means it’s pretty hardy.
Aquamarine: This is a beautiful stone that has a stunning blue shade. The stone has amazing clarity which grants it a premium look.
Sapphire: Sapphire is almost like the poster child of beautiful blue stones. It has the same dazzle-factor of a well-cut diamond. For reference, the Heart of the Ocean necklace featured in the movie Titanic had a sapphire centrepiece.
White
Zirconia: If you want something that was created to resemble the look of a natural diamond then synthetic zirconia is probably the cheapest option. This man-made stone is often paired with sterling silver to mimic the look of platinum and diamond wedding ring.
Prasiolite: Prasiolite is a natural quartz that can also be manufactured in the lab. The stone has a greenish hue but overall has a transparent appearance. Also known as green amethyst, prasiolite rings are highly affordable. For example, a rose cut prasiolite sterling silver ring can cost less than £30.
Moissanite: Almost as hard as diamond with a Mohs scale value of 9.5 (Diamond is 10), moissanite is an elegant clear gemstone. Due to its strikingly similar appearance, it’s often well paired with diamonds.
Purple
Amethyst: If you are looking for a purple gemstone, then there is no ignoring a well-cut amethyst. The gemstone has a deep purple shade that looks luxurious. Amethyst wedding rings often feature an amethyst stone as the centrepiece bordered by tiny diamonds.
Green
Emerald: Emeralds have a distinctive dark green colour that gives them a precious look. While they are often used in diamond wedding rings as secondary stones, emeralds are popularly used as primary centerpieces when crafting engagement rings for women. With a Mohs value of 8, emerald jewellery can last for years.
Peridot: The sparkling light green shade of peridot gives it a one-of-a-kind appearance. In spite of its luxurious green hue and amazing reflective properties, peridot rings are pretty affordable.
Tsavorite: Part of the garnet family, Tsavorite is native to Tanzania. Even though it’s significantly softer than diamond, this gemstone is hard enough to resist scratches and damages. Tsavorite rings have a rich green colour and they often have varying degrees of transparency.
Red
Garnet: Often the gemstone of choice when crafting affordable rings, garnets are used for making affordable engagement and wedding rings. While they are seldom the centrepiece, a garnet’s rich red hue creates a beautiful contrast when paired with well-cut diamonds. Garnet goes really well with rose gold metal which has a similar reddish colour.
Ruby: The more expensive cousin of the garnet, rubies are for people who want red gemstones that are luxurious and exclusive. While they are not as expensive as a flawless diamond, rubies are considered as precious stones. A ruby gem has a shade that matches the tone of an expensive red wine.
Orange
Fire Opal: Want a ring that looks like nothing you have ever seen? Aptly named the fire opal, these stones have a bright orange shade along with the sparkling dazzle of a diamond. Unfortunately, only lab-manufactured fire opals have a consistent orange hue. Fire opal rings also need to be delicately handled because they have a low Mohs value of 6.5.
