Just as each love is one of a kind, many of today’s couples are reinventing tradition and opting for commitment jewelry that speaks to their personal style. From alternative center stones such as aquamarines, sapphires, morganite, and even pearls, customers are expressing commitment in the full spectrum of colors. We explore the variety of ways in which you can jump on the trend and create heirloom-worthy designs to be treasured for years.
A Centuries-Old Tradition
Whether showcased alone or set alongside diamonds, alternative stones offer a fresh take on a tradition that can be traced back to ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. And while these first ancient rings were made of leather, bone, or ivory, metals such as iron and copper soon began to gain popularity due to their strength. Similarly, the use of diamonds in wedding rings arose from a practical standpoint. Chosen foremost for their inherent hardness, diamonds would ultimately become the ubiquitous choice, with the first diamond wedding ring recorded in the will of a woman who passed away in 1417.
Colored stones first appeared in commitment jewelry during medieval times, when Europeans symbolized passion with rubies and the heavens with sapphires. They were also known to pair these colored stones with diamonds, the stone signifying strength, to create vibrant, meaningful pieces.
Daring New Combinations
Many of today’s designs mirror this trend, showcasing multiple hues in one ring. And like the mixing of stones, there is also a mixing of metals and an embracing of less traditional rose and white gold. Pink-orange morganite pairs beautifully with rose gold for an unexpected yet romantic look, while light blue aquamarine paired with white gold delivers a striking look. No longer relegated to flanking the central gemstone, sapphires in arresting shades from blue and teal to pink are taking center stage in bold, iconic pieces.
Delicate ring designs showcasing pearls are also growing in popularity. Often set with diamonds, these dainty rings deliver a light, feminine look that must be worn with some care, as real pearls can be scratched by harder gemstones.
Spotlight On Source
For customers seeking ethical options when it comes to their commitment jewelry, the American Mined™ Collection offers a clear, documentable path from the mine to your bench. From the fiery red of Lake County Fire Opal™ from Oregon to the incredible clarity of Arkansas Ice Quartz™ mined in Blue Springs, Ark., each stone in this collection has been chosen specifically for its quality, clarity, and presentation of color. And your customers can be assured that every stone is mined, cut, and processed under conditions that meet all standards for worker safety, environmental protection, and responsible production.
Dazzling Alternatives
For those customers still seeking the brilliance and clarity of diamonds at more affordable prices, today’s market offers a variety of options for achieving a traditional look using alternative stones. At a 9.25 on the Mohs’ scale, moissanite, a cost-effective diamond alternative, is suitable for everyday wear and offers more fiery brilliance than any other gemstone. Lab-grown diamonds offer the exact gemological properties of natural diamonds, but ring in at much lower prices, delivering more sparkle for your spend.
Finally, for those customers still seeking the tradition and durability of a diamond with a colorful twist, treated diamonds in shades such as black, blue, yellow, and brown offer new takes on a classic.
A Colorful Future
Whether set with a deep blue sapphire, a peachy morganite, a brilliant diamond or even all three, the wedding ring is a tradition that shows no signs of fading away anytime soon. A timeless symbol of eternity, fidelity, and devotion, wedding rings have evolved over the centuries into increasingly more personalized signifiers of love. Explore our selection of colored stones, settings, and bands and find your next design’s perfect match here.