STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

kenzie · Chanel

Non-diamond engagement rings

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

If you are open to purple, and tanzinite may be a nice idea. Stone colors vary, I posted a few pics below.

From wikipedia:

Tanzanite is the blue/purple variety of the mineral zoisite which was discovered in the Meralani (Merelani) Hills of Northern Tanzania in 1967, near the city of Arusha. It is used as a gemstone. Tanzanite is noted for its remarkably strong trichroism, appearing alternately sapphire blue, violet, and burgundy depending on crystal orientation.

Tanzanite in its rough state is usually a reddish brown color. It requires artificial heat treatment to 600 °C in a gemological oven to bring out the blue violet of the stone.[citation needed] Tanzanite is a rare gem.[1][2] It is found mostly in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. The mineral is named after Tanzania, the country where it was first discovered.

18K White Gold Tanzanite and Diamond Ring

10k White Gold Tanzanite and Diamond Ring

kenzie · Chanel

Thanks, GD. The rings you posted are stunning and very close to the style I'm looking for. But the jeweler advised against tanzanite as well since it tends to fade and it's a softer stone. *sigh* All of my favorite stones were a no-go.

We pretty much narrowed the selection down the strongest stones. I suppose there's a reason people pick diamonds.

But purple sapphires come in colors very similar to tanzanite (like the darker color you posted) and they're a stronger stone, so I might actually end up going with that.

-- Edited by kenzie on Tuesday 20th of April 2010 09:17:38 AM

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I didn't realize tanzanite was a softer stone. I don't wear mine too often, but that is good to know!

kenzie · Chanel

greendiamond wrote:

I didn't realize tanzanite was a softer stone. I don't wear mine too often, but that is good to know!

Yeah, if you don't wear it often, you're okay. I plan to wear mine pretty often and I'm not that nice to rings. I tend to beat them up, forget to take them off when I'm cooking or cleaning, etc. That's why she said I should go with a harder stone (and a white metal instead of yellow gold). Obviously, my original stone selections, including tanzanite, weren't terrible (they were precious and semi-precious gems!) but given my plans for them, not the best option for me.

-- Edited by kenzie on Tuesday 20th of April 2010 09:22:33 AM

gossipgirl · Dooney & Bourke

Those are so seriously pretty rings, D.

Hermes

I read your post that mentioned you were looking at blue diamonds. I have never seen a naturally blue diamond. I have only seen treated ones, and I'm not sure that is what you're looking for -- I'm guessing not. The treated ones are often referred to as "natural blue diamond" (it's a "natural diamond" and it is blue, but it's not naturally blue.)

Anyway, as you know, sapphire is a good stone for an engagement ring, and I was wondering if you looked at any cornflower sapphires. They're usually found in vintage jewelry. You could always find a stone you like and remove it from a setting too.

This one is platinum and gold:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Victorian-Platinum-Cornflower-Blue-Sapphire-Ring-/320158132165?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Vintage_Fine_Jewelry&hash=item4a8ae967c5

http://cgi.ebay.com/ART-NOUVEAU-14K-YLW-GOLD-CORNFLOWER-SAPPHIRES-STICKPIN-/170398257446?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Vintage_Fine_Jewelry&hash=item27ac871126

Hermes

Now here is a good example of a ring where you can take out the stones and use the gold for another setting -- pale gold diamond and pale blue sapphire:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Unique-Vintage-14k-Gold-Genuine-Sapphire-Diamond-Ring-/300419535955?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Vintage_Fine_Jewelry&hash=item45f2665453

Yana · Dooney & Bourke

HI!
Those rings that D posted: whoa look at this one - citrines, rubies, and sapphires:

ARE GORGEOUS!

Congrats on such an excitement time of your life!
1st time I meet a girl rejecting a diamond ring, so congrats, you're unique:))!!!
Re: colors you're looking for: citrine is light yellow ( can be deep yellow as well), topaz or alexandrite ( http://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Birthstone-Lab-Created-Alexandrite-Diamond/dp/B000VICJVE ) can be light green/blue.
Those are inexpensive.
I have an aquamarine in sterling silver setting - it's pretty big, once was an old cuffling of my grandfather that my mom re-ordered as a ring for me - the stone is beutiful, changes the hew a bit in different light.

However, I personally think those stones aren't "upscale" enough for an engagement ring, if I'd replace diamond, I'd go for emerald, sapphire or ruby.

CONGRATS AGAIN! TERRIBLY EXCITING!

-- Edited by Yana on Thursday 29th of April 2010 06:55:44 PM

Yana · Dooney & Bourke

-- Edited by Yana on Thursday 29th of April 2010 06:56:01 PM

kenzie · Chanel

Thanks, D and Yana!

We actually are working with a local jeweler and they have 4 stones for us to look at (we're going on Tuesday)- two purple sapphires (which look a lot like a dark tanzanite) and two blue diamonds, which are a deep blue/green. I believe the diamonds are treated but that's okay since I love the color and it's a high-quality diamond, but not a clear one!

The jeweler said she thinks I'll probably choose one of the blue diamonds, but we'll see. Unfortunately, neither of the colored stones I've selected are as inexpensive as the original ideas I had. But, I'd rather get something that will be able to take a beating and we won't be replacing in a few years.

I'm pretty set on using this jeweler because they are local, I can look at the stones before I purchase them and they make everything with recycled metal. If I end up liking one of the stones we see on Tuesday, SO will place the order for my ring and we should have it in a month or two!

I'll keep you posted! And thanks for all the input!

ETA: This picture is similar to the style I'm getting, except I think the stones we're looking at are a little larger. This is not a ring from the jeweler we're using, but it was a good example I found online.

-- Edited by kenzie on Friday 30th of April 2010 09:32:54 AM

-- Edited by kenzie on Friday 30th of April 2010 09:34:34 AM

Hermes

kenzie wrote:

Thanks, D and Yana!

We actually are working with a local jeweler and they have 4 stones for us to look at (we're going on Tuesday)- two purple sapphires (which look a lot like a dark tanzanite) and two blue diamonds, which are a deep blue/green. I believe the diamonds are treated but that's okay since I love the color and it's a high-quality diamond, but not a clear one!

The jeweler said she thinks I'll probably choose one of the blue diamonds, but we'll see. Unfortunately, neither of the colored stones I've selected are as inexpensive as the original ideas I had. But, I'd rather get something that will be able to take a beating and we won't be replacing in a few years.

I'm pretty set on using this jeweler because they are local, I can look at the stones before I purchase them and they make everything with recycled metal. If I end up liking one of the stones we see on Tuesday, SO will place the order for my ring and we should have it in a month or two!

I'll keep you posted! And thanks for all the input!

ETA: This picture is similar to the style I'm getting, except I think the stones we're looking at are a little larger. This is not a ring from the jeweler we're using, but it was a good example I found online.

-- Edited by kenzie on Friday 30th of April 2010 09:32:54 AM

-- Edited by kenzie on Friday 30th of April 2010 09:34:34 AM

exciting! can't wait to see pics!

here's some info regarding extending the color in a colored diamond http://www.ehow.com/how_4449558_protect-colored-diamonds.html

Boots · Gucci

Kenzie- love the setting example. Can't wait to see the real thing!

I have to say, I'm learning so much about stones from this post.

kenzie · Chanel

Boots, I can't wait to see the real thing, either.

Thanks for the colored diamond info, D!

If I get home from work early enough tonight, we might be able to go to the jeweler before they close. I'm so excited to see the stones! I'm also going to ask them about the care instructions for the blue diamonds because if they're going to be all high-maintenance I might go with the sapphire.

-- Edited by kenzie on Friday 30th of April 2010 01:05:50 PM

Yana · Dooney & Bourke

Looks beautiful! This is your one ring for a lifetime, so really, choose a great stone, even it it's not inexpensive... The setting you're about to get is beautiful, classic & I love the twist of a colored stone, wouldn't mind myself to be engaged with a sapphire/colored diamond...Great choice! What's the K weight?
EXITING! Please post pics later!

kenzie · Chanel

RE: Non-diamond engagement rings **UPDATED**

Hermes

kenzie wrote:

*********UPDATE*********

Thanks for all of your help, everyone! We picked out a blue diamond that's just over a carat. It's the color of the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, so I just love it! We're finalizing the setting this week, I believe, and then I'm out of the process and whenever it comes in, SO will surprise me with it.

sounds beautiful! can't wait to see it!

Yana · Dooney & Bourke

Sounds AWESOME, special & gorgeous!!! CONGRATS AGAIN!!!

Boots · Gucci

Exciting news!!!! Love the description of the color too!

fashionista L · Coach

I wanted a unique engagement ring too and I got a sapphire. I LOVE it, it's so unique! My fiance designed it and it's so pretty! Sapphires come in very light blue so I would recommend a sapphire, plus sapphires represent communication which is always good in a relationship! :)