Hi folks! As we’ve seen a lot of interest recently in engagement style rings and in rings with set stones in general, we wanted to offer some helpful tips for choosing stones for a ring design. We’re always happy to help source stones if needed, but we thought it would be good to give you a place to start from if you’re just starting out your design journey. Some types of stones are much better suited for rings than others, rings take a lot of wear, and many stones, while beautiful, don’t have the longevity needed.

No need to worry though, there are many great options for stones that are strong and long lasting! Our go to choices are diamonds, sapphires, and moissanites.

Let’s start off with the “classic wedding” option, diamonds. Everyone knows that diamonds are extremely hard, which makes them amazing for rings, but did you know that they can be found in a variety of looks and colors? 

Shown here are two more unconventional diamond options, a Cognac colored diamond, and an uncut diamond crystal. Diamonds can be found in many different colors, and even unusual shapes like the uncut one, for a fresh take on the old classic look. Another factor to consider with diamonds is whether you want to go with natural or lab grown. Lab grown diamonds are actually just as strong and high quality as naturally found ones, but since they’re grown in labs they’re a fraction of the price, so this is a great option if you want a diamond but you’re trying to keep to a tighter budget.

Now onto sapphires, nearly as hard as diamonds, and one of our favorite types of stones to use in designs as they’re incredibly diverse and work for so many different looks, but still have the needed strength to last in rings.

Sapphires can come in every color of the rainbow, and even multicolor as seen here with this Montana sapphire! So they’re a great choice if you love color and/or are looking for something really unique. When we receive inquiries for colored stone recommendations, we usually will suggest sapphires. 

And last but certainly not least, we have Moissanites! More of an uncommon choice, Moissanites are an amazing stone option. These are man made stones, based on material originally discovered in a meteor crater in 1893 by scientist Henri Moissan. We like to think of them as cosmic space glitter. They are a great alternative if you want the diamond look without the cost, and are still high quality and very strong. 

Shown here is a hexagon cut Moissanite, to show the beautiful look that can be achieved. 

We know that diving into the world of ring designs and navigating through the incredible number of options for stones can seem daunting! So we’re always happy to help and give advice where we can to help you bring your vision to life. We source stones from cherished dealers who we’ve cultivated relationships with, and that offer consistently high quality stones. If you’re interested in a special piece for yourself or a loved one get in touch and start the conversation early! We’re now booking into March for custom work, so the sooner the better! 

Much love,

Arn Krebs Mokume