People have been wearing gemstone jewelry for hundreds of years and chances are they had just as much trouble looking for the perfect piece. There are hundreds of combinations of stones and metals, styles, and price ranges to choose from. So, how do you know what gemstone ring is right for you?
First, we recommend starting with looking at your budget and figuring out how much you want to spend. Setting a budget will dictate the type of gemstone and metal that you will likely end up choosing. For example: natural ruby rings set in 18K rose gold is going to be infinitely more expensive than a pink topaz set in sterling silver. You budget will also dictate the clarity and color of the stone you choose. To learn more about clarity, saturation, and tone of gemstones, visit our Guide to Buying and Caring for Gemstones.
The second step to picking the perfect gemstone ring is to determine whether you will be wearing the ring every day or just on occasion. Some gemstones are porous which makes them less durable. Pearls, amber, opal, and coral rings make good special occasion pieces but are rarely suitable for everyday wear because of how fragile they are. Of course, you can wear the aforementioned stones every day, but you will have to take special care to promote their longevity. For more information on gemstone care and maintenance read our Guide to Pearls and Guide to Buying for Gemstones.
If you are looking for an everyday ring, we would recommend sturdier gemstone such as sapphire or ruby. However, if precious gemstones are out of your price range, there are a number of semi-precious gemstones that you can choose from. Topaz, aquamarine, and zircon (not to be confused with cubic zirconia which is just glass), are popular, durable choices for everyday rings.
If you are looking for a rarity factor, we would suggest looking at Alexandrite (chrysoberyl), a gemstone with 8.5 on the hardness scale that possesses extremely rare color changing qualities. Alexandrite will range in color from emerald green to red to yellowish-orange color depending on the lighting conditions.
The third step to finding the perfect gemstone ring would be picking the style and the setting. Take into consideration your daily activities. Are you active and work with your hands? If so, you don’t want to buy an everyday ring that will catch. There are hundreds of styles and settings that are available to you and the choice will depend of your budget, personal taste, and your lifestyle. Titanium and platinum rings will be more durable and make excellent everyday wear metals, while 18K gold rings are better suited for special occasions and occasional wear as they tend to scratch easily.
Ermitage Jewelers has a large selection of gemstone jewelry. We buy, sell and trade gemstone rings at unbeatable prices. Stop by our Atlanta location or browse our online collection.