At APS Jewellery, we are inspired by the beauty of coloured stones. From an array of blue-hued sapphires to vibrant rubies, head of design, Paul Stewart is passionate about creating handcrafted treasures embellished with vibrant stones. While coloured gemstones are aesthetically beautiful, not all stones are suitable for engagement rings. As engagement rings are traditionally worn every day, the gemstone must be able to handle the wear and tear of everyday life. Therefore, APS Jewellery has compiled a list of the top four stones that are most suited to adorn your forever piece.
APS Tip:
This post refers to Mohs scale of hardness, which is a qualitative scale used to compare and characterise the scratch resistance of a stone on a scale of 1-10.
Sapphires
Earning a 9 on the Mohs scale, sapphires are an incredibly durable and hard gemstone meaning they are highly scratch resistant. While Ceylon blue sapphires are the most sought- after, sapphires come in a range of beautiful hues including, pink, purple, green, orange, yellow, and even black. The rarest type of sapphire is the Padparadscha, which is known for its beautiful balance of orange and pink hue. If you’re wanting to shift away from the traditional diamond aesthetic a coloured sapphire is the perfect option.
Ruby
Considered the stone of nobility, rubies are known for their deep symbolism and rarity. Rubies feature a 9 on the Mohs scale making for a durable centre stone. Not only this but rubies are known for their pure vibrant red colour and depending upon their origin, rubies range from deep reds to pinkish-red and reddish-orange hues. Thus, the hardness, rich colour and rarity of a ruby make for the perfect engagement ring centre stone.
Spinel
Famously known for its mistaken identity in the British Crown Jewels known as the Black Prince’s Ruby which is actually a 361-carat red spinel. Spinel ranks an 8 on Mohs hardness scale. Spinel comes in a vast array of colours such as red, pink, black, orange, blue, green, violet, and lavender making it a great alternative for those wanting a vibrant gemstone in the lower price range.
A grey emerald cut spinel from the APS Jewellery gem collection.
Diamond
Lastly, it comes with no surprise that the classic diamond makes for the perfect centre stone with a ranking of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. Diamonds are the hardest natural substance on earth, making their durability unmatched. Therefore, if you are a lover of the traditional and timeless aesthetic, a diamond makes for the perfect choice. However, if you would like the hardness and rarity of a diamond but want to stray away from a white coloured diamond, why not opt for a naturally coloured yellow, brown, or pink diamond?
Get inspired by our myriad of unique bespoke designs here.
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