5 Reasons To Choose A Sapphire For Your Engagement Ring
Sapphires were the original gemstone of choice for an engagement ring before clever marketing campaigns by De Beers and the diamond industry. And at Four Words we are finding that sapphires are making a comeback. With a range of colours and flexibility in design, sapphires at Four Words represent an opportunity to create something classic but unique.
This article will walk you through five reasons why we believe sapphires are the most versatile gemstone if you are looking for something a bit more interesting than a lab grown diamond or moissanite. But before we get started, below are two common questions we get:
Can You Propose With A Sapphire Engagement Ring?
You can absolutely propose with a sapphire engagement ring. They are unique, stunning and definitely start a conversation over their diamond counterparts. But before you do, make sure you and your partner are in agreement of getting a sapphire.
What Does A Sapphire Engagement Ring Mean?
Sapphire engagement rings mean loyalty and faithfulness. It is believed to bring the couple good fortune and keep the relationship strong and healthy.
So why should you propose with a sapphire engagement ring? Below are our five reasons.
#1 Sapphires Come In Almost Any Colour
While sapphires are known to be blue, they come in almost any colour. In fact, a sapphire without any “imperfections” are actually white. The different colours of sapphires come down to their unique chemical composition.
And because sapphires are incredibly versatile, each unique chemical composition results in a different colour. Blue sapphires (which are the most common and desired) are actually “contaminated” with titanium to give it its colour.
The richer and more uniform their colour, the more expensive they will be. Richer tones of colours will be more expensive than those with lighter tones, or multi-toned sapphires. Also, there is a big price difference between a rich blue sapphire and a green sapphire. But regardless of colour, poor quality and cheap sapphires tend to be grey-ish -- too light or too dark.
Even with a certain colour, sapphires can vary drastically (which is a good thing) meaning you can often get the exact colour that you are looking for. Below are just some of the variations outside of the traditional blue sapphire.
Base colour | Typical variations | |
|---|---|---|
Teal |
| Range from green to blue. Also come in different opacity and tones. |
Purple | Can come in very light lavender to dark purple. You are also likely to find blue-purple variations. | |
Pink | Anything from a subtle blush hue to a bubble-gum pink. A common two-tone sapphire is pink-purple. | |
Padparadscha | Orange-pink hues which typically come in “sunset” colours. | |
White | White sapphires are definitely more “white” than a diamond. They don’t have the same sparkle effect as diamonds but that isn’t to say its not fashionable. | |
Yellow | Yellow-green and orange-yellow hues are common. | |
Green | Huge variation leaning into both teals and yellows. |
Below are some examples of different coloured sapphires that we have been lucky enough to help our clients create.
#2 Sapphires Are Suitable For Everyday Wear
Sapphires are strong enough to be either a centre stone or accenting stone in an engagement ring. And yes, you can expect it to last more than a lifetime especially with a bit of care and an annual clean.
Sapphires are rated at 9.25 on the Mohs scale — third only to diamonds (10) and moissanites (9.5).
And if you are interested in going for a sapphire engagement ring, they are also a lot more affordable than a traditional diamond engagement ring (even more so when compared to mined diamonds). For example, a custom bespoke 1 carat equivalent sapphire engagement ring from Four Words starts at NZD3,000. A 1 carat lab grown diamond starts at around NZD4,100.
Sapphire pricing varies a lot in New Zealand. So much so we plotted our prices to compare it to other retailers. We have also written at length on what to look out for when choosing a sapphire engagement ring and how we only work with the best gemstones that the eye can see.
What we love about sapphire engagement rings is that most of our clients come in expecting to spend a lot more. It means that they can get exactly what they want with our custom bespoke process — something not offered by most sapphire retailers.
#3 Sapphires are one of the most sought after gemstones
After diamonds, sapphires are the most sought-after gemstone. Their versatility, and range of colours make them an obvious choice for those that want to get something classic but unique.
A sapphire engagement ring is a statement to your unique personal style. And this is also what a sapphire represents — unique, personal.
Sapphires have also been the gemstone of choice for royalty for thousands of years as sapphires also represent good fortune. Several religions from around the world also view sapphire as a gemstone that bridges heaven and Earth.
In ancient Egypt, priests wore sapphire in amulets to ward off evil. And for the Greeks wore it for wisdom at Delphi when seeking answers from the Oracle at Apollo’s shrine.
The Buddhists believed it brought devotion and spiritual alignment — similar to that of the Hindus.
The ancient world was also aware that sapphires came in different colours and each colour represented something slightly different.
#4 Celebrities have chosen sapphire engagement rings too
From the likes of Princess Diana to Mary Kate Olsen, the sapphire engagement oozes class on the red carpet.
Victoria Beckham
Notwithstanding the fact that she has 15 engagement rings, Victoria Beckham fashions an estimated 15 carat equivalent oval solitaire sapphire engagement ring on a platinum band.
Princess Diana and Kate Middleton
Originally worn by Princess Diana, Kate Middleton also wears a sapphire engagement ring. It’s a 12 carat equivalent oval solitaire sapphire engagement ring featuring a diamond halo on a platinum band.
We have also done a very similar ring (at a much smaller scale (at 2.5 carats) for one of our clients and it looks stunning!
Mary Kate Olsen
While you may remember the Olsen twins from your childhood as ‘Mary Kate and Ashley’ as a music band, Mary Kate is now a big deal in the quiet luxury space. So when it comes to taste, Mary Kate knows how to speak volumes in whispers.
Her engagement ring on the other hand is anything but understated. While it’s not loud, it is definitely well outside of any conventional expectations.
It features a four carat European cut diamond in full bezel, with 16 sapphires surrounding the bezel, which again is in full bezel. The basket is also held high with “petals” of diamonds all held together with two twisted gold bands.
#5 Sapphires are incredibly versatile when it comes to design
Because sapphires come in a wide range of colours and are more affordable than coloured diamonds, they can be used to create exactly the engagement ring that you and your partner want at an affordable price.
One of our favourite ways to use a sapphire in an engagement ring is with other diamonds or gemstones.
For example, this stunning toi et moi sapphire and diamond engagement ring oozes class and has been the choice for many couples that see each other bringing balance to their lives.
Similarly, this rose red sapphire (also known as a parpardascha) pairs incredibly well with a ruby in a toi et moi setting.
Sapphires also work well in maximalist designs. For example, this 1.5 carat equivalent marquise cut green sapphire featuring a styled halo in a yellow gold band oozes main character energy vibes.
These are just some of the designs that we have done with sapphires to create something classic but unique for our clients.
When you work with Four Words, we will go through a full design process with you. It starts with a consult to better understand you and your partner. You are also welcome to bring in designs that you would love to customise.
From here, we will narrow down on a brief and draw a couple of sketches. Once you are happy with the sketches, we will move to a CAD design where we iron out the finer details of the ring.
When the designs are finalised, we will then send you photos of the gemstones for your approval. We will have done all the hard work in picking the best sapphires that the eye can see.
Sapphire engagement rings also vary substantially in price, so much so we wrote an article on what a good sapphire engagement ring price.
After six to eight weeks, your sapphire engagement ring will be ready to be picked up or couriered. It will also come with an independent valuation for insurance and free international shipping. We can also organise your engagement ring to be GST-free if you are heading overseas from New Zealand.
Common Questions
It is not so much about the colour of the sapphire but the uniformity of the colour. The more uniform the colour, the more expensive the sapphire is likely to be.
Sapphires are a great gemstone for an engagement ring. They are rated 9.25 on the Moh's scale (third to diamonds (10) and moissanites (9.5) - meaning that they aren't likely to chip or crack. Sapphires were also the original engagement ring gemstone and have been for thousands of years. It was only in the 1920s did diamonds become the engagement ring gemstone of choice.
Kate Middleton's engagement ring is a 12 carat equivalent oval sapphire with a diamond halo set in 18-karat white gold. It was also the engagement ring that Princess Diana wore before her death.
The cut for a sapphire is not as important as the quality of the sapphire in the first place. It is more important to work with a respected sapphire jeweller that can help you pick out the best sapphire cut in a design that is unique to you and your relationship.
