Green is the new black.

As the shift toward non-traditional wedding jewellery marches on, couples are trending away from the conventional diamond solitaire in favour of coloured stones and more unique settings.

This is certainly a progressive move in terms of fashion and individuality, but it can also mean that keeping your jewellery beautiful is a bit trickier than the neglect and abuse a – literally – rock-hard diamond can take.

"Emerald Engagement Rings Are Fragile"

Gemstones are measured on something called the Mohs scale of hardness. This scale indicates not the absolute measure of the stone’s durability, rather it tells you the relative hardness of the gem to the one above it on the scale. Thus, even though a diamond measures a 10 on the Mohs, and a ruby measures at 9, diamonds are still many, many times stronger than rubies.

Emeralds fall at about a 7.5 on the Mohs. They scratch easily, and due to the many inclusions throughout most of these green beauties, they may crack under stress, or even simply after numerous washings and repeated daily wear. Most jewellers recommend strongly against choosing emerald engagement rings, however if her heart is truly set on having one (perhaps it’s her birthstone), she’ll simply have to use extra care with it.

Take Precautionary Measures

There are some steps your future bride can take to protect her emerald engagement ring from undue wear and tear:

• Avoid wearing the stone under harsh conditions such as working with your hands or cleaning with chemicals.
• Try to reserve the ring for special occasions – perhaps keep a “substitute engagement ring” on hand for those times when you don’t feel like going without one altogether.
• Clean gently – emerald engagement rings should not be exposed to steam or ultrasonic jewellery cleaning. Rather, use gentle hand soap with a soft brush and warm water, then rinse and pat dry.

"While there are many gemstones which are not recommended as the centrepiece of an engagement ring, ultimately that decision should be up to you and your fiancée."

She should be happy and comfortable wearing her special piece, and it should reflect her tastes and who she is in its style and colour.

We can help you create any look you want for this momentous occasion, in a wide variety of ethically sourced gemstones and precious metals.

Browse our collection of bespoke engagement rings for inspiration and our gemstone engagement ring collection. 

Let us know what you’re looking for and we will work hard to bring your vision to life.

If you like this article, please share it with friends who might thank you for this gemstone engagement ring advice! 

Love, Arabel