Finding an engagement ring that suits your personal style can be a challenge, and a colourless diamond is not every couple's first choice. For those seeking something a little different, a coloured gemstone engagement ring offers vivid individuality without sacrificing meaning or beauty. Hatton Garden, London's historic diamond quarter in the EC1N postcode, is rich in coloured-stone expertise, with specialists such as Holts Gems known for adventurous, durable designs. This explainer looks at why coloured gemstone engagement rings are so appealing, which stones suit the role, and where to find them in the quarter.
Why Choose a Coloured Gemstone Engagement Ring
A coloured gemstone engagement ring stands apart from the classic solitaire while still carrying all the romance of the occasion. Sapphires and rubies offer well-known primary colours, but a wider world of stones can satisfy those wanting something genuinely distinctive.
The key consideration is durability. An engagement ring is worn every day, so the stone must be hard enough to last, which is why specialists select gems with both colour and resilience in mind for engagement rings meant for a lifetime.
Chosen well, a coloured stone becomes a personal signature that a colourless diamond simply cannot match.
The Stones That Suit the Role
One of the gemstone world's best-kept secrets is the spinel, which occurs naturally in a range of colours from subtle blues to vibrant pinks, reds and sparkling purples. With a high lustre and good hardness, it makes a superb colourful alternative for an engagement ring.
Other excellent choices include aquamarine, coloured sapphires and garnets, in hues ranging from soft peach to oceanic blue and lustrous green. Each brings its own character, so the choice can reflect a partner's favourite colour or simply a love of the unusual.
Holts Gems, a long-established Hatton Garden specialist, has built collections around exactly these under-the-radar stones, pairing colour with the durability an engagement ring demands.
Fun fact: Spinel was for centuries mistaken for ruby, and some of the most famous historic crown jewels once thought to be rubies were later found to be magnificent spinels.
Finding Your Coloured Gemstone Ring in Hatton Garden
When choosing a coloured gemstone engagement ring, lead with the stone you love, then consider a setting that protects it and shows it at its best. A diamond surround can add extra sparkle, while a bezel keeps an active wearer's stone secure.
The breadth of gems and gemstones available in the quarter means almost any colour or stone can be sourced and set. Holts Gems offers its coloured ranges both in store at its Hatton Garden location and online at holtsgems.com.
Whether you favour a fiery spinel or a calm aquamarine, the specialists of Hatton Garden can help you create a coloured gemstone engagement ring that is as individual as your relationship.
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