Thoughts on Sapphires as Engagement Stones?

I adore my sapphire engagement ring!

Diamonds aren't what makes an engagement ring special. As long as it fits her style and it comes with the powerful sentiment of a marriage proposal, it's a perfect engagement ring. ETA: I agree with PP, you need to know your FI's style and ring preference. My FH knew I wanted a ring with colored stones rather than diamonds, and I really do love sapphires. He said he chose sapphires over another colored stone because they remind him of my eyes *swoon*

Oh Nancy. There you go. Just another one your archaic opinions. People like you are the reason many people feel pressured to buy into the unethical diamond market.

DO IT!!!!! It makes perfect sense! The ring should fit your personality and style. Besides a sapphire ring is unique, durable and can sparkle more sometime! Good luck!

My E-ring is a white sapphire with blue sapphires on each side. I fell in love when I seen it and of course FH was happy to be able to gets a ring I loved and it's was a win win on the price difference of a diamond that size. Honestly everyone thinks it a diamond and are shocked when told it's a sapphire

I have an alexandrite (lab created) E-ring with pave halo and band. Alexandrite shifts in color between blue, green, purple, and pink depending on your light source. I love it and am SO happy we went with a colored stone.

However it really is about your girlfriend's preference. I picked out my engagement ring and it was no less special or exciting when he proposed. This is a piece of jewelry she will wear every day for years...might as well be something she loves.

Please talk to you future spouse about what he/she prefers!

You need to ask your SO what she prefers. Not to sound like a complete diva but I would've been disappointed if H bought me a sapphire or other gemstone for my e-ring without talking to me about it. Not because I HAD to have a diamond, but if I was going to get something other than a diamond I would've wanted it to be morganite or moissanite. Rarely do I agree with Nancy, but I personally think colored gemstones (large ones, anyway) mimic a cocktail ring. Bold colors for an e-ring just aren't my personal style.

This is something she will probably wear forever, don't you think you should purchase something she wants and enjoys wearing?

@CdnMapleBride: What did you do about your E-Ring that you didn't like?

Make sure your diamond purchases are from ethically sourced places/mines. I would never purchase anything from the enforced misery of others. Same reason I cancelled my United Credit Card. I will not do business with a company that beats the crap out of its customers. Also will never do business with Kay Jewelers after it was revealed that they had sexually harassed some their female employees.

My moissanite stone....5 carats baby!!! And I absolutely love it!!!!! In fact I own several moissanite pieces and I will say that they truly sparkle more than diamonds. Diamonds are extremely overrated and very expensive, not to mention oppressive. I won't ever own a diamond because of what they represent nor will I ever buy into the thought that diamonds can be mined conflict free--it just doesn't add up. I say first have the conversation with your lady, second--you sound like a very smart and intelligent individual indeed, so I trust that you'll make the right choice and steer clear of diamonds. But ultimately it's whatever your lady decides on. Congrats!

I rarely rarely ever agree with Nancy but I do agree, diamonds will never "go out of style."

That's not to say I have anything against gemstones nor do I think they will go out of style but telling someone diamonds will go out of style is just silly. I also agree large, colored gemstones mimic a cocktail ring. There are several people on WW who have huge, colored rings and that's just not everyone's style, however gorgeous they are.

OP - Definitely sit down with your girlfriend and talk to her about rings. Alternatively, you could do what my FH did. He proposed to me with a pretty, simple lab created ring and over dinner, asked explicitly what kind of ring I wanted. He'd even gotten a little book that went over the 5 C's of stones and went over them with so I could truly customize my ring to exactly what I wanted. We travel often so the lab created ring is perfect for when we travel to certain places and I am obsessed with the ring we made together. What's even better, is he told me he loves seeing my face light up when I look at my ring.

So, my ring is a diamond but it is conflict free and ethically sourced. It has been authenticated and comes from a highly reputable jeweler so don't worry about that.

The reason I am stressing the importance of talking to your girlfriend about her future ring is that I have always envisioned my engagement ring as a diamond. If FH and I had a serious conversation and he stated he either couldn't afford or didn't feel right about a diamond, I would completely understand and of course, would change my expectations. But if we had never talked about it and he proposed with a blue sapphire, a peach stone, a yellow stone, a five carat morganite/moissanite, etc., I would feel confused and like the ring didn't fit "me." Not that I *need* a diamond or expect him to spend a lot of money on me, it just wouldn't be what I invisioned. Alternatively, if I had my heart set on a gorgeous blue sapphire and he got me the biggest, flawless diamond in the world, I would have the exact same feelings.

She's the one who will be wearing it for the rest of time and open communication is very important in a marriage. If you have serious budget or ethical restrictions, be open and honest with her about it. If you're still unsure, there is no shame in proposing with a prop ring like my FH did and going shopping with her at a later date.

ETA - Words

@mrs. Fall Bride, don't tell me what I can and cannot say. He already appears as if he is moving in the direction of a diamond alternative anyway. Plenty of other posters gave their opinions on diamonds, so don't try to sensor me please. If you love diamonds---that's great. I however, do not care for them. Add you do know that you can always choose to ignore my "judgement" if you don't like it right??

Blue Sapphire like princess Diana engagement ring plus it is my birth stone can't go wrong with it or get your fiance birth stone

It all depends on what she likes, for example: my e-ring is mystic topaz and I adore it

I have an opal ring from brilliant earth and I love it, it's so unique (like me)

Check out jeulia.com for some alternatives to diamonds. That's where my ring is from and no one can tell it is a sapphire and not diamond

I personally don't like diamonds (for conflict region reasons, etc) so any stone was better than a diamond. He was happy about that because he saved literally thousands!

Jacob, I think a lot of us would really like to hear you reactions to some of these responses...Have you been able to discuss this with your S.O.?...

FH is anti-diamonds as well. I love my ring, but we did discuss this beforehand so I knew it wouldn't be a diamond. Check out Jewelry by Johan if interested, mine is a moonstone with white sapphires. The website has a lot of alternative stones and options and it is a lot cheaper too.

Ok, so, I'm not a huge diamond fan and my favorite stone happens to be sapphire...I actually have 4 sapphire engagement rings lol. 2 pink, one white, and my "real deal" upgraded cyan blue asscher cut stone that we are having reset into a better setting. That being said I also have a morganite and a ruby rhr. Sapphires are great and they seem to breathe and have their own life when you look at them in different lighting. They do collect skin oils more than some stones so a soft bristle toothbrush with some warm water and the blue dawn dish soap and a quick little scrub of them and they are back to their dazzling selves. My ruby is the same way as a ruby and a sapphire are the same stone. My morganite gets dirty the fastest and is hard to keep shiny and it is a soft stone so I always worry when I wear it. Point is a white sapphire would be beautiful. I've attached pictures of my white sapphire set for reference.