Engagement Ring - Not Diamond

tattykitty

Hi, my fiance and I got engaged at the weekend and we're hoping to pick up a ring this weekend, in Dublin. Thing is, I'm not one for diamonds or gold or bling, and would love a silver or platinum ring with either amber, emerald or amethyst. Obviously I'd like a ring that will last (presumably platinum is the way to go?) but I don't think it's fair for my fiance to spend an absolute fortune on something that is essentially a pretty token (I'd also spend the rest of my life in fear of losing it - I've never owned any jewellery over £100!). New Moon in Orchard Square does some beautiful rings but I'm aware that they probably don't have the longevity I'd like - the silver tends to dent and scratch. Can anyone recommend some places that sell what I'm looking for? How about places that make custom jewellery? Thanks everyone!

tSubh Dearg

Neither myself or my fiance wanted a diamond ring. In the end we lucked out at an antiques fair where we found a ruby flanked by 2 small diamonds on an 18ct gold ring. I've never been a big fan of wearing gold but it looked well on my hand, so I wouldn't rule it out.

The ring didn't cost the earth either (just over a grand) and I love that it has a history. So I think what I'm saying is try checking out places other than jewellery shops as you may find something really special.

Do for the same kind of metal on the ring that you want for the wedding ring as if it is either a different carat of gold or a different metal, one can wear the other away if you're wearing them together.

barbiegirl

Try the Designyard at the bottom of Grafton St. facing Trinity. Check the web site too you might see something you like there. Unusual designs in all the metals. Some quite reasonable too. I wasn't sure about a diamond at all but in the end fell in love with my one in there.

hot fuss

Try any of the jewelers on the laneway between Grafton St and Powerscourt Centre. I have a saphire engagement ring because I'm not into diamonds. Most jewelers try and talk you into getting a diamon and talk about how 'soft' other stones are but I don't plan on bashing mine against a wall anytime soon so I reckon it'll be fine!

Intothesea

Hello there

Have you had a look at the hardness/brittleness
of your favoured stones? It's just that amber
is fairly soft and porous and probably won't
stand up to a lifetime of wear and tear, and
emerald is fairly brittle. Amythyst is a safe bet
though. Anything with a mohs (hardness)
number higher than 7 is good engagement
ring material (emerald is too brittle, even
being at 7.5).

Here's a website giving mohs values for
some popular stones:

http://www.gemologyonline.com/mohs.html

Good luck

tattykitty

Thanks everyone! You've all been really helpful. That gemology link is great, Intothesea - very useful.

I wonder, has anyone had any luck with Rhinestones, which is opposite (more or less) the tourist office in the centre? I know they sell costume stuff, but people keep telling me they sell antiques too. They have some pretty stuff in the window - including amethyst

Also, not sure if anyone can answer this, but is it difficult/expensive to get different coloured sapphires? I saw a ring online with green and orange sapphires that were lovely...thanks again!

tSubh Dearg

Rhinestones have a lovely collection of antique jewellry. However, they don't seem to get a lot of rings in more necklaces and brooches and what not. We had a look in there for my engagement ring.

My other half did manage to find a ruby pendant in their that exactly matches my engagement ring though.

There used to be a jewellery shop at the bottom of Drury St, just around the corner from Sabotage that had lovely rings in the window. They had the most beautiful sapphire ring surrounded by tiny diamond chips I think and lots of other lovely lovely things.

Intothesea

I'm not sure where I'd go for coloured
sapphires in Dublin. They can be quite
pricey though, and probably not all that
available in standard jewellery shops.

Have a preliminary look in Weir's on
Grafton street and the tiny shop
at the end of Johnson's Court (off
Grafton towards Powerscourt
townhouse). Their stuff is all
secondhand I think but the deals
and quality can be excellent.

If you're open to the idea of
procuring a stone yourself and
having a jeweller set it, a few
sites to look at are:

www.ajsgems.com
http://www.webgraphicsengineering.com/Gemstones/query3.cfm?yVarieties=All&ySpecies=All
www.artcutgems.com
http://www.acstones.com/

Another stone that wears well and looks
great is the garnet. They come in green
(tsavorite), orange (spessartite) and
red (rhodalite) and if well cut will look
great at a fraction of the cost of
sapphire generally.

Anyway, hope that helps some

emma peel

First of all, congratulations. I think sapphires are an excellent choice.

I have an untreated dark blue sapphire in a triangle shape flanked by a smaller triangle of small pave diamonds set in white gold. I didn't want diamonds for an engagement ring either, but ended up loving the combo. I also have a small yellow sapphire ring set in two-tone gold that I wear with a yellow gold wedding band. Sapphires are the second-hardest gemstones after diamonds. I've had mine nearly five years and nary a chip. And I'm a klutz, too. Definitely recommend them, although rubies are very nice, too. More expensive tho, but worth it if money is no object.

hunnymonster

On a related note, although I like the idea of clear stones for their versatility to wear with anything (thinking about a necklace here not a ring), I refuse to pay diamond prices! Does anyone have experience/opinions on things like moissanite or other "fakes"

tattykitty

Thanks everyone for your good wishes and responses! You all gave me plenty to think about. I had a good look round, did plenty of research, and in the end went for 14ct white gold and amethyst - custom-made by this guy: http://www.barrydoyledesign.com/

He was really helpful and understood exactly what I wanted (unlike other places we went where they tried offering me diamonds and bling even when I expressed my dislike of them). Ring should be ready in 3-4 weeks, fingers crossed it looks as good as it sounds

Talliesin

tSubh Dearg wrote: »

Rhinestones have a lovely collection of antique jewellry. However, they don't seem to get a lot of rings in more necklaces and brooches and what not.

They also tend not to have much gold. Might suit the OP, but not as useful for hunting engagement ring generally.

hunnymonster

hunnymonster wrote: »

On a related note, although I like the idea of clear stones for their versatility to wear with anything (thinking about a necklace here not a ring), I refuse to pay diamond prices! Does anyone have experience/opinions on things like moissanite or other "fakes"

They use lower grade diamonds in things like necklaces, so it might not be as expensve as you think.
Personally I would chose zircon for a necklace. It is a brittle stone, but it the nearest natural thing to Diamond in terms of sparkleness.