Gemstone Education
Gemstone Engagement Rings: A Guide to Color and Character
Learn more about gemstones and their characteristics.
learn about gemstones
One of the most recognized rings in the world is a 12 carat oval sapphire surrounded by diamonds, given to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 and later worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales. Today, couples choose sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and other gemstones for their rich color and personal meaning.
This guide covers the most popular gemstones for engagement rings offered at Olive Ave and how to care for your ring so it shines for decades.
Gemstone Characteristics
Hardness and Toughness
Hardness and toughness measure two different things. Hardness is a gemstone’s resistance to scratching, ranked on the Mohs Hardness Scale from 1 to 10. Toughness is a gemstone’s resistance to chipping, cracking, and breaking.
Diamond ranks a 10, followed by moissanite at 9.25 and ruby and sapphire at 9. These stones are durable enough for everyday wear and are naturally tough, which makes them ideal for an engagement ring.
Emerald ranks between 7.5 and 8, tourmaline between 7 and 7.5, and citrine at 7. These gemstones can be worn every day with care. Emeralds are also less tough because most contain natural inclusions.
Pearls rank between 2.5 and 4.5 and are best for occasional wear.
A protective setting, such as a bezel or halo, helps guard softer stones against daily wear.
Please note: Not all gemstones are covered under our Always Gemstone Guarantee. Natural gemstones, like citrine, tourmaline and pearl, require a Care Plan for coverage. Please refer to the chart and information below for details on coverage for each gemstone.
Always Gemstone Guarantee
Always is Olive Ave’s signature moissanite and gemstone brand. Each lab created stone goes through a strict quality assurance process to ensure it meets our brilliance, cut, color, and clarity standards. We work directly with our manufacturer to bring you the best stone at an attainable price.
Always Gemstones come with our Limited Lifetime Warranty, which means you’re covered in the event of your center stone chipping or cracking.
Natural gemstones, currently citrine, pearl, and tourmaline, do not fall under the Always Gemstone Guarantee. Natural gemstones are not covered for chipping at any time, including the first 60 days after purchase. For coverage, we recommend adding our Lifetime Care Plan to your piece.
Charles & Colvard® is the original creator of lab-grown moissanite, setting the industry standard since 1995. They have spent this time refining the way they produce this beautiful, man-made gemstone. The world’s first colorless moissanite, Forever One™, has been created to deliver you an artfully crafted, socially responsible, and eternally brilliant gemstone.
Caring for Your gemstone Engagement Ring
Every gemstone needs a little care to keep its color and shine. The simplest rule is to put your ring on last and take it off first.
- Gentle Cleaning: Clean your ring with warm water, a soft brush, and a mild jewelry cleaner. Rinse it under running water and dry it with a soft cloth.
- Regular Inspections: Have your ring inspected by a jeweler on a regular basis. This keeps your setting secure and your gemstone in place.
- Activity Use: Remove your ring before cleaning, working out, baking, gardening, or swimming. These activities can expose your ring to harsh chemicals and impact.
- Product Buildup: Cosmetics and lotions leave a film that dulls your gemstone. Wipe your ring with a soft cloth to keep its color bright.
- Ultrasonic Cleaners: Many gemstones, including emeralds, are treated with coatings or fracture fillings. These treatments are not permanent and can be damaged by ultrasonic cleaning, so check with your jeweler before using one.
Olive Ave Promise
Olive Ave Jewelry is the new face of a family-owned and operated jewelry company that has been in business for over 40 years. We focus on bringing our customers the highest-quality jewelry at the best price.
We are happy to offer our curated online selection or help you customize the perfect ring for the one you love. Explore our collection of engagement rings and reach out for a custom experience.
Our business is your happiness. Let us help you honor life’s big moments today.
