If you’re looking for a gemstone that will certainly turn heads, then red is for you! The color red is associated with passion, love, and energy making it a wonderful option for an engagement ring.
Ruby
The facts: When thinking of red stones, what comes to mind for most people are rubies. Rubies are stunning gemstones (there’s a reason Dorothy had ruby red slippers!) that are an excellent option for an engagement ring!
The pros: Aside from their jaw dropping hue, rubies make a wonderful engagement ring stone because of their strength. On the Mohs hardness scale, which ranges from 1 which is talc to 10 where diamonds fall, rubies are a 9. This durability level is an excellent characteristic for those wanting them for everyday wear. They are also some of the rarest gemstones in the world making them especially valuable in a ring that is going to become a family heirloom.
The cons: High quality traditional rubies are harder to ethically source than other stones. We have found some great sources for rubies through one of our favorite gemstone suppliers Columbia Gem House but have found that we are more limited in shapes and sizes in our options for these stones. However we can source some beautiful Rubies from Wyoming! Rubies are also some of the rarest gemstones making them much more expensive than other stones of similar sizes, colors, and qualities.
Garnet
The facts: Another red gemstone to consider is garnet. This gemstone comes in many different colors (even green!) but is most commonly found in pink, red, and deep burgundy. One of our favorite types of garnet is called ant hill garnet. Ant hill garnets get their name because they are often found around ant hills. While building their underground colonies the ants will bring the tiny gemstones to the surface where they can be easily collected. They are a beautiful deep red color and as Columbia Gem House says, “they are not just a garnet but part of the cultural history of the Navajo people” where they are sourced on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona.
The pros: Garnets are super durable and affordable. They are rated between a 7.5 and a 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale which makes them perfect for everyday wear. We can also source all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors of this beautiful stone.
The cons: While suited for everyday wear they are not as durable as sapphires or diamonds and could be damaged over a lifetime of wear. Also depending on where the garnet is sourced from they can quickly get expensive - for example we can sometimes source ultra-rare garnet from the northeast United States but this source of garnet is typically more expensive than others.
Spinel
The facts: Spinel (pronounced spin-elle) is another beautiful red stone option. Its color can range from a pink to deep merlot hue. We have worked with it on so many beautiful projects over the years! One of our favorite ways to work with spinel is for custom hand-cut stones for especially unique projects.
The pros: Spinel is a durable stone with a hardness rating of 8 that makes it suited for everyday wear. This beautiful gemstone is much more affordable than rubies and is often confused for them! But they are better than rubies in one key way - they are even more sparkly!
The cons: We are not able to source this stone from the United States so it can be difficult to ensure that these stones meet our typical ethical sourcing standards. And similar to garnet, spinel is durable but not as durable as sapphires and diamonds.
Mexican Fire Opal
The facts: The Mexican Fire Opal truly lives up to its name. It has a vivid orange to red coloring. They resemble flames and are sure to ignite the senses. This stone varies from traditional opals in that it typically does not have numerous bodies of color, but instead is a more consistent shade.
The pros: This stone can be sourced from the United States so we can ensure that it meets the highest standards of ethical and sustainable sourcing. We can also work with our reputable stone cutters to get the perfect shape and style for your project!
The cons: As with all opals this is a softer stone. It is rated as a 6 on the Mohs hardness scale and that makes it a bit more subjective to wear over the years. If this is the stone for you then we can come up with settings and styles that protect this beautiful stone to make sure it can survive the test of time.
No matter what gemstone you chose, at W.R. Metalarts, we work with a variety of materials and stones to bring your dream to life!