Gemstone Guide: Sapphires, Rubies, Emeralds & More

Colored gemstone rings offer something diamonds simply can't: personality, color, and story. From the royal blue of sapphires to the passionate red of rubies and the lush green of emeralds, gemstones allow you to express who you are in a way no colorless diamond can. This guide covers the most popular fine gemstones used in our NYC-handcrafted rings.

Sapphire

Sapphires are the most popular colored gemstone for engagement rings and fine jewelry — and for good reason. With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale (second only to diamond at 10), sapphires are exceptionally durable for everyday wear. They come in a stunning range of colors, though blue sapphires are most iconic.

Blue Sapphires: The classic choice, ranging from pale sky blue to deep royal navy. The most prized color is 'cornflower blue' — a vivid medium-blue with a slight violet modifier. Famous sapphire rings include Princess Diana's (now Kate Middleton's) 12-carat oval blue sapphire. Browse our blue sapphire rings.

Pink Sapphires: A romantic, feminine choice ranging from pale blush to hot pink. Pink sapphires are the same mineral as blue sapphires (corundum) — the difference is trace elements (titanium+iron for blue, chromium for pink). Browse our pink sapphire rings.

Other Sapphire Colors: Yellow, orange ('Padparadscha'), purple, and white sapphires each have devoted followings. We can source any color to order.

Ruby

Ruby is red corundum — the same mineral family as sapphires but colored by chromium into shades from pinkish-red to deep blood red. The most prized color is 'pigeon's blood' red — a pure vivid red with no brown or orange tint, found predominantly in Burma (Myanmar). Rubies rank 9 on the Mohs scale, making them equally suitable for daily wear as sapphires. Ruby is the July birthstone and the traditional 40th anniversary gift. Shop our ruby rings.

Emerald

Emeralds are green beryl colored by chromium and vanadium. Their characteristic deep forest green is unlike any other gem. Emeralds typically have more inclusions than other precious stones — the internal landscape of an emerald is called its 'jardin' (garden) and is considered part of its character rather than a flaw. Emeralds rank 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale — harder than most gemstones, but more prone to chipping than sapphires or rubies due to their inclusions. Famous emerald wearers include Cleopatra, who claimed the mines of Egypt for herself. Shop our emerald rings.

Natural vs Lab-Grown Gemstones

Like diamonds, many colored gemstones are now grown in laboratories. Lab sapphires and lab rubies are chemically identical to natural stones and can offer significant cost savings. We offer both options. Ask our team about availability.

Choosing Your Gemstone Setting Metal

The metal you choose significantly affects how a colored gemstone looks:
• Yellow gold warms cool-colored stones (blue sapphires) and creates a classic, vintage look
• White gold / Platinum lets the stone's color speak for itself with maximum contrast
• Rose gold beautifully complements pink sapphires and warm-toned stones

Explore our Metal Guide and Platinum vs White Gold comparison page. Browse all our gemstone jewelry and engagement rings, or use our Engagement Ring Buying Guide to plan your purchase.