Not Excited by diamonds? A Few Sparkling Alternatives for your
engagement ring
By Richard W. Wise
When Charles, Prince of Wales decided to seek the hand of Lady
Diana, diamond was not even in the running. Rumor has it that a
call went out for a perfect ruby above six carats to consummate
the royal betrothal. So rare is the pigeon blood stone that a
suitable candidate could not be found. Instead the Prince made
due with an eighteen carat sapphire reportedly from Sri Lanka.
Though the British royal family is not known as tight, the
royals are justly admired for their sophistication, knowledge of
gemstones and their desire squeeze full value from every, er,
pound. Yet historically diamond is not been the gem of choice;
aside from Diana, Princess Anne received a sapphire and Andrew
gave Fergie a ruby. Do their Royal Highnesses know something we
don't?
Could it be the hype? Diamonds are touted as the "traditional"
engagement stone but, whose tradition? The fact is that it all
began in 1939 when Harry Openheimer the president of the De
Beers cartel visited New York to meet with Gerold M. Lauck the
president of N.W. Ayer, a leading advertising agency. The value
of diamond sales had declined 50% by the end of World War I and
Openheimer was determined to do something about it, Lauck's
suggestion; manufacture a tradition. So successful was the
campaign that in 1967 De Beers hired J. Walter Thompson to
create a similar "tradition" in Japan, a country with absolutely
no history of diamond giving. As a result, today over 90% of all
Japanese women receive a diamond engagement ring.
Perhaps it's the fact that diamond, the gem that is promoted as
the ultimate symbol of beauty and rarity is not really rare at
all. The fact is that world production has risen in a steady
curve since 1900. Do you know a woman over the age of thirty who
does not own at least one diamond?
With a world production of diamonds topping a hundred million
carats a year, do you feel like your special relationship
requires a more unique symbol? What are the options? Well beauty
is important but durability is as well. That ring that she slips
on her finger worn daily will take more abuse for more years
than Daffy Duck ever gave Elmer Fudd. Luckily gemstones are one
of the hardest and most durable objects on earth.
Sapphire and ruby, the royal gems of choice, are excellent
candidates. They are really brother and sister, both members of
the gem family corundum. Hardness and toughness are the two
measures of durability. Diamond is the harder but ruby and
sapphire are tougher and at 9 on the Mohs scale, ruby and
sapphire are the second hardest things on earth. In fact, only
another sapphire/ruby or diamond will scratch either. There are
also expanded color choices: ruby is red but sapphire occurs in
virtually every other color, besides, blue you may choose, pink,
purple or yellow.
Looking for something really exotic (and less expensive as well?
Consider spinel! In elder times red spinel was often confused
with ruby, the Black Prince's Ruby that sits in the English
Crown just below the Koh-i-noor diamond is actually a spinel.
Spinel comes in lovely shades of pink and is the third hardest
gem.
Other options? make sure your choice is over 7 on the mohs scale
of hardness: Jade and tourmaline are good possibilities. Avoid
amethyst, citrine, opal, tanzanite and the softer garnets. Hard
garnets like tsavorite (green garnet) and spessartite (pure
orange garnet) at 7.25 are worth consideration. One exception:
pearl, gem of Venus, the original symbol of love: It's a bit
soft but makes it up by being tough as nails. Avoid Japanese
Akoya (thin skinned) but Tahitian Black; South sea White and
Chinese Freshwater will serve admirably.
Still sold on diamond but want something colorful? Believe it or
not diamond comes in every color and colored diamonds are truly
rare. On big problem, hold on to your wallet: yellow and brown
diamonds are affordable but blues, greens; orange, pink and red
diamonds are exceptionally rare and bring breathtaking prices.