Choosing the Right Ring for Your Bride to Be-So many choices!

It's that time of year when hearts fill with love and compassion, and couples start looking in earnest for that perfect engagement ring to express their passion and love perfectly.  Fortunately, there are beautiful rings for every budget! And while a clear diamond is always a classic choice amongst brides, there are of course brides who choose to be a bit more daring. Colored stones are an excellent way to make your engagement ring stand out from the crowd and they resonate well with those looking to be a bit more out of the ordinary.

Yet, stepping outside of the ordinary might create more questions than answers for some. What do the colors mean? Will choosing a different color effect the price? Will it be harder to find the perfect color gemstone?

We’re here to help you navigate through these questions and have selected some of our most beloved color stones to help you on your journey of getting an engagement ring that will stand out from the rest.

Ruby

The symbol of fire, passion, and love in the gem community, Ruby is a memorizing red gem that is hard to miss. It is also the birthstone for those born in July. Rubies tend to be one of the most expensive colored gems. The purer the color and clarity, the more expensive the stone will be. Carat weight also plays a significant role in price. A large, high-quality ruby is a rare thing, and its price will reflect that.

When caring for a Ruby it’s best to be mindful of how delicate they can be. They need to be kept away from acids and harsh cleaners along with chemicals. A lukewarm water bath with mild soap will work best! After soaking it in the soapy water, pat it dry.

For those looking to turn ends and stop the show, look no further than a tried and true classic, the ruby gemstone. You can see this gorgeous Verragio Ruby and Diamond engagement ring in our collection.

 Topaz

Iconic for its luster, Topaz can be found in a large array of colors such as yellow, pink, blue, green, orange. The Topaz can reflect different colors depending on the angle it’s being looked at.  Regardless of the color, the Topaz is most known for affection and fidelity and is the birthstone for those born in November.

Topaz gives brides a variety of options and comes at different price points, so it can easily fit most budgets. However, red topaz, also known as imperial topaz, is one of the rarest types. This type of topaz is the most expensive and is definitely the choice for those who are most daring.  But the common colors of Topaz are very affordable while still quite beautiful.

Topaz is also a hardy stone and can withstand some abuse all while maintaining its sparkle! If your bride is looking for something close to a diamond, white topaz can be cut to look like and sparkle almost like a diamond! Only a trained eye could tell the difference sometimes. For cleaning, Topazes can be cleaned with most any commercial jewelry cleaner or plain soap and water using a soft brush. Be sure to rinse and dry your jewelry thoroughly after cleaning.

If your bride is looking to have a bit of fun and likes to have color options, the Topaz is the best choice.  

Sapphire

Did you know Princess Diana had a Sapphire engagement ring and is the same ring which now sits on the ring finger of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge?

Sapphires are most commonly thought of as a deep blue color, but there is also a group of these stones known as fancy sapphires. Fancy sapphires come in a wide variety of colors. Sapphires are symbolic of many things, including fidelity and wisdom. Sapphire is also the birthstone for those born in September. Due to their wide variety, you can find Sapphires at different price points. Clarity is a big factor in the price point for Sapphires. Inclusions are common and the clearer the stone, the higher the price!

When it comes to caring for Sapphires warm, soapy water is always safe. Sapphires are easy to maintain and only need to be cleaned once or twice a year to maintain their brilliance. Although, if you feel like your gem is getting a little dull just put it in some warm, soapy water and then pat it dry,

If your Bride is looking to emulate Royalty, Sapphire is how you get closer to the crown.  We have two gorgeous unheated sapphire and diamond rings that are unique and exquisite, not to mention rare, like you!  One is this spectacular purple sapphire and another is an orange sapphire.  We can get you any color sapphire in any setting you like though!

Emerald

Egyptian ruler Cleopatra was a lover of these fine green gemstones, tying Emeralds to a long history of royalty.  Emeralds are known for their vivid green color and have a variety of meanings including fertility and a happy marriage. Emerald is also known for being the birthstone of May.

The color is the most important factor when it comes to pricing an emerald. Pure green or bluish green will be the most valuable varieties of this gemstone. Cut and clarity also play a role, but carat weight is the next most important factor. The cost of the stone can steeply increase with its size. Clarity also affects the price of Emeralds and the clear it is, the more expensive it can be!

Emeralds are a more delicate stone and should be handled with more care. Some Emeralds are oiled before they are sold and can fade over time. It’s best to use lukewarm water, mild soap with no harsh chemicals, and place the Emerald in the soapy water. Make sure you clean every inch of the Emerald and then take it out and pat it dry. Emeralds should be washed at least twice a year. As striking as Emeralds are, it’s important to know that to keep them safe and radiant that they should not be worn daily.

Emerald is a great choice for those looking for something more striking and to catch the eyes of everyone near.  We have several high quality emerald and diamond rings that would make outstanding choices. 

Garnet

While often thought of as the color red, Garnets actually come in a whole different gamut of shades, including green and blue. Red garnets are associated with passion, friendship, and loyalty. Garnet is the birthstone for those born in January.

Price will vary significantly based on the rarity of the garnet color. Green garnets, known as tsavorite, are the rarest variety, and thus the most expensive. Almandine garnets are typically red and the most common type of this gemstone. Pyrope garnets are also red. Other types of garnets include spessartite (orange-red), anhydrite (a wide variety of colors) and grossular (a wide range of colors). Carat size does not affect price as much in the more common varieties compared to rarer garnets. The cut and clarity of the stone also play significant roles in determining the price of a garnet. Garnets are tough and can be found in a variety of colors from raspberry pink to deep burgundy. This allows Garnets to fit most budgets as they can be rather inexpensive.

Garnet will be the best fit for many brides since there are so many options to choose from!  This beautiful marquise cut garnet and diamond ring is a perfect example of the beauty and affordability of the garnet.

Opal

If you can’t pick just one color, Opals are a great option. These vibrant stones hold within them a wide variety of colors that create a mesmerizing and eye-catching display. Opals can have a wide variety of meanings ranging from light and love to spontaneity and inspiration. Opals are also October’s birthstone.

Pricing Opals can be a bit tricky and is typically done by their pattern, or rather, their play of colors. Opals come in such a wide riot of colors that no one color is more valuable than another, just as no one opal is the same as another. Instead, the brilliance and beauty of the color determine the stone’s value. When it comes to the care of Opals, the most important thing to remember is Opals will lose their color when exposed to sunlight, so it is best to take them off if going to the beach!

If you’re looking for something truly out of the ordinary, Opal is a where to start looking. Not only are the myriad colors captured in a single stone unique, but these stones are also often cut in different ways to best display their color. 

 Blue Diamond

One of the rarest diamonds in existence, the blue diamond has been making a name for itself in the engagement ring market.

Blue diamonds occur in hues ranging from green-blue to gray-blue, with the primary hue necessarily being blue. Green and gray are the normal secondary hues that can be found in blue diamonds. There's another trait that sets blue diamond’s apart, these stones are the hardest conductors of both heat and electricity on Earth. Due to the diminishing supply and increasing demand for blue diamonds, it goes without saying that they don't come at a low cost. Natural blue diamonds will cost you a pretty penny, and due to the high demand for blue diamond’s even treated blue diamonds can come at a higher cost.

You can find the Blue Diamond in the centerpiece of one of the most famous pieces of jewelry in the world, the Hope Diamond.

For the Bride who is as rare, beautiful and sought-after the Blue Diamond is the easiest choice.  Our favorite is this stunning blue diamond with a halo of white diamonds and diamond shanks.  Nothing says "I love you" like this ring!

Black Diamond

If your Bride is looking for something completely opposite of the clear diamond look, a light-absorbing, captivating black diamond is the show-stopping ring you’re looking for. Black diamonds are considered to be extremely rare which has caused specialists to artificially enhance lower-quality colorless diamonds by burning them in the rough state until they display the same opaque black color of a natural black diamond. This allows artificial black diamonds to be more affordable than naturally occuring black diamonds.

Black diamonds have caused quite a scene on the red carpet, as you can see them being worn at nearly every event by celebrities. Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow are two that are easy to spot wearing black diamonds. Black diamonds are a great choice because they are cheaper than white diamonds due to the color hiding some inclusions, and they have a fabulous sparkle!

Bride’s looking to be bold and different should look no further than the black diamond.  Our featured black diamond engagement ring is set in 14K rose gold to give it a beautiful, sweet yet intriguing appearance. 

 For the bride who dares to be kind

When you shop for engagement rings at The Pink Pigs, you’re helping us care for over 400 rescued animals who are fortunate enough to call Rooterville Animal Sanctuary "Home”. All proceeds go to giving these amazing animals all the love and support they need to enjoy their best possible lives. When you shop our unique selection of engagement rings to give your loved one you’re not just buying a beautiful thing, you’re also doing a beautiful thing. Including your passion for animals in your expression of love for each other is about as sweet and precious as can be, and it helps build a relationship completely devoted to and built on compassion.

We know without the support of awesome folks like you we could not do the work we do here at Rooterville Animal Sanctuary. So thank you for shopping kind, and allowing us to be a part of your journey to find the most unique, meaningful and show-stopping engagement ring your bride deserves. 

Please contact Elaine directly at (352) 262-7313 for help with your special ring.  Our selection of rings can be seen at Sweetwater Jewelers in Gainesville, FL.  Rings can be resized free of charge and many come with a lifetime warranty from the designers.  Thank you for considering us!