So, weddings bells are just about to ring. Are you ready with your engagement ring? Browse the cache of Chicago diamond jewelers. They are just amazing and at the same time, do not compel you to break your bank. Apart from traditional promising bands, you can also hover yourself to their different colored gemstones. I guess, they are overwhelming. Such heart-stirring jewelries can only be witnessed if you travel to the diamond district of Chicago.

However, choosing an alluring colored gemstone for your engagement ring, instead of a traditional diamond is itself a challenge. Not because it is hard to find one, but because it is hard to choose the perfect colored center stone. Let us check out along with natural diamonds what else Chicago’s Historic Jewelers Row is intended with.

1. Colored Diamonds:

Natural colorless diamonds are pretty penny. Hence, colorful lab-grown diamonds can be the assured response to your concern. Are you at a loss, whether to bank on simulants or not? Whoa, take it easy. They are the best replacement for your natural precious stones. Just like a diamond, they are with a hardness 10 that indicates a resistance of scratches. No doubt, they are identical in all grounds and are available in different shades of love. For example, you can opt for pink, green, red, and even black and brown. Isn’t it quite appealing? Hence, putting a twist on your traditional purchase will not only be scalable but also profitable in all respects.

2. Blue Sapphires:

Looking for engagement rings that aren’t diamonds at the diamond district of Chicago? You may end up with Sapphires. They are normally blue in shade, but can also appear in every hue except red. This serves as the symbol of royalty and also known for its pleochroism. Pleochroism is an optical phenomenon that showcases two different shades, depending on the angle you look at. There are some gemstones that can also change color based on the light resource. For example, Star Sapphires yield a star like an optical effect known as asterism. Further, with a hardness 9, these blue gemstones form the hardest gems among other gemstone categories, except diamonds. Therefore, on all grounds, sapphire engagement rings prove to be the best ring type among other non-diamond gemstones.

3. Green shaded Emeralds:

Homologous to Sapphires, Emeralds also showcase a royal effect to the wearer. However, if you compare others with its hardness, emeralds appear with hardness 8 and can prevent scratches only if they are given a special care. They are basically treated with oil and filers and should be avoided to come in contact with ultrasonic, steam or boiling systems. Such a caring gemstone seems to occur in gorgeous green shades, from light to deep dark hue.

4. Blood Red Rubies:

One of the affordable gemstone engagement rings can be sorted with Rubies. Such a stone, when placed on the circular metal band, turns out to be extremely sizzling. These gemstones appear in a red variety of corundum. It is worthy to note that all other shades of corundum are considered to be sapphires. Hardness and durability are almost similar to that of sapphires, although rubies need more treatments and augmentations. Pigeon blood red, purplish red with dark tone are the common shades of these gemstones.

5. Purple shaded Amethysts:

Amethysts are the most popular alternative to colored diamonds, especially for those who are scouting for pocket-friendly center stones. These gemstones reside between light lavender to deep purple. Although they come with hardness 7, due to no cleavage planes they are hard to break and are scratch-proof. For sure, you can list it down to your priority list. It would be extremely enduring allowing you to express your love and commitment through its shade.

6. Colorful Tourmalines:

While looking for the center stone, tourmalines can be the effective alternatives to your diamond. Not just because of its aesthetics, but its hardness, durability, and price rate serve as the bonus. Analogous to Amethysts, they possess 7 hardness and no cleavage, thus making the ring highly durable. You may endure these gemstones in an assorted range of colors. Some popular shades include – Green or Verdelite Tourmalines, Chrome Tourmalines, Rubellite Tourmalines, Blue or Indicolite Tourmalines, and Paraiba Tourmalines. Wanna craving to place any of these on your engagement ring?

7. Golden Citrines:

Lemon yellow, golden or champagne brown – all are the three popular shades of Citrines. It can be an awesome touch if you are heading for a rich flavor along with quality features. The rich orange or yellow shade with red strokes of Citrines enhance the price range, compared to others. Hence, if you are seeking for a golden shaded non-diamond gemstone and simultaneously not so bothered with your wallet, then these semi-precious engagement rings can be a blooming option.

8. Blue shaded Aquamarines:

Diamond district of Chicago, Historic Jewelers Row also allows you to hunt for blue-green shaded Aquamarines. Their hardness is about 7.5-8 and not actually need special care or cleaning to restrain their luster and for greater durability. To know how to maintain Aquamarines, you can go through the link given.

9. Colorful Garnets:

Garnets offer hardness ranging from 6.5-7.5, quite less than other non-diamond natural stones. However, due to its no cleavage formula, it wins to serve relative durability. Just like diamonds, these garnets are cut so as to form a cushion-shaped, heart-shaped or round brilliant shaped diamond. Such an extraordinary gemstone appears in different ranges, based on its color. They are:
Demantoid garnets – They are found rare and so are highly expensive. But obviously not as expensive as diamonds.
Tsavorite garnets – These appear in emerald-like color, possess high durability, more brilliance, and dispersion than emeralds.
Mandarin garnets – They are rare and are found in brilliant orange shades, that is unlikely to be obtained in any other gemstones.
Malaya garnets – Red, orange, pink and peach are the exclusive color ranges of these garnets.
Rhodolite garnets – These garnets have the ability to change colors based on light sources. Some gems are found to change their appearance, from purplish red in incandescent light to blue in daylight.
If you consider these grounds, then garnets can be the best gemstones for engagement rings. What say?

10. Vibrant crystal Opals:

From all these aforesaid gemstones – diamond or non-diamond, Opals play a completely different role. They possess a unique optical phenomenon called play of color. Now, what’s that? This is a pseudochromatic optical emission that results in flashes of colorful light from the stone. Not only this, Opals also differs due to its unusual colors, patterns, and imaginative descriptions. All these along with its distinct terminology and grading system, make the stone unique and exceptional.

Even if Opals possess loads of variance, their hardness of 5.5 – 6.5 makes them vulnerable to scratches. They are extremely sensitive and if aimed to serve as an alternative traditional engagement ring, should be taken utmost care.

Hope now you are cleared with every colorful gemstone that you can put on as the center stone of your engagement ring. No doubt, Chicago’s diamond district excels in all these.

However, relying only on aesthetics will certainly not be felicitous. Rather you should also ponder the other factors that may include gem’s hardness, wearability, clarity, durability, and optical characteristics. Make your purchase on these grounds will definitely be advantageous.