Did you know that until the 1800s, India was the world's sole diamond source for thousands of years? Since then, people have been obsessed with this gemstone's beauty. Today, the diamond is one of the most popular gemstones used for modern unique engagement rings.
Of course, a modern engagement ring can have any kind of gemstone and be made of any kind of metal. If you're looking for a truly unique engagement ring, you might be wondering what kind of characteristics you should look for. What makes a ring unique in the first place?
Keep reading and learn more about what kind of special characteristics you should look for when choosing an engagement ring that stands out from the crowd.
A Rose or White Gold Ring
When you think of gold, yellow gold most likely springs to mind. This is because yellow gold is the most popular form of gold in the world, especially in the jewelry world. It is a lavish metal and it adds luxury to anyone who wears it.
However, what people might not know is that there are other types of gold to choose from when it comes to jewelry. In particular, rose and white gold are very popular options. They are very similar to traditional yellow gold, but there are some important differences.
For example, yellow gold is traditionally mixed with nickel, which is used as a filler metal. Nickel slightly lightens the color of gold but most importantly, it hardens the gold. This makes it durable and prevents the gold from denting or scratching in regular use.
Rose gold is made in a similar way except that instead of nickel, copper is used. Rose gold used to be a very prestigious type of metal. It was first invented in the late 1800s by the Russian Imperial family's royal jeweler.
At the time of its invention, rose gold was reserved for use only by the Imperial family and Russian aristocrats. However, over the years, rose gold eventually became available to the public. Today, anyone can go into a jewelry store or buy some rose gold online without any problems.
Rose gold is unique because the gold is pink or red instead of yellow. For example, 18K gold is a very delicate shade of blush pink due to the small concentration of copper mixed in with the gold. 10K rose gold, on the other hand, tends to be a deep shade of red because there is actually more copper present compared to gold.
What You Need to Know
Rose gold modern engagement rings are certainly unique. Many people prefer to opt for yellow gold because it is the classic choice, but if you really want a unique engagement ring, you should opt for this alternative metal. However, if you don't like the look of rose gold, you can always opt for white gold instead.
White gold is similar to both yellow and rose gold. However, it is mixed with silver instead of nickel or copper. Silver is a very pale metal, much paler than nickel. For that reason, when you mix it in with gold, you will find that the gold will become a very pale or white color.
18K white gold still has a hint of yellow to it. However, 10K white gold looks more or less like silver. It is also common for yellow gold engagement rings to be plated with silver to achieve the white gold look.
White gold is unique because it won't interfere with the shine or color of the diamond on the engagement ring. That way, you can admire the clarity of the diamond without the color of the band getting in the way. A white gold band is also a very elegant and subtle choice if you don't care for the colors of yellow or rose gold.
Colorful Gemstones
Many people think that engagement rings always have to be diamonds, but this isn't always the case. While diamonds are certainly the most popular choice for engagement rings, there are many other gemstones you can choose from. So, if you really want to make sure that your engagement ring stands out and is unique, it might be a good idea to ditch the diamond and choose something else.
But what other precious gem should you choose? As it turns out, there are many beautiful colored gems that you can get for engagement rings. Consider the sapphire, for example.
Sapphires are one of the most beautiful gemstones around but you will rarely find them on engagement rings. Sapphires have a deep blue hue, especially in the very center of the gem where the blue shade is the deepest and darkest. As with diamonds, you can get sapphires in any size and shape you want.
Sapphires also reflect the light very well. Like diamonds, they are translucent, so the light will pass through them and then bounce around on the flat surfaces on the inside and outside of the gem. This will give the gem a high level of sparkliness.
And since the gem itself is quite dark, the sparkles the gem produces will be even more brilliant.
Sapphires and Colored Diamonds
Many find sapphires reminiscent of the ocean sparkling at sunrise or sunset. For that reason, a sapphire or another blue gem could be a very romantic and special choice.
Of course, there are other gems you can choose from. For example, if you still want there to be a diamond on your engagement ring but want it to look special, there are plenty of colored diamonds you can choose from. For example, yellow diamonds are very striking compared to ordinary clear diamonds.
Yellow diamonds often look like amber or honey. Sometimes, their shade is as deep and rich as yellow gold. Again, because this stone is translucent, it will sparkle quite a lot and catch the eye effortlessly.
There are also some pale-colored diamonds that are more the color of straw. For that reason, there are plenty of colors and gemstones you can choose from when picking your engagement ring. The choice all depends on what you think your significant other will like the most.
Unique Gem Cuts
Just as there are many gems to choose from for your engagement ring, there are also many shapes and cuts you can choose for a given gem. First, you should know that the round cut is one of the most popular and most expensive gem cuts that you can get your hands on. Why is it so sought-after and valuable, you might ask?
It all has to do with the way the gem is cut. When you cut a diamond into a round shape, a lot of diamond goes to waste because there are so many edges that you need to cut away. This excess diamond waste adds up on the cost of the diamond itself.
Besides that, many people want round cut diamonds because of their appearance. At first, it might seem like a relatively average cut, but upon closer inspection, you will find that round diamonds are some of the sparkliest diamonds you can find. This is because round diamonds have so many small, flat surfaces for the light to bounce off of.
When the light filters through a round diamond, it will not only reflect off the surfaces on the surface of the diamond but also on the many surfaces on the inside of the gem. This will make the diamond sparkle like never before. Of course, if your significant other loves all things sparkly, it might be a good idea to get a round diamond.
If you want a more unique diamond shape, there are many other options to choose from. For example, there is the oval diamond shape. This is similar to the round diamond but, of course, it is larger and more oblong.
Oval and Teardrop Cuts
The oval cut shimmers in a similar way to round diamonds because there are so many flat surfaces for the light to bounce off of. For that reason, oval diamonds also tend to be more on the expensive side. A teardrop-shaped diamond is another shape that you won't see very often on engagement rings.
Even so, it is a very beautiful diamond cut and it takes a lot of effort to produce. Diamonds don't naturally want to assume the shape of a teardrop or pear, so it takes a lot of time to carefully cut and shape the diamond into that form. For that reason, teardrop diamonds are usually on the smaller side.
Even so, they tend to be very brilliant. Again, this is because there are so many surfaces for the light to reflect off of. Of course, there are other classic diamond shapes such as squares, rectangles, and even hearts.
The shape of the gem you choose will all depend on what your significant other prefers and what your budget can afford. However, at the end of the day, every gemstone cut is still very beautiful.
Trendy Engagement Rings
If you're looking for a unique engagement ring, it might be a good idea to take a look at some of the modern engagement ring trends that are floating around. These trends are always changing and evolving, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a design or style that you like. For example, a current engagement ring trend that is very popular involves vintage-style rings.
Vintage-style rings often emulate how rings looked in the 1930s or even earlier. The rings harken back to the Art Deco design of those times. This design style involves a lot of dramatic, geometrical shapes and forms.
All these sharp edges and shapes give an engagement ring a bold and timeless look. There are also many variations to go off of when it comes to the vintage style. For example, rings designed in the 1930s are very different compared to rings designed in the Victorian era.
If vintage style isn't your thing, you can also look at engagement rings with unique band shapes and designs. Many people think that the band of the ring has to be a simple band, but this doesn't have to be true. You will find that some engagement rings have bands that are impressive enough to match the beauty of the gemstone itself.
Band Designs
For example, some bands use several different types of gold. A band with yellow, rose, and white gold could be very striking on your significant other's finger and it would certainly be a bold choice. These three gold types go together very well and they are sure to attract attention.
There are also other types of bands that may actually be several bands combined into one. For example, two or three bands might be stacked on top of each other and then melded together. This will give the band a very unique and fluid look that a normal band would never be able to compete with.
As you can imagine, there are virtually endless possibilities when it comes to band choices. For that reason, it shouldn't be too hard to choose one when the time comes.
All About Modern Unique Engagement Rings
There are many choices for modern unique engagement rings, and to make the right choice, you'll want to consider several different factors. For example, you'll need to think about what kind of gold you want the band to be to make sure it looks special. You'll also want to think about what kind of gemstones you want, the cut of the gemstone, and the design of the band.
As long as you consider all this, you should be able to choose a great engagement ring. Check out our products here to learn more.