When you think of an engagement ring, you probably think of a big, sparkly diamond.
Or, if youre more budget-conscious, you ponder on the possibility of buying a Poundland ring, for – you guessed it – £1.
For some, the ubiquity of diamond engagement rings has made those massive rocks feel a tad overdone. A new trend is perfect for those bored of diamonds being the go-to option: birthstone engagement rings.
According to Etsys 2019 trend report, birthstone engagement rings are due to be the next big thing in weddings.
As a February baby, Im here for it (who doesnt love amethyst?).
The trend is an easy way to make an engagement ring feel more personal, it steers you away from getting the same ring as every other bride, and its likely to be a chunk cheaper than trying to buy the biggest diamond you can.
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Etsys trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson said: One emerging trend in non-diamond engagement rings is incorporating birthstones. On Etsy, weve seen 34K searches for birthstone engagement rings in the last three months, and I predict the trend will continue to grow.
2019 is going to be all about putting a twist on traditional styles.
For generations, the diamond has been the ultimate stone for proposing, but todays bride isnt tied to the norm — she wants to express her personal style and choose a ring that reflects her personality — which is why in the new year, other gemstones will become go-to staples for engagement rings.
Before you go charging off to update your wedding Pinterest or search for a colourful gem for your partner, you should probably get to know the birthstone for each month. So, which one is yours?
What's your birthstone?
- January: Garnet
- February: Amethyst
- March: Aquamarine
- April: Diamond
- May: Emerald
- June: Pearl
- July: Ruby
- August: Peridot
- September: Sapphire
- October: Opal
- November: Topaz
- December: Turquoise
Some caveats on that list, though.
A few months have multiple birthstones, and sadly theres no official governing body to say which one is the correct birthstone for that month (the list above has the most popular rulings).
December, for example, lists turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite as its birthstones, while along with pearl June has alexandrite.
Theres good news there if you look for it – December and June babies have multiple options to choose from.
Those with April birthdays, however, will have to make do with boring old diamonds. How sad.
Theres something else to consider before you go all out on the birthstone trend: the Mohs hardness scale.
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Diamonds arent just used for engagement rings because theyre pretty, but because the stone is hard, tough, and thus resistent to scratches or other damage. It scores a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, the official measure for how easily you can scratch a gem with a harder substance.
The general consensus is that a score of 7.5 or above makes a stone suitable for an engagement ring, as you want something that will stand up for daily wear.
Unfortunately, some birthstones dont meet that mark.
More: Fashion
Garnet, amethyst, and peridot are all between a 6.5-7.5, meaning theyre not ideal but will work as engagement rings as Read More – Source
