Post # 1
Member
197 posts
Blushing bee
I wrote a post about LOVING Asha and then in light of the recent conversation with my mother, I have looked into white Sapphires (which are GORG, btw) and I keep going back to my true love and birthstone…the ruby.
I always wanted a “different” engagement ring because that’s just who I am. Although diamonds are beautiful, I think there are other beautiful alternatives that aren’t nearly as overrated (no offense to anyone who wears them…they are simply gorgeous). My birthday is in July and my favorite color is red so I kind of always wanted a ruby on my ring finger somehow. I love that it is known as “the king of all gems”, stands for passionate love, and that hardly anyone wears them, but I must admit, the thought of strange looks because my e-ring isn’t colorless does worry me….and to be honest, I have yet to see a ruby ring that doesn’t look like costume jewelry. 🙁 So I my attention turned to the Asha stone…
Asha stones are BEAUTIFUL, and is still in my top 3 choices, but the only thing really holding me back from getting one is that I haven’t read any reviews from anyone who has had one for at least three years (feel free to send a link if you have seen it), and that is a little bothersome. I;m still leaning heavily in that direction, but I just don’t want something I have to keep replacing after a few years—if that is even the case.
White sapphires are also gorgeous, and is another strong possibility, but I feel this loyalty of getting a ruby if I do go the non-diamond/asha route. Still in the process of shopping, but it’s so hard because both Ashas and White Sapphires are both drool-worthy.
So onto my question/request….
Is there anyone out there with a picture of their ruby (or garnet) engagement rings? Were you skeptical because of the “costume jewelry” look? Am I the only one who has seen that? What types of comments did you receive? Any and all advice, tips, stories, pictures are welcome! I know I shouldn’t care what people say, and with everything else in my life I could give a damn, but it would hurt me to get something so special in my life that is mistaken for costume jewelry and/or sneered at.
Sorry it’s so long…but thank you for reading if you made it this far. LOL
Post # 3
Member
3967 posts
Honey bee
I don’t think rubies look like costume jewelry! I love Priscilla Chan’s ruby ring, it’s beautiful! And very delicate and fine.
Post # 4
Member
862 posts
Busy bee
There’s nothing for anyone to sneer at! Ruby is rare and precious, but more importantly, it’s actually a stone traditionally affiliated with love and romance! I would have loved to be given one for an engagement ring. 🙂 It also happens to be my birthstone as well. lol
Post # 5
Member
197 posts
Blushing bee
@love108: I thought her ring was really dainty and cute, also!
@MoonlightRose: YAY!! July babies unite. LOL. I think it’s beautiful, and I thought the love and romance part made it really appropriate, but when I told someone I was thinking of getting a ruby, they just looked at me and said I don’t want a REAL engagement ring then. Ummm….what? It’s always nice to get support on the bee 🙂
Post # 6
Member
862 posts
Busy bee
@stillwaiting88: That person was just being close-minded and buying too much into pop culture! An engagement ring can be anything (and in fact, I only have micropave diamonds in my engagement ring, my main stone is a sapphire), but as I said, ruby rings ARE traditional love rings. 🙂 If you get a ruby, rock it with pride!
Post # 7
Member
862 posts
Busy bee
@stillwaiting88: Besides, I think there’s also something very romantic about your man getting you the stone that happens to be your birthstone!
Post # 8
Member
1856 posts
Buzzing bee
I have a garnet. I love my ring, I’m happy with the choice we made. No one’s said anything rude to me (and I honestly can’t imagine anyone having the balls to). I’ve had a lot of comments on how sparkly it is in the light, how big it is (I have itty bitty fingers and it measures 7 or 8mm), how interesting it is. Personally, it wouldn’t bother me if someone *didn’t* like it, but I’ve not encountered anyone who felt the need to tell me they didn’t or to sneer at it or anything like that. I don’t think it looks like costume jewellery, although it might be because the setting is very simple – I’ve definitely seen gemstone rings with really elaborate/detailed settings that sometimes look a bit costumey.
I think rubies are lovely and would be a terrific choice. Had we found one that we liked the look of as much as we did this garnet, we’d probably have gone with a ruby instead.
Post # 9
Member
197 posts
Blushing bee
@MoonlightRose: Pop culture is corrupting, isn’t it? LOL. I want a micropaved band, also, but that was the part that scared me. I just don’t want to make it look horrible by getting too “fancy”. :/ Blue sapphire engagement rings are so pretty….I’m sure yours is beautiful. My mother thinks its sweet that my Fiance wants to get me a ruby ring, also. 🙂
@kittyface: Your ring is beautiful, and I am glad you haven’t gotten any rude comments. I honestly don’t see why anyone would with that beauty 🙂 I want to have some detail in my ring b/c that is very important to me, but I am afraid of doing too much and getting the costume-y look. I will just play around with it and see what happens. Your ring is absolutely gorgeous, and I guess there are only a small handful of people that would say something out-of-pocket, but I am always leery of that. I would be hurt and probably say something that I will regret. LOL.
What color band are you getting, if you don’t mind? That’s also something I have to consider….
Post # 10
Member
197 posts
Blushing bee
Post # 11
Member
6511 posts
Bee Keeper
I LOVE ruby engagement rings (it is my birthstone too!), and considered strongly hinting at one to my then-bf 🙂 In the end, I decided I wanted a diamond, but I still have a soft spot in my heart for them. I was JUST looking at some gorgeous vintage ones on Era Gem earlier this evening.
Like how beautiful is this 20’s deco ring?
http://eragem.com/art-deco-ruby-and-diamond-engagement-ring-platinum-antique-1920-s.html
Or this classic solitaire:
http://eragem.com/natural-ruby-engagement-ring-6-prong-solitaire-platinum.html
I think if this is what you keep coming back to, go for it!
Post # 12
Member
197 posts
Blushing bee
@sarahbabs: WOW! Those are absolutely gorgeous!!! Thank you so much for the link… I’ve been searching like MAD to find rings that don’t look like they came from forever21. 🙂 I appreciate it.
Post # 13
Member
1856 posts
Buzzing bee
@stillwaiting88: We’re planning on white gold bands, although I was looking for half-eternity style garnet bands (I think that’s what it’s called when there are small stones around the top half of the band?). I haven’t yet found one I like the look of though as most I’ve seen used rhodolite garnets which are more pink/purple, and I want one that matches. I also have a very uncommon ring size and was told by a jeweller that rings in that style can be tricky to resize without messing up the placement of the stones, but who knows if that’s totally accurate. I don’t personally love a ton of ‘bling’ so I just want a simple band anyway, but the thought of pretty little red stones peeking up at me is tempting…
I’ll be honest, I don’t *love* the ring you posted, as it seems like the halo looks a little… off, somehow. It might just be my eyes though. I think a band with diamonds and a ruby center stone without a halo would look gorgeous.
@sarahbabs: these are so prettttttttttttttttttttttttty.
ETA – I lied; I found some rubies with halos that look totally brilliant, so it might be the pictures of that one specifically.
Have you played around on Gemvara to make different kinds of rings? You can get a feel for what some of your ideas might look like in terms of having different details.
Post # 14
Member
4474 posts
Honey bee
If you love it, go for it! It’s tough to find modern design with rubies. Remember, though, that many places can set a stone for you. For example, I got my sapphire from Better Than Diamond (which I HIGHLY recommend; I love my lab created stone. They make beautiful rubies). It was set in a James Allen setting. Halos look great with colored stones, if you like halos. Three stones will look great as well.
Another option is a 3 stone with ruby sidestones. Something like this:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-colored-sidestones/White-Gold-3-Stone-Pear-Shape-Ruby-11157w.html
That way you can get the Asha, for a traditional “diamond” look, and still get your rubies.
My only recommendation re: the Asha is to consider whether or not you want it as a “forever” stone. I wouldn’t plan on it lasting forever. But if you’re open to upgrading your stone later to something like the Amora Gem, then it’s a good route to take.
Post # 15
Member
1829 posts
Buzzing bee
My birthstone is ruby as well, I think I will be getting a ruby wedding band to go with my diamond solitare e-ring. Here is a link and a pic you may like, I don’t know your budget, but this is beautiful, under $4,000.
http://www.ourcustomweddingrings.com/product/KI-117055RU_18k-Chatham-8x6mm-emerald-cut-ruby-engagement-ring-with-natural-diamond-halo
Post # 16
Member
4251 posts
Honey bee
I have a lab ruby and it is not costumey at all in my opinion. It is set in a simple setting, but still pack a punch.
