Sapphires or rubies: which should you add to your custom engagement ring?

Customising engagement rings in Sydney is extremely popular, with Sydneysiders as always ahead of the fashion trend; choosing coloured gemstone such as sapphires and rubies in their ring selections. The beauty of the sapphire and ruby – being as vivid and changing as fire and ice itself – remain a popular choice amongst all markets today. Here is a brief insight towards both of these popular gemstones:

Sapphires

Although sapphires can come in a variety of colours – the most popular version of the gemstone is its mysterious blue sapphire. Previously a symbol of royalty – sapphire rings were worn by medieval kings as a status of their power. It became popularised in engagement rings when Princess Diana sported a stunning 18-carat sapphire ring upon her engagement to Prince Charles; which her son Prince William then gave to Princess Catherine upon their engagement.

The added benefit of the sapphire is as they belong to a family of minerals known as corundum, they are the second hardest mineral, beaten by that of the diamond. The extreme durability of the sapphire means that it is absolutely perfect for everyday wear as there is less of a chance that the ring will be scratched.

Rubies

Discovered initially around 2000 years ago in India, the ancient and fiery ruby has maintained its status as one of the most prized precious gems, with a rarity mirroring that of the diamond. Rubies that are noted to be larger than 2 carats are classified as very rare. Although rubies are found all over the world, the rarest rubies are found in the Mogok mines of North Myanmar. The rubies which are extremely large and a deep red colour are commonly noted as “Pigeons Blood” rubies.

The physical traits of the ruby mirror that of the sapphire – in that they are both formed from the family of corundum. This means that the ruby shares the same durability as the sapphire, measuring 9 on the MOHS scale of hardness.

Which to choose:

The only difference between the ruby and sapphire is, in fact, its brilliant colours – therefore the choice is directly up to the individual. Keeping to 2017 current trends, pairing a coloured gemstone with a white diamond is guaranteed to enhance the beauty of whichever gemstone chosen.