Choosing the perfect stone for a custom engagement ring could be as simple as colour preference (it's difficult to go wrong with classic white diamond rings!) or as complicated as sending the perfect secret sentiment via a single stone, group of gems or particularly shaded diamonds.
White Stones
The diamonds of the world represent purity strength and completion. Fortuitously for those seeking meaning, diamonds are not only the toughest element, but also the only one that reflects light of every colour. It's easy to so why they've captivated commitment-seeking folks for centuries.
Other white gems such as opal carry the same meanings of innocence, purity and the jewellery-equivalent of representing an emotional blank white page the beginning of a new era.
Yellow stones
The colour of optimists the world over, yellow stones like amber represent a sunny sense of hopefulness combined with clarity and truth (blind optimism can be dangerous after all!)
Red Stones
As the colour of passion and energy, diamond rings set with red stones like rubies send quite a message.
Green Stones
The earth and nature are rarely represented as anything but green. Stones of a greenish hue like jade and emeralds represent growth and natural opulence.
Blue Stones
To be calm is something wonderful. Blue stones like sapphire and topaz signify clarity of thought and inspiration. Making blue stones arguably the best choice for tortured artists!
Black Stones
Rather than representing death or ending etc, black stones like onyx mark an element of strength married with adaptability (certainly the bedrock of any marriage!)
Of course it could all be a load of tosh. Perhaps the only meaning of any stone is what's made of it by the individual. Certainly has a nice ring to it though, the notion that every element of an engagement ring from gem cut to colour is sending a message.