Not Excited By Diamonds? A Few Sparkling Alternatives For Your Engagement Ring

When Charles, Prince of Wales made a decision to seek the hand of Lady Diana

, diamond wasn't even in the running. Rumor has it that a call went out for a perfect ruby over 6 carats to consummate the royal betrothal. So rare is the pigeon blood stone that a suitable candidate could not be identified. Instead, the Prince made due with an 18 carat sapphire reportedly from Sri Lanka.

Although the British royal family is not referred to as tight, the royals are justly admired for their sophistication, knowledge of gemstones and their desire squeeze full value from every, er, pound. However historically diamond has not been the gem of choice; other than Diana, Princess Anne received a sapphire and Andrew gave Fergie a ruby. Do their Royal Highnesses know something we do not?

Could it be the hype? Diamonds are recognized as the "traditional" engagement stone but, whose tradition? The actual fact is that it all began in 1939 when Harry Openheimer the president of the De Beers cartel visited New York to meet with Gerold M. Lauck, the president of N.W. Ayer, a leading advertising agency.

The value of diamond sales had declined 50% by the end of World War I and Openheimer was decided to do something about it, Lauck's suggestion; manufacture a tradition. So successful was the campaign that in 1967 De Beers hired J. Walter Thompson to create a similar "tradition" in Japan, a country with completely no history of diamond giving. Consequently, today over 90% of all Japanese women receive a diamond engagement ring.

Maybe it is the actual fact that diamond, the gem that's promoted as the supreme symbol of beauty and rarity is not really rare at all. The fact is that world production has risen in a stable curve ever since 1900. Do you know a woman greater than the age of 30 who does not own a minimum of one diamond?

With a world production of diamonds leading 100,000,000 carats a year, do you feel like your special relationship needs a more unique symbol? What are the options? Well beauty is important but durability is too.

Sapphire and ruby, the royal gems of preference, are outstanding candidates. They are really brother and sister, both members of the gem family corundum. Hardness and toughness are the 2 measures of durability. Diamond is the harder but ruby and sapphire are harder and at 9 on the Mohs scale, ruby and sapphire are the second hardest things on earth. Actually, only another sapphire/ruby or diamond will scratch either. There are likewise expanded color choices: ruby is red but sapphire occurs in virtually every other colour, besides blue. You may select, pink, purple or yellow.

Still sold on diamond but want something colorful? Believe it or not, diamond comes in every color and colored diamonds are really rare. One large problem, hang on to your wallet: yellow and brown diamonds are inexpensive but blues, greens; orange, pink and red diamonds are remarkably rare and bring breathtaking prices.

by: Gerald Halk

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