Rocks and Rings
Many couples wrestle with the question of choosing a stone for the engagement ring. Tradition, good taste and family pressure seem to dictate diamonds as the first and only choice for engagement rings. Don't let this apparent fau pax lead you to believe that you don't have choice for your own engagement ring; you're the one who has to wear it for many a year to come. Your in-laws will only be angry for a week.
Until recently, the luxury of a diamond engagement ring was only in reach of royalty and the very rich. With the discovery of large, easily accessible diamond deposits in Africa and South America, diamond engagement rings became affordable enough for the middle class. Diamond engagement rings have therefore not been around in middle class tradition for very long (only 150 years or so), making the tradition young and not well followed. You should feel comfortable with any stone of your choosing.
Before diamonds where affordable many people chose to opt for the bride's birth stone. The birth stone option could work well in combination with diamonds, other stones or on its own. Birthstones lend a personal touch and special meaning to a ring that is in fact a very personal item.
A list of birth stones:
Until recently, the luxury of a diamond engagement ring was only in reach of royalty and the very rich. With the discovery of large, easily accessible diamond deposits in Africa and South America, diamond engagement rings became affordable enough for the middle class. Diamond engagement rings have therefore not been around in middle class tradition for very long (only 150 years or so), making the tradition young and not well followed. You should feel comfortable with any stone of your choosing.
Before diamonds where affordable many people chose to opt for the bride's birth stone. The birth stone option could work well in combination with diamonds, other stones or on its own. Birthstones lend a personal touch and special meaning to a ring that is in fact a very personal item.
A list of birth stones:
| Month | Birthstone | Meaning |
| January | Garnet | Constancy |
| February | Amethyst | Sincerity |
| March | Aquamarine | Courage |
| April | Diamond | Innocence |
| May | Emerald | Happiness |
| June | Pearl | Beauty |
| July | Ruby | Love |
| August | Peridot | Joy |
| September | Sapphire | Wisdom |
| October | Opal | Hope |
| November | Topaz | Fidelity |
| December | Turquoise | Success |
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