Custom engagement rings with alternative gemstones are no longer a niche trend. More couples are moving away from traditional diamonds in favor of colorful, meaningful stones that better reflect their personality and values. These rings bring individuality, story, and style to the forefront.
If you’re exploring unusual stone engagement rings, it’s good to explore options and get educated about the stones and their properties. Not all gemstones are created equally, especially when it comes to hardness, toughness, and durability, which effect daily wear. Some gems are chosen for their vibrant colors. Others are prized for rarity, symbolism, or their ability to handle a lifetime of use.
To help you decide, here are five standout gems that make excellent center stones for custom gemstone engagement rings.
1. Sapphire (Any Color)
Sapphire is a classic choice for engagement rings, making it a great option for diamond-alternative engagement rings. Most people picture deep royal blue like the Princess Diana/Princess Kate ring, but sapphire actually comes in a wide range of colors. You’ll find pink, yellow, green, peach, purple, and even white varieties (fun fact: red sapphires are actually rubies). That range makes it one of the most versatile options for unique gemstone engagement rings.
In terms of durability, sapphire scores a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale. This means it can resist scratches and daily wear better than most stones, second only to diamond. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), “Ruby and sapphire rank 9, meaning they are able to resist scratching and abrasions. This makes them great choices for engagement rings that will see a lifetime of active wear.”
Sapphire works well in almost any style—from vintage to minimalist—and it pairs beautifully with all metals.
This beautiful and unusual ring features a cornflower sapphire cut by award-winning lapidary artist John Dyer. Secrete Fine Jewelry sourced this one-of-a-kind starburst cut sapphire for this truly unique engagement ring for an adorable young DC couple.
This honey orange sapphire engagement ring showcases they diversity of color within the sapphire family. We love this elegant ring and the generous size of the halo diamonds that accent it.
2. Emerald
Emeralds have been prized for centuries. Known for their rich green color, they are a bold and luxurious choice. They often feature natural inclusions, sometimes called the stone’s “garden,” which many people see as part of the gem’s beauty.
Emeralds rank between 7.5 and 8 on the Mohs scale, so while they are strong enough for everyday use, they do benefit from a secure setting. A protective bezel or halo design can help reduce the risk of damage. With the right care, emeralds hold up well and age beautifully.
If you’re designing custom gemstone engagement rings that feel timeless but still stand out, emerald is a top contender.
Secrete made this beautiful emerald engagement ring with a white gold bezel to protect the relatively fragile edges of the emerald and a beautiful vintage-inspired halo. The scalloped rose gold shank adds to the Victorian-era charm.
3. Alexandrite
For something truly rare, consider alexandrite. This stone is famous for its dramatic color shift—green to bluish in daylight and red to purplish in incandescent light. That change makes it one of the most unusual stone engagement rings available.
Alexandrite ranks 8.5 on the Mohs scale, offering excellent hardness. It’s not as common in jewelry, which adds to its appeal. It’s also quite the flex; natural alexandrites are incredibly rare, and those with beautiful color change can be expensive. Carat for carat, they’re usually more expensive than most engagement-quality diamonds. It’s one of those things, if you know, you know.
This gemstone suits someone who appreciates mystery, transformation, and detail.
Secrete Fine Jewelry made this beautiful natural alexandrite engagement ring with a dainty, understated setting in rose gold with platinum prongs. You can see that in warm light, the stone appears to be a beautiful wine-red, but in bright light, it’s a rich teal green. This is a perfect and dramatic example of the color changing phenomenon of alexandrite.
4. Spinel
Spinel is often mistaken for ruby, but it’s a separate gem with its own strengths. It comes in red, pink, violet, gray, and even bright blue. Spinel ranks 8 on the Mohs scale, so it’s suitable for daily wear with normal precautions.
Despite its beauty and durability, spinel is still relatively unknown to many buyers. That makes it ideal for unique gemstone engagement rings. You get rich color, strong performance, and a bit of under-the-radar cool.
If you want a bold look without the higher price of ruby or sapphire, spinel is worth a serious look.
5. Fancy Color Diamonds
If you want something non-traditional but still crave diamond-level durability, fancy color diamonds are worth a look. These natural diamonds come in shades like yellow, champagne, gray, brown, and even light pink or blue.
They rank a 10 on the Mohs scale, which means they’re the hardest gemstone available. That makes them ideal for long-term wear, even with minimal maintenance. While colorless diamonds are common, fancy color diamonds are more rare—and they give you the benefits of diamond strength with a twist of individuality.
Fancy color diamonds work well in minimalist styles or bold statement pieces. Either way, they bridge the gap between traditional and alternative.
These fancy yellow diamond engagement rings were custom made at Secrete. The contrast between the sunny yellow of the center diamond and the bright white of the side stones highlights the lemon-fresh hues perfectly.
Secrete Fine Jewelry made this beautiful fancy blue diamond engagement ring with a fancy vivid greenish blue diamond center stone set on a delicate vintage-inspired milgrain shank. We love the understated elegance of this one.
Why Choose Custom for Engagement Rings with Alternative Gemstones?
Beyond the gemstones themselves, going custom gives you full control over the final design. You choose everything: the stone, the setting, the metal, and the shape. This allows you to create something that fits the wearer’s lifestyle and aesthetic, not just what’s available in a display case.
Custom gemstone engagement rings also let you incorporate symbolic details. Maybe it’s a hidden accent stone, a meaningful engraving, or a recycled heirloom metal. When you build a ring from scratch, those details become part of the story.
The process is also more collaborative. You work directly with a jeweler, ask questions, and get guidance. It’s less about shopping and more about creating.
While aquamarine didn’t make our top 5 list, it should be an honorable mention, because we love the cool sophistication of aquamarine engagement rings. Secrete made this beautiful infinity-inspired aquamarine ring for a DC couple several years ago. The subtle color of the center stone is really a wonderful choice for an engagement ring to wear every day- there is less chance of it clashing with outfits than with a bolder color.
Where to Start
If you’re considering unusual stone engagement rings, start by learning about each gem’s durability, color options, and care needs. Think about how the ring will be worn, and what qualities matter most—hardness, rarity, symbolism, or color.
From there, talk with a jeweler who specializes in custom work. At Secrete, we help clients design one-of-a-kind engagement rings with thoughtful attention to detail. If you’re ready to start, visit secrete.com/contact to set up a consultation.
Final Thoughts
Custom engagement rings with alternative gemstones offer more than a fresh look. They reflect your priorities, personality, and creativity. Whether you go with a color-shifting alexandrite or a vivid green emerald, each of these top five gemstones brings something rare to the table.
Designing a ring that’s beautiful, functional, and personal starts with choosing the right stone. From there, it becomes a collaboration to turn that choice into something lasting. With the right planning, you’ll have a ring that’s not just different—it’s yours.
