An alternative to the diamond engagement ring that has gained in popularity is the emerald engagement ring. Many women find wearing emeralds more unique and that they fit their personality better than diamonds. More celebrities such as Angelina Jolie are wearing emeralds in public which helps spur interest in these green beauties from Colombia.
 
An emerald ring will certainly make a bold statement but a woman should consider her lifestyle before choosing an emerald for use in an engagement ring. Emeralds are very hard gemstones but they are not as hard as diamonds, rubies, or sapphires. If you wear your engagement ring everyday you may want to consider diamonds as the better option. Emerald will make a perfect choice if you wear your engagement ring for special occasions only. If you do plan on wearing your emerald ring everyday a bezel setting would be preferred since it will help protect the edge of the emerald from chipping. Other mountings would be appropriate for occasional wear. We recommend finding the perfect emerald cut emerald first and then designing the engagement ring around it.
 
This will allow you to choose the highest quality emerald for the center stone without being distracted from the design of the ring itself. After all, the focus of any engagement ring is the gemstone rather than the jewelry. The cost of emeralds varies greatly depending on the quality and size. The majority of the cost of any engagement ring should be the emerald or diamond. Too often the quality of the gemstone is sacrificed when buying a pre-made emerald or diamond engagement ring. This is especially true now when gold prices are at all time high and jewelers try to stay competitive with their pricing.