You've probably pictured a diamond engagement ring your entire life: classic, white, brilliant. But lately, something has shifted. You're scrolling through Instagram and seeing deep blue sapphires, rich green emeralds, and blush pink stones catching the light. And somewhere in the back of your mind, a question starts forming:

Can an engagement ring actually have a colored stone?

The short answer is: absolutely, yes. Not only is it allowed, it's one of the fastest-growing preferences among couples getting engaged in the United States right now. But before you run off to choose a stone, there are some genuinely useful things to know. This guide covers all of it, honestly and practically.

A Little History First

The idea that engagement rings must feature a clear diamond is surprisingly recent. Before De Beers launched its famous "A Diamond is Forever" campaign in 1947, colored gemstones were actually the standard.

Some of the most iconic engagement rings in history feature color: Princess Diana's deep blue sapphire (now worn by Kate Middleton) is probably the most recognized ring in the world. Napoleon gave Joséphine a sapphire-and-diamond toi et moi ring in 1795. Queen Victoria wore a snake ring set with rubies, diamonds, and an emerald. JFK chose an emerald-accented ring for Jackie Kennedy.

Color in engagement rings isn't a trend. It's a return.

Why So Many Couples Are Choosing Colored Stones

The shift is real and measurable. A decade ago, colored gemstone engagement rings made up roughly 5% of the market in the US. Today, that number has climbed past 15%, with over 20% of buyers saying they'd switch to a colored stone if given the choice, according to survey data from fine jewelry company Angara. Moissanite and sapphires now rank among the most popular non-diamond center stone choices in the country.

What's driving this?

Individuality. Millennials and Gen Z buyers aren't particularly interested in wearing the same ring as everyone else. A coloured stone carries personality, and increasingly, people want their engagement ring to tell their specific story, not a generic one.

Symbolism. Birthstones, favorite colors, stones tied to meaningful memories, color gives couples a way to attach meaning that a white diamond simply can't offer in the same way.

Value for money. Many stunning colored stones, and stone alternatives like moissanite, offer extraordinary beauty at a fraction of the cost of traditional white diamonds, meaning couples can get a larger, bolder ring without stretching beyond their means.

Ethics and sustainability. Lab-grown diamonds and moissanite sit at the centre of this conversation. For buyers who care about where their stone comes from, these options offer guilt-free sparkle.

The Most Popular Colored Stone Choices (And What to Know About Each)

Sapphire

Sapphire sits at the top of the colored stone category for good reason. It ranks 9 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it one of the most durable gemstones available, genuinely suitable for daily wear over a lifetime. Beyond the classic deep blue, sapphires come in pink, yellow, peach (padparadscha), teal, and white. If you want a colored stone you'll never have to baby, sapphire is the safest choice for an everyday engagement ring.

Ruby

Bold, passionate, and deeply romantic. Rubies share the same mineral family as sapphires (corundum) and carry the same hardness rating, making them equally practical for daily wear. A ruby ring makes a statement that's hard to replicate. Worth knowing: high-quality rubies have become increasingly rare and expensive as mining supply from key regions tightens, which makes a well-chosen ruby ring a genuinely meaningful investment.

Emerald

Emeralds are visually stunning but require a bit more care. They rank 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, which is decent, but they're naturally prone to inclusions and are often treated with oils or resins to improve their clarity. If you choose an emerald, a protective setting (like a bezel) is a smart choice. Paired with yellow gold in a vintage-inspired design, emeralds look extraordinary.

Morganite

Morganite has had a significant moment over the past few years. Its soft, peachy-pink color photographs beautifully and pairs exceptionally well with rose gold settings. It's a 7.5–8 on hardness, so it's wearable daily, though the edges can chip over time without a protective setting. For someone who loves feminine, romantic aesthetics, morganite delivers real charm.

Moissanite (Colored)

Here's where it gets interesting. Moissanite, originally discovered in a meteorite crater in 1893, is now lab-grown and widely used as an engagement ring center stone. Most people know it as a brilliant, near-colorless diamond alternative. What fewer people know is that moissanite is also available in colored versions: soft yellows, greens, and blues.

Moissanite scores 9.25 on the Mohs scale, making it harder than almost every gemstone except diamond. It's more brilliant than a diamond, literally more refractive, producing that distinctive rainbow fire in direct sunlight. And it costs a fraction of the price. A colored moissanite lets you combine the durability of a near-diamond stone with a distinctive, personalised hue. It's a genuinely smart option that not enough people know about.

Lab-Grown Colored Diamonds

Fancy-colored diamonds, yellow, pink, champagne, grey, blue, have long been considered rare luxury items with price tags to match. Lab-grown technology has changed that conversation. Lab-created colored diamonds carry exactly the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as mined colored diamonds. They're real diamonds. They're simply grown in a controlled environment rather than extracted from the earth, and they come with a noticeably lower price and a cleaner supply chain.

For couples who want the prestige of a colored diamond without the ethical concerns or the extreme cost, lab-grown colored diamonds are a compelling option.

Moissanite, Lab-Grown, or Natural Diamond: Which Is Right for You?

This is probably the question most couples wrestle with. Here's a straightforward way to think about it:

Choose a natural diamond if you value tradition, want something formed over billions of years, and are comfortable with the investment. Natural diamonds carry cultural weight that still resonates for many couples, there's nothing wrong with that.

Choose a lab-grown diamond if you want everything a natural diamond offers, the brilliance, the prestige, the certification, the real-diamond status, but at a lower price point and with greater peace of mind about sourcing. Lab-grown diamonds now represent around half of all diamond engagement rings sold in the United States.

Choose moissanite if you want maximum brilliance and fire, exceptional durability, a much lower price, and complete clarity about where your stone came from. Moissanite is 100% lab-grown, conflict-free, and available in both colorless and colored versions. It's a different stone from a diamond, not a fake one, and its unique properties make it a genuine choice in its own right, not just a compromise.

There's no universally right answer. The right answer is the one that fits you, your relationship, your values, and your budget.

What to Think About Before You Buy a Colored Stone Ring

Hardness and durability. An engagement ring is worn every day for decades. Stones that score below 7 on the Mohs scale, opal, pearl, turquoise, are genuinely risky for everyday wear. Sapphire, ruby, moissanite, and diamond are all strong enough for daily life without special treatment.

Treatments. Many colored stones are routinely treated to enhance their color or clarity. There's nothing inherently dishonest about this, it's standard in the gem trade, but you should know what you're buying. Emeralds are almost always treated; rubies frequently are. Ask for disclosure from your jeweler.

Setting matters. A colored stone that sits high and exposed in a prong setting is more vulnerable than one secured in a bezel. If you're choosing a softer stone, prioritise a protective setting.

The color you actually love. It sounds obvious, but it's worth saying. Don't choose a sapphire because sapphires are trending. Choose the color that makes the person wearing the ring feel something every time they look down at their hand.

Why Solomon & Co. Is Worth Your Attention for This Decision

At Solomon & Co., the approach to engagement rings is built around one idea: the ring should be about the two of you, not about convention for its own sake.

Their collection spans moissanite, lab-grown diamonds, and natural diamonds, which means you're not being steered toward any single type of stone based on what's most profitable to sell. You can explore a moissanite center stone with a colored diamond halo. You can choose a lab-grown yellow diamond solitaire. You can go with a classic natural diamond if that's what feels right.

What makes Solomon & Co. genuinely worth considering:

  • Moissanite rings that feature stones hand-selected for brilliance, with that distinctive fire and sparkle that moissanite is known for, including colored options that open up an entirely different category of personalisation.
  • Lab-grown diamond rings that are certified, ethically sourced, and built for couples who want a real diamond without the mining footprint or the inflated price. Their lab-grown collection includes fancy color options that were previously only accessible at significant cost.
  • Natural diamond rings for couples who want that connection to something formed deep within the earth over geological time. The craftsmanship reflects the stone's rarity and meaning.

Whether you're drawn to a colored centre stone, a classic clear diamond, or something unexpected in between, Solomon & Co. can help you find or design a ring that actually represents your relationship, not someone else's idea of what an engagement ring is supposed to look like.

The Bottom Line

Colored engagement rings aren't a novelty, a compromise, or a budget workaround. They're one of the oldest and most personal ways to mark a commitment. The shift happening right now in the US engagement ring market reflects something real: couples want rings that feel like them.

Whether that means a vivid blue sapphire, a soft pink moissanite, a lab-grown yellow diamond, or a traditional natural white diamond, there's no wrong answer. There's only the ring that, every time your partner glances down at their hand, makes them think of you.

If you're ready to explore what that looks like, Solomon & Co.'s collection of moissanite, lab-grown, and natural diamond engagement rings is a genuinely good place to start.

FAQs

Is a colored stone engagement ring less "real" or less meaningful?

No. The meaning comes from the relationship, the moment, and the intention. A ring's meaning is not a function of its stone type.

Will a colored stone ring hold its value?

Value retention varies significantly by stone type and quality. High-quality sapphires and rubies have appreciated considerably in recent years. Natural diamonds hold value over time. Lab-grown diamonds have seen price decreases as supply has grown. Moissanite isn't purchased as an investment, it's purchased for beauty and practicality. Focus on what the ring means, not on what it might be worth later.

What if my partner is set on a diamond but I want color?

You don't have to choose. Many of the most beautiful engagement rings combine a diamond center stone with colored stone accents, or vice versa. A classic white moissanite or diamond center stone flanked by two colored side stones, for instance, gives you both worlds.

Can a man wear a colored stone engagement ring?

Absolutely. Gender-neutral engagement ring design is well established, and colored stones, particularly deeper blues, greens, and blacks, work beautifully in masculine settings.