We’ve all heard the saying “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” and nowhere was this truer than when shopping around for engagement rings. Well, it seems as though times are changing, and diamonds are no longer the one and only gem being used in engagement rings. 

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With today's push for ethical and eco-friendly diamonds taking place, it's allowing other gems to come into the spotlight and catch the eye of brides-to-be.

So, if a traditional diamond just isn’t for you, but you’re shopping around for an engagement ring, you may want to consider one of these options instead.

Rubies – Love and Eternity

When it comes to the modern bride, nothing beats beautiful ruby engagement rings. The lovely red color of the stone screams love and romance. Thanks to its deep rich color, it's also incredibly striking on the hand. Rubies work well in white and yellow gold settings, and can be a solitaire or feature other stones with it. It’s quite common to find rubies surrounded by small diamonds to help showcase the ruby’s brilliance. 

Many brides don't realize that rubies are actually quite traditional. They were often found paired with diamonds in the 17th and 18th centuries. The ruby symbolizes love and eternity making them an especially popular choice.

Morganite - A Stunning and Unique Alternative

If you're looking for the hottest trend in engagement rings right now, you may be surprised to hear that it's not diamonds, rather it is Morganite. This lovely stone has a pink-orange color to it and looks stunning in a rose gold setting. Be prepared to get noticed with this stone thanks to its uniqueness. If you are looking for smaller stones to pair with it, diamonds tend to work best. Morganite is ideal for brides who want more of a vintage look to their ring.

Sapphires - A Touch of Royalty

Thanks to the Royal family, sapphires are enjoying an increase in popularity when it comes to engagement rings. One look at Kate Middleton's engagement ring from Prince William completely transformed what was "hot" and "trendy" at the moment. The ring is the same one that Princess Diana wore and features a large bright blue sapphire surrounded with diamonds. Just as it was fashionable when Princess Diana wore it, it is now fashionable again. 

Now here is something about sapphires that you may not be aware of - no two colors are alike. Sapphires come in a huge variety of colors, and they are never identical. What this means is that each and every sapphire is as unique as the woman who is wearing it. They work well on their own, or paired with other stones, and can be set in any color of metal.

Take the Unique Path

This is just a very small look at some of the stones that brides are choosing as their engagement rings today. This modern, more unique approach seems to be catching on forcing diamonds to take a back seat in the design.