Gemstones at
Jack Lewis Jewelers

If you don’t want a diamond in your engagement ring, you’ll find your colored gemstone alternative at Jack Lewis Jewelers. As gem nerds, we have more in-house than anyone else in central Illinois.

Colored Gemstones
for Engagement Rings

There are a lot of good reasons you might want a colored gemstone in your engagement ring instead of a diamond. But most likely, you want to create your own tradition and do something unique. We love that. Again, while we love diamonds, we also love colored gemstones and we are not here to judge. We simply want to connect you with whatever gemstone means the most to you. 

But when it comes to putting a non-diamond in your engagement ring, there are some tips you should know. We’re happy to walk you through your options at the counter when you visit us in-person, but in previous episodes of the CarterCast, we’ve already started the conversation about colored gemstones in engagement rings, which ones you should avoid (and why), and which ones you should choose (and why).

Gemstones to Avoid if You Don’t Want a Diamond

Spoiler alert: these three are quartz, emerald, and opal. Learn why here:

Gemstones to Choose if You Don’t Want a Diamond

Spoiler alert: these three are rubies and sapphires, spinels, and some garnets. Learn why here:

Colored Gemstones in Fashion Jewelry

Beyond engagement rings, colored gemstones are also popular choices for fashion jewelry. At Jack Lewis, you’ll find a wide variety of earrings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, and right-hand rings that feature bold, beautiful colored gemstones. Or if you want something unique, let’s start with the loose colored gemstone and build a custom piece of jewelry around it! 

List of the 12 Birthstones by Month

When you think of colored gems, you might first think of birthstones. Popular gifts like Mother’s Rings, pendants, and earrings have all been built around a loved one’s birthstone. Here’s a list of the birthstones for all 12 months as a quick reference. And yes, at Jack Lewis, we can connect you with a gemstone from any month.

1. 

   January birthstone – Garnet
   
2. 

   February birthstone – Amethyst
   
3. 

   March birthstone – Aquamarine
   
4. 

   April birthstone – Diamond 
   
5. 

   May birthstone – Emerald 
   
6. 

   June birthstone – Pearl or Alexandrite 
   
7. 

   July birthstone – Ruby 
   
8. 

   August birthstone – Peridot or Spinel
   
9. 

   September birthstone – Sapphire 
   
10. 

    October birthstone – Tourmaline or Opal
    
11. 

    November birthstone – Topaz or Citrine 
    
12. 

    December birthstone – Tanzanite, Zircon, or Turquoise