Love is in the air literally everywhere you look. Want to express your feelings in a big way this Valentine’s Day? Why not give your sweetheart a red or pink engagement ring — or really, any piece of jewelry? It’s sure to make a splash, and we’ll get you started with some of our favorite rosy gemstones!

Ruby

Show them how strongly your heart beats with a gorgeous red ruby. These stones have existed for centuries

and are said to be one of the rarest among popular colored gemstones, such as sapphires and emeralds. Color has the biggest impact on a ruby’s value. The finest rubies range from a pure, vibrant red to a somewhat purplish red tone. Less desirable are gems with stronger orange or purplish hues.

Love Connection: Want a long, happy relationship? These stones have been associated with various qualities throughout history, from success and wealth to good health, beauty and wisdom.

Jewelry Tip: Rubies belong to the corundum mineral family, which means compressed oxygen and aluminum atoms are part of their chemical structure. This makes them incredibly durable gems. For reference, they score a 9 out of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, a scale that ranks the durability of diamonds, gemstones and other minerals. Therefore, rubies are great candidates for all kinds of everyday jewelry, from rings to pendants.

Garnet

If you can’t get your hands on a ruby, a fiery garnet would be equally stunning. These gems are available in a rainbow of shades, but red is most common. In fact, the name “garnet” comes from a medieval Latin word that means “pomegranate.” Similar to rubies, early records of garnets date back to ancient times, and you

can typically find them in standard shapes and sizes.

Love Connection: Happiness. Friendship. Warmth. Strength. These are just some characteristics that garnets reportedly symbolize. If you want the same qualities for you and your partner, garnet is a great choice!

Jewelry Tip: Garnets are less durable than rubies, ranging between 6.5 and 7.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. That means they can be scratched by harder stones, like diamonds, rubies and sapphires. While garnets look beautiful in ring settings, they’re even better options for earrings, brooches and pendants, which experience less wear and tear!

Pink Diamond

For a softer look, we love a pink diamond. And apparently, celebrities do too! Actor Ben Affleck first proposed to singer Jennifer Lopez with a 6.1-carat pink diamond in 2002, and actress Blake Lively received an 

impressive pink sparkler from fellow actor Ryan Reynolds in 2012. Pink diamonds are basically natural diamonds with a pink hue. That means they formed billions of years ago below the Earth’s surface and are composed of 99% carbon. These pink gems stun in a variety of shapes, including heart, cushion and marquise cuts. And stones with deeper shades are typically more valuable.

Love Connection: Whether you met by chance or regularly finish each other’s sentences, love can have many inexplicable moments. You could say pink diamonds have an element of mystery too, as it’s unclear how these stones get their rosy color!

Jewelry Tip: Given their strong carbon structure, diamonds score a perfect 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, making them extremely durable for earrings, necklaces and rings. But since pink stones are among the rarest fancy color diamonds, they can be quite pricey. Some pink diamonds reportedly cost $10,000 or even $700,000 per carat! If that’s well beyond your budget, we recommend alternatives, like lab grown pink diamonds. They have similar qualities to their natural counterparts, but they’re more affordable.

Pink Tourmaline

Your partner will adore a piece of tourmaline, which dates all the way back to the 1500s. This gem is unique because it features one of the widest color ranges of any gem. Pink and red are some of the most popular colors, and these hues are likely produced by traces of the element manganese. While shopping, keep an eye

out for the term “rubellite,” as this refers to deep pink and red stones that are most desired.

Love Connection: Each shade of tourmaline symbolizes different qualities. Pink gems represent love, compassion and gentleness — all things you want to convey to your love!

Jewelry Tip: Tourmaline scores between 7 and 7.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, meaning it’s fairly durable and appropriate for daily wear. However, too much heat can cause damage. Encourage your partner to take good care of their tourmaline piece!

Pink Sapphire

You might associate sapphires with their vivid blue color, but these stones are actually available in many colors, including pink! Although the rosy gems are considered rare, they can be found in light and dark shades. Variations in color are caused by different levels of chromium in a sapphire’s chemical structure. Ifyou’re set on a top notch stone, the most precious gems feature a deep pink hue with hints of purple.

Love Connection: Remember when Prince William and Kate Middleton said “I do” in 2011? Before the big wedding, Prince William popped the question with a sentimental sapphire ring that previously belonged to his mother, Princess Diana. Historically, sapphires have represented sincerity, faithfulness and one’s soul. If that isn’t romantic enough, choose a pink sapphire to make your gift even sweeter!

Jewelry Tip: Just like rubies, sapphires also belong to the corundum mineral family. That means they’re very durable, scoring a 9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Wear your sapphires in bracelets, rings, necklaces and more!

Morganite

This pale pink gem has become a popular choice for engagement rings! At times, you might see morganite labeled as a “pink emerald.” But beware; that’s misleading! Morganite and emeralds are both part of the beryl mineral family and therefore have similar qualities. However, they’re different gems! What sets

morganite apart is its orange-pink hue and ability to display slightly different shades of pink, depending on the viewing angle (aka pleochroism). Size also plays a role in each stone’s color. Gems smaller than 2 carats tend to be lighter and more common, while larger, high quality gems have a richer hue.

Love Connection: Due to its pink color, morganite is said to represent romance, sweetness and innocence. This stone is simply beautiful and symbolic. You can’t go wrong with it!

Jewelry Tip: Morganite is a strong gem, ranging between 7.5 and 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. This gem also works well with all types of metal. It’s particularly eye-catching with rose gold!

Have a question? We can help!

Gage Diamonds is Chicago's premier jewelry showroom and online retailer of engagement rings, wedding bands, and fine jewelry. We offer a selection of dazzling colored gemstones and handpicked diamonds, including certified natural and lab grown diamonds.

We’re committed to helping you find the ring of your dreams. For inspiration, browse our website or set up an appointment with a member of our trusted staff at our in-person showroom.

We offer no-credit-needed financing – feel free to apply and get your approval within 24 hours!

Pay over time, because love shouldn’t wait.