You meet the right person, fall in love, and decide you want to spend the rest of your life with him or her. Now, you’re planning an engagement, and the number one thing you need is a ring. Nowadays, many people are opting for a non-traditional ring for various reasons, and birthstones are becoming more popular.
Shane Co. crunched some numbers and found the most common birthstones in each state. The August birthstone, peridot, ranked number one on the list, after being the most common gem across 40 states including New York and California. Emerald (May) ranked second, and Ruby (June) ranked third. All beautiful choices for an engagement ring.
Not only are these gems attractive and unique, they save the buyer some money. For example, tanzanite, which is 1,000 times rarer than a diamond, costs 10 times less than a diamond. Saving money on an engagement ring can allow you to invest in other aspects of your future such as buying a home, paying off debt or starting a family.
Historically, diamonds were not always the most popular gem for engagement rings. According to Money.com, only 10% of proposals included diamonds, and then the number jumped to 80% by 1990. The main reason for this spike was not romance, it was contractual. People began using expensive rings as collateral against broken engagements after banning “breach of promise to marry” lawsuits in the 1930s. This kind of kills the romance aspect, right?
Fast-forward to today, and younger couples are taking the non-traditional route for marriage in many aspects. It’s a different day, and people want to make new traditions. Lastly, considering a birthstone as an engagement ring is also a great idea because you can customize it to your partner. What’s more romantic than a personalized gift? Watch out diamonds, you may no longer be a girl’s best friend!
