Want a Crystal Ring? What to look for and what to avoid!

Having crystals and minerals as rough or faceted gems in your jewelry is a wonderful way to enjoy their beauty everyday!

But not all minerals would make good stones for a ring. Since you are using your hands for just about everything during the day, a ring specifically would need to hold up well and take some abuse. That means not all materials are going to survive continued use.

Let's take a look at some popular options of crystals and gemstones used in rings and why or why not they would be desirable.

For starters, we all know diamonds are a popular choice, particularly for wedding rings. There is a fascinating history of how genius marketing strategies caused the diamond to be the traditional stone for engagement and wedding rings. But beyond the tradition itself, diamonds are the hardest material on earth. Nothing in your daily use is going to scratch or chip a diamond. That is why it is the perfect material to have in a ring that you would wear every, single day.

Amethyst, a variety of quartz, is another lovely mineral that can be cut and faceted into a beautiful gemstone. Quartz has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, so unless you cut it with a diamond or corundum, it will withstand daily use. However, amethyst is UV sensitive, so over time, it could begin to fade from sunlight exposure. If you decide on this material for a ring, it might be best to take it off if you are going to the beach or spending a significant amount of time outdoors.

Corundum is an excellent choice for a gemstone. It is a 9 on the Mohs scale, making it harder than any other material than diamond. You will know red corundum as Ruby and blue corundum as Sapphire. Both have such rich, and intense coloring. But they also retain that color over time as they are not uv sensitive.

Another beautiful gemstone for a ring is emerald. Emerald is the green variety of beryl. Coming in at a 7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale, it is a durable mineral that would work just fine in a ring. 

When it comes to beryls, you have another choice to consider: aquamarine! It's a hard stone, in a range of rich hues. But, unlike emerald, aquamarine IS sensitive to uv light. So overtime, the deep blues will fade and become more pale, and even turn clear eventually with exposure. This stone may be better suited in a pair of earrings, or in a necklace that is worn on special occasions. 

Opals are incredible minerals that can be cut and polished to reveal swirling patterns and gorgeous play of color. If you've seen examples of quality opal gemstones, you'll understand why this mineral is a popular choice for use in jewelry. There is no other stone quite like it! Even though it is a silica based material, like quartz, its high water content in the molecular structure makes it a much softer gem. This can make it less than ideal in a ring that would see heavy use. A better option would be to have this gemstone in a pair of earrings, or as cabochons in a necklace.

Last, but certainly not least, is tourmaline. Tourmaline comes in the whole range of colors in the rainbow. And, with a 7-7.5 hardness rating, it is a durable stone that would be a great option in a ring. High quality crystals of tourmaline are cut and faceted into gemstones. Slightly lesser quality examples are polished as cabochons. There is something to note regarding tourmalines: some have received heat treatment to bring out a more vivid coloring. These gemstones can react to prolonged high heat or uv light and affect the color. Temperature extremes could also make the stone fracture. Make sure to buy from a reliable jeweler who can provide you with information on any treatment the stone may have received.