For the girl who loves pink, there are a number of options that will let her incorporate her favorite hue into her engagement ring. The options run the gamut from rose gold to pink diamonds, and there are options that will fit most budgets.
Pink Diamonds
Pink diamonds are among the rarest of gems, and for many women they are a symbol of femininity. The color is due to an imperfection in the diamond’s crystal lattice structure, but unlike yellow diamonds (fairly common and formed by the presence of nitrogen), pink diamonds don’t’ occur often in nature.
As such, they are generally expensive. A single, half-carat stone can cost upwards of $13,000, unset. Keep in mind that the shade of pink will also affect the cost, with truer and darker pinks commanding more than shades that are light or brownish-pink. But, just like ordinary diamonds, pink diamonds can be cut to your specification.
The meaning behind the pink diamond ranges from the traditional associations with femininity to symbolizing creativity and promoting creative expression. Deeper-hued shades of pink are also said to represent strength.
Pink Cubic Zirconia or Moissanite
Often these are referred to as lab-created diamonds. While cubic zirconia is the most common substance used to form these lab-created diamonds, moissanite has made inroads in recent years in being used for synthetic diamonds. These diamonds are often physically more brilliant than even the most expensive of natural diamonds, though the gem will flash with color rather than with white light.
Lab-made pink diamonds are sized just as regular diamonds, but they command a far smaller price. A lab made pink diamond with a “AAAAA” grade (the best) will typically cost anywhere from $2000 to $4000 for a 1/3 carat to 2/3 carat weight stone, unset. Most are either vivid pink in color or purplish-pink in color, with lighter shades occurring in the less expensive stones. Pink lab-created diamonds rated only “A: will only cost, on average, $15, but it is far easier to spot that they are “fake” than their more expensive, 5A cousins.
Rose Gold
Also known as pink gold and red gold, rose gold is a gold and copper alloy with a pinkish cast.
The higher the copper content, the more reddish in color the alloy will be.
Additionally, silver is sometimes added (4%) to enhance the reddish color of 18K rose gold. 22K rose gold, the purest form available of this alloy, is 75% gold. It is often called “crown gold.”
You should keep in mind before eliminating this option that only 24K gold is pure gold. All other gold is an alloy of gold and another metal. For instance, much-coveted white gold is an alloy of gold and a white metal such as manganese. The percentage of the base metal yields the gold’s color.
In addition to its romantic, pink color, rose gold also hearkens back to a time of elegance. Many pieces of Russian jewelry from the early 19th century are made from this glowing metal, lending it another name, “Russian gold.”
A plain rose gold band will typically cost between $200 and $400. Mountings for engagement rings typically cost $200 to $500. Rose gold engagement rings will be priced not only based upon the purity and weight of the ring, but also upon the type of setting. Expect to pay for the clarity, cut and color of the stone you select for your setting.
How To Buy
If you are looking to purchase a pink diamond for your engagement ring, go through a reputable jeweler. Look for a jeweler certified by the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, the Natural Color Diamond Association, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), or the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL USA). Ask questions regarding the cut, clarity, and carat weight of the stone, but don’t be afraid to also discuss pricing. This is your purchase, not the jeweler’s. If the jeweler seems hesitant or unable to answer your questions, go somewhere else. And request that your purchase be appraised by a certified appraiser before it ever leaves the store.
Lab-created pink diamonds (cubic zirconia or moissanite) vary in price from the extremely inexpensive ($10) to the expensive ($3000). Keep in mind that a wide range of options are also available in between these two extremes, and if you are planning to invest in a more expensive option, it would be wise to look for a jeweler affiliated with one of the above-mentioned societies, the American Gem Society, or with the Jeweler’s Vigilance Committee (JVC). Additionally, Asha Diamond Simulants and Takara Diamonds are excellent examples of reliable companies when wading into the world of lab-created gems.
Pricing Differences
It is also important to decide if you want to purchase a stone separately or want to by the engagement ring pre-set. Settings will typically cost between $200 to $400, and oftentimes selecting a loose stone and a unique setting makes it possible to create a truly one-of-a-kind engagement ring. However, there are many options containing either pink diamonds or pink lab-created diamonds that are already set, and their prices are reflected accordingly, with the cost of the stone dictating the majority of the cost of the ring.
Rose gold settings are another way to incorporate your love of pink into your engagement ring. Rose gold settings are widely available through reputable (certified) jewelers. You can also purchase them online through jewelers and websites such as Amazon.com. They are available without stone mountings or already mounted, and as with the above discussion, the cost of the ring will, in large part, be reflected by the price of the stone if the ring is already set.
While purchasing a mounting over the Internet is not a huge risk, purchasing stones can be. Even the best stones will appear different when photographed and displayed on a computer screen than they do when examined in-person. Therefore, unless you are quite sure of the jeweler’s reputation, shop around locally before deciding to purchase your stone over the Internet.
Sizing
Keep in mind that many engagement rings cannot be resized, so it is important that the ring fit properly. Ask before you buy if it can be resized, and evaluate how it fits carefully. The ring should neither pinch your finger nor be easy to slide off. If you are uncertain of its fit, ask your jeweler for his help. This will ensure that you get a ring that not only reflects your love for pink in all of its rosy-hued glory, but a ring that you won’t have to worry about losing as your wedding day approaches.