Choose Your Gemstone

Gemstone engagement rings at President Jewellers are bespoke pieces set with sapphire, emerald, ruby, tanzanite, aquamarine, morganite, alexandrite, opal, garnet, peridot, topaz, tourmaline, citrine, amethyst or any gemstone from our curated inventory. Every ring is designed in CAD, prototyped in silver for your try-on, cast in your chosen metal, set with your chosen gemstone and finished by hand in our Hatton Garden workshop. Hallmarked at the London Assay Office. Loose gemstones are also available — certified, hand-graded, sold individually or set into the ring of your choice.

Gemstone engagement rings — what we make most often

Sapphire engagement rings are the most-requested gemstone ring at President Jewellers — blue sapphire as the classic alternative to diamond, teal and bicolour sapphires for couples wanting more colour distinction, pink and yellow sapphires for warmer tones. Emerald engagement rings are second — deep saturated green, traditionally associated with renewal and fidelity, paired most often with diamond shoulders. Ruby engagement rings are the third major category — fancy red, often associated with the Burmese 'pigeon's blood' grade, set in 18ct yellow or rose gold. Below these three, we make tanzanite, aquamarine, morganite, alexandrite and opal rings on a regular basis, plus rarer combinations on request.

Choosing the gemstone — durability, colour, ethical sourcing

Durability. Gemstones vary in hardness. Sapphire and ruby (both corundum) sit at 9 on the Mohs scale — almost as hard as diamond, suitable for every day. Emerald is 7.5-8 but tends to be heavily included — a protective bezel setting is recommended. Tanzanite is 6-7 and best as a centre stone in an occasion ring rather than daily wear. Colour. Saturation and tone matter more than carat weight for coloured gemstones — a deeply saturated 0.80ct sapphire outshines a pale 1.50ct sapphire. Ethical sourcing. Every gemstone above 0.30ct at President Jewellers comes with origin documentation; we work primarily with Sri Lankan and Australian sapphire sources, Colombian and Zambian emeralds, and Mozambique ruby.

Settings — what works for which gemstone

Bezel. A continuous metal rim around the stone — recommended for emerald (protects the stone's relative fragility) and for any large centre stone where everyday wear is expected. Halo with diamond melee. The halo amplifies the gemstone's colour by contrast against white diamonds — particularly effective for sapphire, ruby, and morganite. Three-stone. A coloured centre flanked by two diamonds, or two coloured stones flanking a diamond centre. Sapphire-and-diamond is the classic UK combination, made famous by the Princess of Wales engagement ring. Solitaire with diamond shoulders. A coloured centre with small pavé diamonds along the shoulders — clean, contemporary.

Loose gemstones — also available for collectors and bespoke

If you want the stone before the ring, we sell loose certified gemstones — sapphire, emerald, ruby, tanzanite, aquamarine, morganite, alexandrite, opal — graded by our Hatton Garden gemologists, hand-photographed, and listed individually. Buy a loose stone now, design the ring later. We also source specific gemstones on request — if you have an exact carat weight, colour grade, or origin in mind, we will source from our network and present options for approval before you commit.

Bespoke process for gemstone rings

Every gemstone engagement and wedding ring is bespoke. The process takes 7 to 14 business days from sample approval. Step 1 — free consultation by phone or at our 23 Hatton Garden workshop. Step 2 — gemstone selection (from our inventory or sourced). Step 3 — CAD design for your approval. Step 4 — silver or wax sample produced and posted to you for try-on. Step 5 — casting in platinum or 18ct gold. Step 6 — setting, finishing, hallmarking at the London Assay Office. Step 7 — insured UK delivery, complimentary on every order. Free lifetime resizing where the setting permits.

Frequently asked questions

Explore further

• All engagement rings
• Three-stone engagement rings
• Halo engagement rings
• Vintage engagement rings
• Nature-inspired rings
• Loose natural diamonds
• Loose fancy diamonds