Considerations about Morganite Engagement Rings
Morganite Engagement Rings have become very popular due to the lovely soft pink or peach shades of the gemstone. As a gem cutter having worked with gemstones for 25 years, morganite would not be my first recommendation as a pale pink or peach gemstone to be used for an engagement ring. Morganites are not ideal for daily wear. They are approx. 7.5 on the Mohs Scale, and there are more durable colored stones better suited to daily wear. Also, morganite is often irradiated to get its color, and radiation in morganites is not a stable treatment; therefore it can fade over time from exposure to natural sunlight. There are other gemstones that come in similar shades of pink and peach, which are harder (more resistant to scratching) than morganite and that have not been irradiated.
Sapphires are a 9 in hardness on the Mohs scale and the most durable colored gemstone available. Spinels are an 8 in hardness and tourmalines are 7 in hardness. Spinels are one of the few gemstone types that do not receive any type of treatment or enhancement and they have a higher refractive index (more potential for brilliance) than morganite. Tourmalines also come in many lovely shades of pink, and in the paler shades cost about the same as morganite. Sapphires and Tourmalines typically receive heat treatment, which is basically an extension of the natural formation of gemstones (heat & pressure), and the treatment is well accepted and 100% stable.
Sapphires or spinels as center stones for engagement rings would be my recommendation as alternatives to morganite engagement rings due to their relative hardness, refractive index, and colors in which they are available. Please keep in mind that morganites are relatively inexpensive, so these alternatives that I suggest will come at a higher price point. However, considering an engagement ring is a symbol of love meant to be worn daily for a lifetime, upgrading to a sapphire or spinel is a worthwhile investment.
For information on Sapphires, Spinels and Tourmalines, please visit the GIA website: Gemologicial Institute of America
We have also prepared the following blogs for your information: