FASHION

Emerald Engagement Rings That Will Make You Green With Envy

And they're celeb approved.

If you’re looking for something other than a diamond to add some sparkle to your ring finger, emerald rings are a beautiful yet often-overlooked option. Favoured by celebrities from Olivia Wilde to Irina Shayk and classic style icon Jackie ‘O’ Kennedy, emerald engagement  rings come in as many styles as you can imagine – and is stunning whether set in white gold, rose gold or yellow gold.

All about emeralds

The beautiful green stone symbolises mercy, compassion and universal love, and is heralded in certain circles for its calming powers. The way in which the precious gemstone (which also happens to be the May birthstone, all you May babies!) is most often cut gave rise to the term ‘emerald-cut’, which was developed to highlight the richness of coloured gemstones.

There are several different types of emeralds on the market to consider when you start your search for the perfect ring.

emeralds
(Credit: Getty)
Natural vs synthetic 

According to the International Gem Society, a lab-created emerald still qualifies as a ‘real’ emerald, but not a natural one. Synthetic emeralds are some of the most valuable manmade gemstones, due to the time, energy and equipment needed to create them – but still not as valuable as naturally occurring emeralds.

Columbian emeralds are mined in Columbia (surprise!), and are renowned for their exceptional quality and deep, rich colour. Most of the world’s natural emeralds come from Columbia, followed by Zambia; experts say Zambian emeralds are generally cleaner and more saturated in colour than Columbian variety.

How to choose. Of the ‘four Cs’ that we’re told to keep in mind when choosing a diamond – colour, clarity, carat and cut – ‘colour’ is the most relevant to emeralds, say experts, and the most important to determining their value (along with carats). Bluish or pure deep green shades are the most popular but ultimately, if you’re choosing a stone for a piece of jewellery, you should pick a green that you like. People often choose lighter shades than they would’ve expected to like because they reflect more light, making them livelier and more brilliant than darker stones.

Potential downsides of an emerald ring

While there’s no question emeralds are a stunning and unique choice for your engagement ring, they do pose potential risk factors. As a particular brittle gemstone, they’re vulnerable to damage during everyday wear, as well as the cutting, polishing and setting process. Enter the emerald cut: the vulnerable corners in this style are faceted, providing a safer place for the setting’s prongs and helping protect against damage.

diamond cuts
(Credit: Getty)

Celebrity ring-spiration

Emeralds were Cleopatra’s favourite gemstones, and were the top pick for several celebs before they walked down the aisle.

Halle
Halle Berry (Credit: Getty)

Halle Berry’s 4-carat ring, given to her by Olivier Martinez, was designed by French jeweller Robert Mazio and is worth an estimated $294,000 (AUD).

olivia
Olivia Wilde (Credit: Getty)

Olivia Wilde’s now-husband chose a brilliant-cut diamond surrounded by a halo of emeralds. “It went through Paris around 1921,” Olivia told Lucky magazine of the vintage bling. “It’s a bit of an aqua emerald, not a deep dark green. Jason said it reminded him of my eyes.”

Jackie O
Jackie ‘O’ Kennedy (Credit: Getty)

Former First Lady Jackie ‘O’ Kennedy was nothing if not a style icon, and her choice of engagement ring was everything we wanted it to be. Bought from Van Cleef & Arpels in New York, it featured a 2.84-carat emerald-cut emerald and a 2.88-carat emerald-cut diamond.

Posh
Victoria Beckham (Credit: Getty)

Victoria Beckham has no less than 14 engagement rings (hubby David just keeps on buying them, and that’s the kind of love we want!). One of her pieces is a cushion-cut emerald set on a diamond band that’s been estimated to be worth up to $1.3 million.

Zoe
Zoe Saldana (Credit: Getty)

Zoe Saldana, who’s married to Marco Perego, chose a pear-shaped emerald, estimated to be 8- to 10-carats and thought to come from Columbia’s Muzo mine. It’s flanked by trillion-cut diamonds and smaller diamonds, set on a white gold band.

Heidi
Heidi Klum (Credit: Getty)

Heidi Klum’s now-husband Tom Kaultiz proposed to the model in January 2019 with an emerald-and-diamond piece that’s thought to be worth nearly $44,000.

Irina
Irina Shayk (Credit: Getty)

Though the pair are no longer together, the ring Bradley Cooper gave Irina Shayk is still a beauty: an oval-cut emerald surrounded by a halo of diamonds on a gold band.

Emerald rings to add to cart 

emerald engagement ring
Angara

01

Angara Emerald and Diamond Three Stone Ring

$8280 (was $9200)

emerald engagement rings
Cartier

02

Cartier Solitaire 1895

Price on application.

emerald engagement ring
Temple & Grace

03

Temple & Grace Emerald and Diamond Split Band

$6890

emerald engagement rings
Brilliant Earth

04

Brilliant Earth One of a Kind Ring

$3595

emerald engagement rings
Irene Neuwirth

05

Irene Neuwirth Tennis 18k Yellow and White Gold ring

$28104.70

emerald engagement ring
Sarah & Sebastian

06

Sarah & Sebastian Xanthe Emerald Ring

From $1695

emerald engagement ring
Sarah Gardner

07

Sarah Gardner Emerald and Diamond Splice Ring

$6400

emerald engagement rings
Shay

08

SHAY 18kt Yellow Gold Ring

$10541

emerald engagement ring
Glamira

09

Glamira Ring Daffney

$1941

emerald enaggement ring
Harry Winston

10

Harry Winston Classic Emerald-Cut Emerald Ring

Pricing on application.

emerald engagement ring
Michael Hill

11

Michael Hill Solitaire Emerald Ring

$2999

If you’re looking for something other than a diamond to add some sparkle to your ring finger, emerald rings are a beautiful yet often-overlooked option. Favoured by celebrities from Olivia Wilde to Irina Shayk and classic style icon Jackie ‘O’ Kennedy, emerald engagement  rings come in as many styles as you can imagine – and is stunning whether set in white gold, rose gold or yellow gold.

If you’re looking for something other than a diamond to add some sparkle to your ring finger, emerald rings are a beautiful yet often-overlooked option. Favoured by celebrities from Olivia Wilde to Irina Shayk and classic style icon Jackie ‘O’ Kennedy, emerald engagement  rings come in as many styles as you can imagine – and is stunning whether set in white gold, rose gold or yellow gold.

Related stories