My girlfriend wants a pearl engagement ring. Is this a good idea?

Question

She's very budget friendly so she really doesn't care about diamonds or anything like that. She also prefers non traditional styles over something like a diamond solitaire. She said so herself that she finds them "plain, boring, and overly expensive for such a small stone."

I have to say, I agree with her on all of those points. Her birthday is in June and especially because of COVID, we are going to do a super inexpensive elopement on the beach, and she is absolutely floored by this idea because of her love for the ocean. I figured this is why a pearl would be perfect and  I could easily get her a giant sized pearl with a great color for less than $1000.

Anyone have any experience with pearl engagement rings? Do you really need to maintain them every few years or is that just something the diamond industry tries to tell you? We also have friends whom have had opal rings that have stood the test of time for at least 5 years now. They still look just as good as the day they bought them, so I was wondering if pearls fall under that category, too?

She is also not opposed to other gems such as moissanite (she finds them more interesting than diamonds because they come from space, so I know she'd prefer that over a lab diamond too), but I still want to incorporate pearl as part of her engagement. Maybe as a pendant instead of a ring? Advice is well appreciated.

? · Answer

Softer materials like pearls and opals do require a bit more care. But get whatever the two of agree is best for you. Worst case scenario this might be a ring she has to remove at certain times to protect it from wear and tear.

? · Answer

Pearls are not a gemstone and therefore, pearls are not durable for everyday wear in ring form. Especially as a solitaire.

I'd pick another gemstone for her ring. Consider a necklace or bracelet with pearls as a wedding gift.

? · Answer

Any ring can be an engagement ring.

Diamonds as the go to choice was a very successful marketing campaign by DeBeers jewelers back in 1940, prior to that gemstones were traditionally used as engagement rings.  I have my great grandma's engagement ring from circa 1920 and it's a Ruby.

My engagement ring has genuine blue sapphires and diamonds in it because it is what I wanted.

Get her something she wants and will love as she is who will be wearing it well forever.

Just like there are different types diamonds there is also different types of pearls and real pearls can also be expensive.  Most pearls you see in stores like Kay, Jared, etc are not genuine pearls, they are lab created ones.  Pearls in general are not durable lab created or genuine but if that's what she wants...  that's what she wants.  I got my engagement rings before gemstones & diamonds together became a trend and a lot of people snubbed their noses at it because it wasn't what they liked well that was okay because it wasn't for them.

Your best bet would be to go to a local jeweler and talk to them.  They are usually locally owned and will appreciate your business more plus they have a lot more expertise.  If they don't have what you want, they can make it.

drip · Answer

No, not a good idea. It won’t take the wear and tear of a ring worn daily.
There are real gem stones that can take it and are not expensive.  Do some research.opals are not a good idea either.  Have worn my engagement ring for over 30 years. Five years is nothing. Get something harder. A garnet, amethyst,   Topaz or Aquamarine. An Alexandrite is June birthstone too.

Anonymous · Answer

I've owned a shop that sold pearls, semi-precious stones etc. and I can tell you that pearls are delicate. They get scratched easily, and you should avoid getting them in contact with soap, makeup, hairspray, perfume etc.

This makes them impractical for engagement rings that you wear every day, because you would have to be continuously mindful of the ring e.g. taking it off before you hand wash a couple of dishes or being careful when you stick your hand in your zippered coat pocket.

A pearl pendant or a pair of pearl earrings would be better, and remember while pearls aren't for everyday use, they should still be worn regularly or they could dehydrate.

Sandy · Answer

pearls are a classic. you can't go wrong. go online and look around. get some ideas. get her input.

? · Answer

Hi! i wish you and your gf all the best.

Meanwhile, if you think about it, you will rarely see a girl wearing a pearl ring as an every day piece of jewelry,  It's because pearls are on the soft side and can break or get ruined easily.  Fake pearls are probably more durable.  Not sure.

Before you decide on anything, i'd talk to a jeweler about the durability of whatever you select as a stone for her ring.

Best regards.

My girlfriend wants a pearl engagement ring. Is this a good idea?

7 Answers