Although morganite is taking the South African engagement ring market by storm right now, there are a few things you should know if you’re looking to purchase a morganite engagement ring.

Morganite is part of the beryl family of minerals, a family that includes popular gemstones like emeralds and aquamarine. When shopping for an engagement ring, it’s worth remembering that the ring will be worn every day, theoretically for the rest of your life. As such, you want a gemstone that is going to be hard, durable and resistant to wear and tear. All gemstones are rated on a hardness scale of 1 – 10 (Moh’s hardness scale) and diamond is hardest gemstone on the scale, which is why it’s a great engagement ring stone.

Morganite has a hardness of 7.5 – 8 out of 10, so is significantly softer than diamonds and sapphires. It’s fairly durable, but you’ll need to look after your morganite engagement ring. Choose a setting that will protect your precious gem, perhaps with a halo of diamonds to add not just extra sparkle, but extra security. Make sure that all sharp and protruding gemstone corners are safely protected by claws and be aware that shapes like princess cuts are more susceptible to breaking when being set in jewellery.