Morganite is one of the most popular diamond alternatives of the present day. Even though this gemstone differs from diamond in several ways, it is becoming a popular choice for modern-day engagement rings.
If you’re here on the same note and happen to be considering morganite for your engagement ring, we’re glad to have you here. In this mini-guide, we’ve compiled every single thing you need to know about morganite before choosing this stone for your engagement ring.
What is Morganite?
Fundamentally, morganite gemstone is a variety of beryl mineral species. This mineral species also forms the roots of emerald and aquamarine.
In terms of appearance, the morganite features a peach-pink color. Some variants even exhibit yellowish pink or orangey-pink. In layman’s terms, you can consider morganite to be available in rose, peach, and salmon colors. These colors are a result of the traces of manganese that the stone holds.
On Mohs scale, the morganite stone ranks 7.5 – 8, which makes it competitively durable. It stands next to diamond, ruby, and sapphire, and hence, it’s suitable for everyday wear.
History & Popularity of Morganite
Originally, the stone morganite got named after an American financier & renowned gem enthusiast, namely J.P Morgan. It was named once Tiffany’s gem scholar, i.e., George Kunz studied the stone in great detail and traced its roots. History reports that he examined early samples from Madagascar.
In recent times, morganite gained popularity because of its feminine pink, which reflects passion and elegance. The global interest of the masses in the color sparked when Ben Affleck proposed Jennifer Lopez with a 6.1-carat pink diamond in 2002. Following this, Apple introduced an iPhone featuring a rose gold color. This was back in 2013. In 2015, Pantone named Marsala the color of the year, which was basically a morganite-resembling hue.
With that said, most couples have been inclined towards gemstone engagement rings over the last few years. And the common interest in morganite’s color has inspired designers and manufacturers to come up with arresting morganite engagement rings. Thus, bringing us a large collection of irresistibly beautiful morganite engagement rings and spiking up the general interest in the stone and its color.
Where does Morganite come from?
Morganite mainly comes from Brazil. The land houses Minas Gerais, which is a geological treasure chest. It is a major source of several popular gemstones including morganite, emerald, aquamarine, topaz, amethyst, alexandrite, tourmaline, etc. Other than Brazil, morganite also comes from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Namibia, the United States, and Mozambique.
4C’s of Morganite
For every gemstone, there are four C’s that the buyer ought to consider. These include:
- Color
- Clarity
- Cut
- Carat Weight
When assessing morganite for the four C’s, you should look for darker shades of pink. Although in its original form morganite is pale and salmon pink, ring manufacturers and designers heat the stone to enhance its color. Heat treatment makes a morganite darker in color, which is something desired by most buyers. Also, the color developed by heat treatment remains stable, and it doesn’t change unless you expose the stone to temperatures over 400 degrees celsius. If you do not wish to buy heat-treated morganites and still want a dark pink in your ring, you will either have to look for that rare morganite stone with dark pink in its original state or buy a larger stone. Bigger morganite stones tend to have darker colors.
In terms of clarity, a morganite stone should be free of fractures and liquid inclusions. Fractures are visible to the naked eye in the form of flat surfaces, while liquid inclusions are liquid-filled spaces in the gemstones which were once a hollow space. Both these elements are undesirable and lower the quality of a morganite. Usually, these are not present in small-sized stones.
When it comes to cutting, morganites are fun stones for both makers and wearers. Certain cuts make the stone appear darker, while certain cuts make them appear lighter. Usually, these stones are available in round cut, emerald cut, oval cut, and marquise.
As for the carat weight, it is a matter of choice. Unlike diamonds, morganites are much more affordable. You can easily opt for larger sizes.
Maintaining an Engagement Ring
Although morganite is durable, it can get damaged by certain acids present in cleaning products. Hence, it’s recommended to take off your morganite engagement ring when cleaning, gardening, playing, or getting involved in any such activity.
If your ring develops a fracture, you can get it filled with a glass-like substance. It makes the fracture less prominent. Also, you may need to clean with warm, soapy water now and then.
Final Thoughts
By now, we hope you have a clear idea of what morganite is and if it’s a good idea to buy a morganite engagement ring. You know the reason behind the hype, the right way to choose a morganite ring, and you have also acquired insight into aftercare. We hope you make the right choice!
