Stelios Jewellers has spent decades building relationships with coloured gemstone dealers, miners and cutters around the world. Today on Polka Dot Wisdom, Stelios Palioudakis shares why more couples are moving away from traditional diamonds and towards sapphires, rubies and tourmalines with real depth and character.

A ring that feels like you

Coloured gemstones give couples the opportunity to choose a ring that feels deeply personal rather than simply traditional. Every gemstone has its own character, whether it’s the rich blue of a sapphire, the vibrant green of an emerald or the unique tones found in Australian sapphires and other coloured gems. They allow couples to express their personality, tell their own story and create something that’s truly one of a kind.

We’ve also seen a growing appreciation for individuality. Rather than choosing a ring because it’s what’s expected, many couples are selecting a gemstone that has personal meaning, reflects a favourite colour, commemorates a place or simply resonates with them emotionally. As bespoke jewellers, that’s something we love because it allows us to design pieces that are completely unique to the wearer.

While diamonds remain timeless, coloured gemstones bring another dimension through colour, rarity and individuality. The result is a piece that feels less like a trend and more like a reflection of the person wearing it, and that’s at the heart of great jewellery.

What’s popular right now

We’re seeing particularly strong demand for sapphires, especially Australian sapphires, along with teal, green and parti-coloured sapphires that offer something truly distinctive. Clients are increasingly drawn to gemstones with unique colour variations and natural character, rather than looking for perfect uniformity. We also continue to see interest in tourmalines and rare Padparadscha sapphires from clients seeking something vibrant and less conventional.

What’s driving this is a shift towards individuality. Couples want an engagement ring that reflects their personality and tells their own story, rather than following a traditional formula. Social media has certainly broadened people’s awareness of the incredible range of coloured gemstones available, but we also find that clients are becoming more educated about provenance, rarity and craftsmanship.

Australian sapphires have been especially popular because they combine exceptional beauty with a strong sense of place. Their unique colours and natural origins appeal to couples who value authenticity, sustainability and owning a gemstone that’s unlike any other.

Darker, moodier stones

We’re seeing more couples gravitate towards gemstones with deeper, richer tones because they offer a sense of sophistication and individuality that’s quite different from a traditional white diamond. Deep blue sapphires, forest green Australian sapphires, rich red rubies, garnets and even black diamonds all create a striking, contemporary look while remaining timeless.

What makes these gemstones so special is the depth and complexity of their colour. Darker gemstones have a richness that changes beautifully in different lighting, giving each stone its own unique character. Australian sapphires, in particular, are prized for their incredible range of moody blues, greens and teal tones, with no two stones ever quite the same.

Whether couples are drawn to the romance of a ruby, the dramatic elegance of a black diamond, the earthy richness of a garnet or the depth of a sapphire, each choice tells a different story. It’s about finding the gemstone that resonates with the individual, rather than simply following tradition.

Sapphires and rubies for everyday wear

Durability is an important consideration for any engagement ring, as it’s a piece that’s designed to be worn every day. While many coloured gemstones are well suited to daily wear, some are naturally more durable than others.

Sapphires are one of our top recommendations because they’re exceptionally hard and resilient, making them ideal for everyday wear while offering an incredible range of colours. Rubies share the same durability, as they’re from the same mineral family, and are another excellent choice for a lifelong piece. Tourmalines can also make beautiful engagement rings, particularly for clients who are drawn to their unique colours, although they do require a little more care due to their lower hardness.

Ultimately, the right choice comes down to both lifestyle and design. With thoughtful gemstone selection, quality craftsmanship and the right setting, coloured gemstone engagement rings can be enjoyed and treasured for generations.

Natural or lab-created

The most important thing is understanding the difference. Natural coloured gemstones are formed over millions of years within the earth, making each one completely unique in its colour, inclusions and character. Lab-created gemstones have the same chemical composition as their natural counterparts but are grown in a controlled environment over a much shorter period.

Neither is inherently better, it comes down to what the couple values most. Some people are drawn to the rarity, individuality and natural story behind a gemstone that has taken millions of years to form. Others appreciate the accessibility and consistency that lab-created gemstones can offer.

At Stelios, we specialise in natural gemstones because we believe their individuality is what makes them so special. No two natural stones are ever exactly alike, and that uniqueness is something many of our clients are looking for when creating a bespoke engagement ring.

Coloured stones vs diamonds on price

One of the biggest misconceptions is that all coloured gemstones are less expensive than diamonds. In reality, it depends entirely on the type of gemstone, its quality, rarity and origin. Some exceptional coloured gemstones, such as fine Australian sapphires, Padparadscha sapphires or high-quality rubies, can be just as valuable, or even more valuable, than diamonds of a similar size.

That said, coloured gemstones can often offer greater visual impact for the same budget. Rather than focusing solely on size, clients are investing in extraordinary colour, individuality and rarity. A beautifully cut sapphire or tourmaline with exceptional colour can create a striking centrepiece that’s completely unique.

It’s less about getting a bigger stone and more about finding the right stone.

How to choose the right stone

Choosing a coloured gemstone is one of my favourite parts of the process because every stone has its own personality and its own story. Unlike diamonds, coloured gemstones aren’t about finding the perfect one, they’re about finding the one that speaks to you.

The first question I ask is, what are you naturally drawn to? Sometimes clients arrive looking for a blue sapphire, but once they discover the incredible spectrum of colours available, teals, greens, yellows, pinks, peaches and everything in between, they often fall in love with something they never expected.

I also like to understand the story behind the piece. Is there a favourite colour, a place that’s meaningful to them, a family connection or a particular feeling they want the ring to capture? Those conversations help narrow down the right gemstone far better than simply choosing by size or price.

One thing many of our clients really appreciate is learning where their gemstone comes from. We work with trusted coloured gemstone dealers around the world, many of whom we’ve known for decades. Some source directly from the mines themselves, while others are sitting alongside the cutters as each stone is carefully shaped. That means we often know the journey of a gemstone before it ever reaches our workshop. It’s wonderful to be able to say, this sapphire came from Sri Lanka, or this teal sapphire was mined in Queensland, because suddenly the gemstone becomes more than just something beautiful, it’s a piece of the earth with its own history.

Lifestyle is equally important. If the ring will be worn every day, I’ll recommend gemstones that are durable enough for daily wear, such as sapphires and rubies, and then design a setting that protects the stone while allowing its colour to really shine.

Custom rings vs ready-made pieces

It’s a real mix. Some couples walk through the door knowing they want to create something completely unique, while others are looking for inspiration and would like to see finished pieces they can try on. We cater for both.

We have a beautiful collection of engagement rings and coloured gemstone pieces in-store, and they’re a fantastic starting point. Sometimes a client falls in love with one exactly as it is. More often, they’ll say, I love this setting, but I’d like a teal sapphire instead, or could we make this a little finer? That’s where the creative process begins.

The majority of our engagement rings do end up being custom made because people want something that reflects their own story. We begin with a conversation about their ideas, lifestyle and budget, then guide them through the process of selecting the perfect centre stone. Through our extensive network of trusted diamond and coloured gemstone dealers around the world, our clients have access to an incredible range of exceptional gemstones and diamonds rather than choosing from a limited display.

Once we’ve found the perfect stone, we design the ring around it. Because everything is designed and handcrafted here in our Perth workshop, our clients are involved throughout the journey, and we can show CAD designs and make refinements along the way.

Where the gemstone actually comes from

More and more couples want to know where their gemstone has come from and the journey it has taken before it reaches their ring. I think that’s a really positive shift, because every gemstone has a story, and it’s important that it’s one you can feel good about.

At Stelios Jewellers, we’ve spent decades building trusted relationships with coloured gemstone dealers around the world. These aren’t anonymous transactions, we know the people we’re buying from. Many of our dealers source directly from the mines, some are involved in the mining operations themselves, and others work alongside the cutters as each gemstone is transformed.

Whenever possible, we love sharing that story with our clients. Whether it’s a sapphire from Sri Lanka, an Australian sapphire from Queensland, or a beautiful spinel from Tanzania, knowing where it came from often makes the gemstone even more meaningful.

Ethics also extends beyond where the gemstone was mined. We believe in creating jewellery that lasts a lifetime, designed to be treasured, worn every day and eventually passed on to the next generation.

Choosing the right metal

The choice of metal can completely change the personality of a coloured gemstone. The same sapphire can look dramatically different depending on whether it’s set in yellow gold, white gold or platinum. That’s why I always encourage clients to look at the gemstone and the metal together rather than choosing them separately.

Yellow gold tends to bring warmth to a gemstone. It pairs beautifully with rich blue sapphires, emeralds, champagne diamonds and warmer coloured gemstones because it enhances their natural depth and richness. It also creates a lovely contrast with cooler coloured stones like teal sapphires.

White gold and platinum have a cleaner, more contemporary feel. They can make blues appear crisper, greens more vibrant and lighter coloured gemstones feel brighter.

Rose gold has become incredibly popular because of its warmth and softness. It complements peach, pink and champagne tones beautifully, but it can also create a stunning contrast with Australian teal sapphires or deep blue sapphires.

There’s no single combination that’s best because every gemstone is unique. We always place the gemstone against different metal colours and let the stone tell us what suits it. At the end of the day, the gemstone should always be the hero. The precious metal is there to frame it, protect it and bring out its very best qualities.

Kevin, and the stones I remember most

People often ask me what my favourite gemstone is, but honestly, it’s never just about the stone. It’s about the people I’ve met over the years and the stories behind them.

One of my favourite memories is a gentleman named Kevin. One day he walked into the workshop wearing shorts and a T-shirt and asked if the owner was around. He said, would Stelios be interested in buying some stones? I was curious, so I invited him in and asked him to show me what he had.

He opened up a parcel, and inside were some of the most incredible Australian parti sapphires I’d ever seen. The colours were extraordinary. As we got talking, he explained that he mined them himself in Queensland. That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship. To this day, Kevin still brings us some amazing sapphires, and every time he walks through the door, I know there’s going to be something special inside that parcel.

Another unforgettable experience was finding a Paraíba tourmaline while I was in Bangkok. Paraíbas have this incredible electric blue colour that almost glows. What made it even more memorable was meeting the people who had actually cut the stone.

One of the real highlights of my career was meeting Vlad Yavorsky at the Bangkok Gem & Jewellery Fair. In our industry, Vlad is considered one of the world’s great coloured gemstone dealers. He’s spent decades travelling to remote parts of the world sourcing extraordinary gemstones, and listening to him tell those stories while looking through his collection was something I’ll never forget.

We’ve spent decades building relationships with miners, cutters and gemstone dealers around the world. They’re not just suppliers, they’ve become friends. When I source a gemstone for a client, I’m often able to tell them exactly where it came from, who mined it, who cut it and the journey it took before arriving in our workshop. That’s what makes a piece of jewellery truly special. It’s not simply a beautiful gemstone, it’s the story, the people and the relationships behind it.

Advice if you don’t know where to start

My biggest piece of advice is not to feel like you need to have all the answers before you walk through the door. In fact, most people don’t.

A lot of couples come in saying, we know we want something unique, but we have no idea where to begin. That’s completely normal, and that’s where our job starts.

Come in with an open mind. You might think you want a particular gemstone or design, but once you start looking at different stones, trying on rings and talking through your ideas, you’ll often discover something you hadn’t even considered. Some of my favourite engagement rings have come from conversations that started with, we’re really not sure.

Don’t rush the process either. Choosing an engagement ring is one of the most significant jewellery purchases you’ll ever make, so take the time to enjoy it. Handle the gemstones, compare the colours, ask questions and learn about the stories behind them.

Most importantly, work with someone you trust. You’re not just buying a ring, you’re starting a relationship with the jeweller who’s helping you create it. At Stelios Jewellers, we’ve been doing this for decades, and we genuinely enjoy sharing our knowledge.

At the end of the day, the right ring isn’t the one that’s trending or the one someone else tells you to buy. It’s the one that feels like you.

About Stelios Jewellers: Stelios Palioudakis is a gemstone specialist at Stelios Jewellers, a bespoke jeweller handcrafting engagement rings and fine jewellery in Perth, sourcing coloured gemstones and diamonds through decades long relationships with dealers, miners and cutters around the world.

Photos by Stelios Jewellers. Header photo by Amanda Afton via Autumnal Orchard Wedding Inspiration