If you and your partner are one of those couples who have made a conscious decision to eschew a diamond engagement ring in favour of something more offbeat, unique and original (while no less beautiful), a yellow sapphire engagement ring just might be the perfect jewel for you. Sapphires are exotic-looking, sophisticated stones, and will look elegant on any finger, especially with the right setting and band to complement them.

When buying this kind of stone and ring, however, it is important to be as aware and informed as when buying a pure diamond. Just because yellow sapphire rings are not as popular or in-demand as diamond ones, it does not mean that there are not people out there looking to capitalise on your lack of information on the subject. As such, there are a number of useful bits of information that you and your partner should have in mind when setting out to look for your perfect yellow sapphire engagement ring.

First of all, it is important to be aware of the fact that a yellow sapphire engagement ring should be significantly cheaper than jewels with other types of stones, including blue sapphires. This is because the yellow variant of this stone, while extremely beautiful, is less in-demand than the traditional blue kind, which allows rings topped by it to be sold at a more affordable price. So, be careful not to let anyone overcharge you for this type of ring. Ask for a quote on both yellow and blue sapphires from the jeweller and if the prices are approximate (or even higher for the yellow sapphire), go with someone else.

The second important thing to know is that yellow sapphire is a considerably durable material, losing only sapphire engagement ring to diamonds when it comes to hardness. So if the stone on top of that supposed yellow sapphire engagement ring looks a little bit flimsy or breakable, beware as it is probably a fake! Also try and make sure that the stone you are buying is of triple A grade. Much like with diamonds, sapphires (both yellow and blue) are graded along a scale according to purity, and just like with diamonds, triple A is the highest possible ranking they can achieve. By aiming for stones of this calibre, you can therefore be sure you are purchasing the highest possible quality of sapphire for your engagement ring. Natural stones are also preferable over synthetic ones, since they are more durable, more consistent in colour, and still relatively cheap.

You should not necessarily be put off, however, if the stone you are looking at is not perfectly round. Just because a sapphire does not have an exactly geometrical shape, it does not mean it is automatically fake. Yellow sapphires come in all shapes and sizes, and you should treat this, not as a source of suspicion, but as a bonus point. The fact that there are so many options available means that you are far less restricted in the choice of centre stones with which to top your ring.