gemstone and alternative engagement rings
From sapphires to salt and pepper diamonds, every stone is sourced intentionally and designed around your vision.
In-person in Calgary • Virtual across Canada • By Appointment Only
choosing a gemstone for your ring
Designed around your chosen stone, your story, and your budget
Guidance on durability and daily wear for coloured and alternative stones
Quotes provided before design work begins
In-person in Calgary or virtual across Canada
Choosing a gemstone often means choosing something more personal.
A specific colour.
A heritage cut.
Or a look that feels less traditional.
West of Fourth sources hues and cuts not typically stocked in traditional jewellery stores, then evaluates durability, structure, and budget before any design work begins. Each stone is reviewed under the guidance of a GIA Graduate Diamonds and Coloured Stones professional so the final piece is both meaningful and built to last.
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Available in a full spectrum of hues—including blue, green, teal, yellow, pink, and bi-colour variations—sapphires offer remarkable range for engagement rings. Their colour diversity allows each piece to feel distinctive while remaining timeless.
Durable and well suited for daily wear, sapphires provide a practical alternative to traditional diamond engagement rings while allowing for far greater colour expression.
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Montana sapphires are especially known for their muted, natural palette and subtle internal character. They often appear in soft blues, smoky greens, teal tones, and steel-coloured shades that feel understated and organic.
Each stone is unique, and many clients are drawn to Montana sapphires for their natural variation and quietly distinctive colour.
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Defined by internal markings that create an organic, textured appearance. Each stone is visually distinct, with a spectrum from soft grey to deep, storm-like tones.
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Modern, minimal, and bold. Black diamonds offer strong visual contrast and a refined, architectural look within custom structures.
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Spinel, tourmaline, aquamarine, morganite, and other coloured stones thoughtfully selected and reviewed for hue, clarity, durability, and individual character.
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Portrait cuts, kites, shields, and elongated octagons offer a different look than standard brilliant diamonds. Their faceting creates a softer, more understated light effect and allows for distinctive silhouettes.
Each stone is selected individually to suit the overall design and proportion of the ring.
For many clients, the stone is the starting point, whether that’s a specific shade of teal, a warmer champagne diamond, or a rose cut that feels distinct from standard brilliant options.
Rather than selecting from a limited in-store inventory, stones are sourced intentionally to suit the overall design and direction of the ring. Colour, cut, and proportion are reviewed carefully so the final piece feels cohesive and well considered.
Clients often come to West of Fourth looking for stones they haven’t seen in traditional jewellery stores. The options below represent some of the most requested alternatives.
stone options & sourcing
Alternative Engagement Ring Designs
how it works
Want a deeper look at how the custom process works?
Explore the full design process →
Designed With Experience and intention
West of Fourth is led by Melissa Mitchell, a Calgary-based custom jewellery designer with over a decade of experience in bespoke design and gemstone sourcing. Melissa holds Graduate Diamonds, Coloured Stones, and Applied Jewellery Professional (AJP) diplomas from the Gemological Institute of America.
Each project is guided personally from consultation through completion, ensuring a consistent, thoughtful experience from start to finish.
About West of Fourth →
begin your engagement ring design
In-person in Calgary • Virtual across Canada • By Appointment Only
Looking for a classic or lab grown diamond? Check out our custom engagement rings page.