Mined in the rugged landscapes of the American West, Montana sapphires captivate with their breathtaking array of hues, from deep teal to sky blue and golden green. Their natural beauty, ethical sourcing, and affordability make them a popular alternative to diamonds, winning the hearts of those who seek something truly unique and timeless.

Rachel and Jorge Jaime Selected a Blue-Green Montana Sapphire Nicole Mera ring

The Proposal
Jorge and his future bride first crossed paths in college, but their story truly began five years later. Both deeply connected to the sea, he as a mariner and she as a field biologist, their lives were intertwined long before love found them. At a birthday party in Galveston, a simple request to sit on Jorge’s coffee table sparked something unexpected. When Jorge was ready to propose, he planned a day filled with surprises and cherished reunions. As the sun set, Rachel was led to the historic Mardi Gras Arch, where Jorge had set the stage for the perfect moment. Waiting for her in the middle of the street was the same coffee table from their first spark. Surrounded by family and friends, he sat her down and asked, “Can I sit with you forever?” before presenting a rose in honor of her late father.

Ring Story
Wanting a ring as unique as their love, they turned to jewelry designer Nicole Mera. Rachel wanted a stone that mirrored the ocean’s beauty, leading to the perfect Montana sapphire, a mesmerizing blend of blue and green. The engagement ring, designed to emulate crashing waves, was paired with a diamond band symbolizing sea foam. Inside, a hidden detail carried a deeply personal touch. Before ever saying “I love you,” Jorge would squeeze her hand three times, a silent yet powerful expression of love. Three tiny diamond stars were set inside the ring, placed closest to her heart, as a constant reminder of their unspoken bond. Jorge’s wedding band was no less meaningful, a custom piece by Castro Smith, completing their deeply symbolic and sentimental rings.

Nicole Mera’s Notes
Nicole Mera loves working with Montana sapphires, noting that no two are exactly alike. Their range of blues, teals, greens, and oranges makes them a distinctive and meaningful choice for engagement rings. With exceptional durability, they are meant to last a lifetime just like true love. She recommends viewing gemstones in natural light to fully appreciate their beauty. During a visit to the Potentate sapphire mine in Montana with Parle Gems, she witnessed how rare larger sapphires are and how each stone has its own character. Her advice is to trust your instincts. If a sapphire speaks to you, do not hesitate because it may be one of a kind.

Photographer Credit: Poppy Seed Images

Ariana and Tazman Opted For a Montana Blue Sapphire Krikawa ring

The Proposal
Ariana and Tazman’s engagement was beautifully planned by Tazman. While visiting his sisters in Petaluma, California, they hiked through Jack London State Park. Amidst redwoods and misty oaks, they found a heart-shaped arrangement of branches and a bench inscribed with a poignant love quote. Near a foggy pond, Tazman dropped to one knee and proposed. Overwhelmed with emotion, Ariana said yes, making for a perfect, nature-filled moment.

The Ring
Ariana envisioned a ring that balanced modern and traditional design with a colored gemstone. She was drawn to “elvish” styles but wanted a timeless feel. With guidance from Krikawa, she chose a 14K green gold band for its organic look and floral details, reflecting her love for nature. Wanting something unique and personal, she opted for a Montana Blue Sapphire instead of a diamond. The sapphire, ethically sourced in the U.S., resonated with her values and aesthetic. Blue has always been her favorite color, and her mother’s engagement ring also featured sapphires. The final design combined nature-inspired elements with vintage charm, making it a perfect fit.

Krikawa’s Notes
Ariana arrived with clear ideas, making the design process seamless. Her custom ring blended elements from Krikawa’s collection into a distinctive, nature-inspired piece. For colored gemstone rings, Krikawa guides couples through durability considerations, recommending stones with a hardness of 9+ for longevity. Once the perfect gem is selected, they provide transparency on treatments and care tips to preserve its brilliance. Ariana and Tazman’s ring is a meaningful, lasting symbol of their love.

One unique aspect of Krikawa’s process is ensuring that each couple feels involved in selecting their perfect stone. Ariana and Tazman took the extra step of scheduling an in-person appointment to view their top sapphire choices, allowing them to compare subtle differences in hue and clarity firsthand. This hands-on experience helped them make a confident, informed decision, and it’s something Lisa, owner of Krikawa,  always encouragse for couples choosing a custom ring. Engaging with the gemstones directly adds a personal connection to the ring, making it even more special.

Ambar Lopez & Randy Palacios chose a Bi-Colored Montana Yellow Sapphire Bario Neal ring

The Proposal
Randy proposed to Ambar on the Santa Ana Volcano in El Salvador. As an outdoorsy couple that loves adventure, he surprised her with the perfect adventurous and romantic day. When they got married, they took a helicopter to a glacier in Alaska, continuing to do things in an adventurous manner that feels perfect for their relationship.

Ring Story
This same love for adventure and their inclination to step outside of tradition led Ambar and Randy to choose her beautiful yellow sapphire Bario Neal ring. Ambar loves that her ring reminds her of the sun, it shines brilliantly and feels strong like their love. This, and knowing the ring came from a shop that is woman-owned, locally made, and ethically sourced made it the perfect choice.

Bario Neal’s Notes
Ambar and Randy knew they wanted a really special yellow or apricot colored Sapphire to be the star of her ring, but they were open to a few different designs. So, Seth from Bario Neal helped them find ring designs that they really enjoyed, and then sourced a few different bi-colored Montana sapphire options that each had some unique color zoning. This allowed them to see which stone spoke to them the most, and allowed for the perfect design to fall into place from there. Once they chose their gorgeous sapphire, Seth helped them choose the perfect accent stones to help amplify the colors in their ring. They settled on a beautiful, warm yellow that helped illuminate the yellow hues in their stone to create her ultimate dream engagement ring.

Photographer credit: @courtneyblairphoto

Sponsored by AGTA  (The American Gem Trade Association)