Engagement rings in Chicago
Avi The Gem Guy designs custom engagement rings with natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds and colored gemstones like emeralds, sapphires and rubies. Compare individual stones, then design a setting around the one you choose, at our Chicago showroom or on a live video call.
Showroom 5 S. Wabash Ave, Suite 1010 · By appointment or live video
Choose your center stone
Every option is on the table. We'll show you each side by side so you can compare the look and the price.
Natural diamond
The classic. The hardest gemstone, formed in the earth, rarer and priced accordingly.
Natural diamondsLab-grown diamond
Physically and chemically a diamond, grown above ground. A much bigger stone for the same budget.
Lab-grown diamondsSapphire
Nearly as hard as diamond, so it holds up to daily wear. Blue is the classic, with pink, yellow and padparadscha alongside it.
SapphiresRuby
The same mineral as sapphire, in red, and just as hard. Color is what drives the price.
RubiesEmerald
The most distinctive choice. Needs a protective setting, and repays it with color nothing else has.
EmeraldsOther gemstones
Alexandrite, spinel, tanzanite, tourmaline, aquamarine and more. Durability varies, so we'll talk through how each one wears.
All gemstonesHow they compare
| Stone | Hardness (Mohs) | Everyday wear | Price for the size | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural diamond | 10 | Excellent | Highest | Graded on the 4 Cs, with an independent grading report |
| Lab-grown diamond | 10 | Excellent | Much lower than natural | Same sparkle and durability; the report states it's lab-grown |
| Sapphire & ruby | 9 | Excellent | Varies widely | Color and treatment drive value; heating is common and disclosed |
| Alexandrite | 8.5 | Excellent | Varies widely | Changes color: green in daylight, red under lamplight. Natural stones are rare |
| Spinel | 8 | Excellent | Varies widely | Almost always untreated, in red, pink, grey and blue |
| Emerald | 7.5–8 | Good, with a protective setting | Varies widely | Inclusions are normal; oil or resin treatment is common and disclosed |
| Aquamarine | 7.5–8 | Good | Varies widely | The same mineral as emerald but far cleaner; heating to deepen the blue is common |
| Tourmaline | 7–7.5 | Good, with care | Varies widely | The widest color range of any gem; often heated |
| Amethyst & citrine | 7 | Moderate; edges soften over the years | Low | Both are quartz, and most citrine is heat-treated amethyst |
| Tanzanite | 6–7 | Needs a protective setting | Varies widely | Can cleave if knocked, and is almost always heated |
| Opal | 5.5–6.5 | Not for daily wear | Varies widely | Holds water and can craze; better in a piece worn occasionally |
What to look for
Diamonds: the 4 Cs
- Cut decides the sparkle more than anything else.
- Color runs from colorless to faint yellow; the setting metal changes how it reads.
- Clarity only matters if you can see it without magnification.
- Carat is weight, not size. Two stones of the same weight can face up differently.
Colored stones: color first
- Color is most of the value: rich and even, not too dark or too pale.
- Treatment is common and should always be disclosed with a lab report.
- Origin affects the typical look and price of some stones.
- Clarity standards differ by stone. Emeralds are expected to have inclusions; sapphires less so.
Popular settings
Any of these works with any stone. For softer stones like emerald, we lean toward the more protective styles.
Solitaire
One stone held by prongs. Lets the most light in and keeps the focus on the center stone.
Three stone
A center stone with one either side. Adds width across the finger without a halo.
Side stone
Smaller stones set along the shoulders, leading the eye in to the center stone.
Halo
Small diamonds around the center stone. More sparkle, a bigger look, and a buffer against bumps.
Bezel
A rim of gold around the whole stone. The most protective choice, with a clean, modern look.
Vintage
Detail worked into the metal itself — milgrain, engraving, filigree — for a ring that reads as older.
Colored stones are our specialty
Most jewelers carry a few colored stones. As gemologists, we buy and grade them individually, so you can compare real options instead of choosing from a catalog. If you're considering an emerald, sapphire or ruby, you're in the right place.
How it works
From first conversation to the ring on your hand. Avi and his team guide you through each step.
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Consultation
Style, budget, timeline, and which stones you're considering. In the showroom or on video.
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Choose the stone
We pull diamonds or gemstones that fit, and you compare them side by side.
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Design
We sketch and render the setting. You approve it before anything is made.
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Make
The ring is cast, the stone is set, and everything is checked under magnification.
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Delivery
Pick it up in Chicago or receive it fully insured, with its grading report.
Engagement rings we've made
He was patient, insightful, and made the unnerving process of getting my wife a 10th anniversary gift a real joy.
See rings in person in Chicago
5 S. Wabash Ave, Suite 1010Chicago, IL
Monday to Friday, 10am–5pm
Visits are by appointment so we can have stones ready for you. Not in Chicago? Book a live video call instead, and every ring ships fully insured.
Engagement ring questions
Should I choose a natural or lab-grown diamond?
Both are real diamonds with the same hardness and sparkle. Natural diamonds are rarer and cost more. Lab-grown diamonds give you a larger stone for the same budget. We'll show you both side by side so you can see the difference for yourself.
Is a colored stone durable enough for an engagement ring?
Sapphires and rubies are, easily; they're second only to diamond in hardness. Emeralds are softer and usually included, so we recommend a bezel, halo or other protective setting.
Can I buy if I'm not in Chicago?
Yes. Book a live video call and we'll show you the stones under different lighting, send photos and video, then ship the finished ring fully insured.
Can I return a custom ring?
No. A custom ring is made for your stone and your finger, so it can't go back on the shelf — custom pieces are non-refundable. That's why we confirm the stone, the metal and the design with you, and you approve a render before anything is cast. If something about the finished ring isn't what we agreed, tell us and we'll put it right.