What Does a Rainbow Ring Mean?
Has the rainbow jewelry trend caught your eye? Find out what a rainbow ring really means and how to get your hands on the multicolored gemstone trend.
This article was originally published on a WordPress blog that I’ve retired in favor of Substack. Thanks for reading!
Somewhere over the rainbow… Dorothy just ordered herself a majestically multicolored ring from her favorite jewelry designer. (Or was that me?)
If you're also eyeing up rainbow rings and falling under their spell, you may be wondering, what is this rainbow jewelry trend all about – and what does a rainbow ring mean? Is this just a fashion fad or does it hold more significance?
Follow the rainbow to find out!
When did the rainbow ring trend begin?
Jewelry makers have been mixing and matching colorful gemstones for as long as style-setting humans have been buying and wearing them. But, according to today’s fashion media, the rainbow jewelry trend has only been making waves for a few years:
Who What Wear forecasted the emerging trend back in fall 2017.
Glamour offered a dozen ideas on how to sprinkle sparkling ROYGBIV brights into your accessories rotation in summer 2018.
The Zoe Report called for the trend’s cheerful, colorful return in spring 2019.
Who What Wear was “still obsessed” with rainbow jewelry in summer 2019.
Harper’s Bazaar saw loads of colorful jewelry on the runways for spring 2020.
So, as you can see, if you’re only just beginning to search for your own pot of gold (complete with dazzling jewels, of course), you’re not too late! The rainbow jewelry trend is thankfully still glowing brightly.
Now’s your chance to taste the rainbow trend
Spring 2020 is actually the perfect time to add a multicolored masterpiece to your jewelry box. Just as we’re emerging out of black puffy jackets and midwinter blues, little green buds and colorful blossoms are gingerly popping up out of the ground. A bright burst of color feels just right for this time of year and it will be even more welcome as summertime rolls around. Plus, given the dark cloud of COVID-19, we could all use a bit of cheering up right about now.
As more and more jewelry designers are putting their own spin on the multicolor movement, there are even more rainbow ring styles to choose from with options at every price point. That means everything from gleaming gold rainbow rings with the finest hand-selected gemstones to affordable demi-fine rings and fashion rings with colorful CZs that won’t bust the budget.
Let’s dive into the meaning of rainbow rings and what gemstones jewelers favor for them. Then, check out my post featuring 14 ideas for how to wear rainbow rings!
What gemstones are used in rainbow rings?
Just because a rainbow gemstone ring features a wide color spectrum doesn’t mean it has to include lots of different stones. In fact, a lot of rainbow rings are designed and created with just one mineral variety. Here are the top three gemstones you’ll find in rainbow rings:
Sapphire
Blue isn’t the only color for the sneaky sapphire. In fact, you can create a rainbow sapphire ring that hits all the colors of the rainbow! To do this, you’ll need what are called fancy color sapphires. According to the GIA, these can be orange, yellow, green, purple, and pink. Earth-mined sapphires can appear quite vibrant naturally. But, like other gems, they’re often heat-treated to intensify their color.
The only sapphire color you won’t technically find is red. However, since sapphire is made from the mineral corundum, and we consider red corundum gems to be rubies, you essentially can get the full spectrum from just one mineral.
Topaz
The GIA explains that topaz comes in a wide array of rich hues that can rival even the loveliest fancy color sapphires. Colorless versions of this gemstone appear abundantly in nature and are often treated so that they take on topaz’s signature bright blue hue. Topaz also comes in red, orange, yellow, green, purple, and pink, making it an ideal choice for rainbow jewelry.
Cubic zirconia
Affordable rainbow-style jewelry typically features colorful CZs in an array of saturated hues. Cubic zirconia is a synthetic stone that’s not found in nature, so it can be created to sparkle in any color in the spectrum. Thanks to their cleverly engineered clarity, CZs dazzle like diamonds – and although they are often considered faux diamonds, they can be beautiful in their own right.
What does a rainbow ring mean?
As with all other types of rings, a rainbow-colored ring can mean whatever you want it to – whether that means your ardent love of fashion or your love for someone else. While the meaning of a rainbow ring is ultimately up to you, here are just a few themes you might find in a rainbow ring’s meaning:
Your inner 90s kid
Brit + Co. and Bustle have both connected the rainbow jewelry trend to fashion’s obsession with 90s nostalgia and those colorful, carefree childhood years. When combined with other candy-colored hues and technicolor manicures, a playful rainbow gemstone ring can instantly bring out your Lisa-Frank-loving side, in a grown-up way.
LGBT+ pride
When we think of rainbows, many of us picture the LGBT+ flag and everything it stands for. A rainbow ring doesn’t necessarily have to be a symbol of your gender expression, sexuality, or relationship to the LGBT+ community, but it certainly can be. In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Vogue traced the history of the LGBT+ flag and recommended a slew of rainbow jewels vibrant enough for a Pride parade and beautiful enough to wear throughout the year.
A symbol of hope
Iridescent ribbons of color often appear in the sky after dark, dramatic storms, making them a fitting metaphor for the trials of life – including the current conditions. After you’ve weathered a storm of your own, a piece of rainbow jewelry can symbolize the light, calm, and serenity that comes afterward. If you’re buying yourself a piece of jewelry to commemorate a new beginning, a colorful band of gemstones may be just what your hopeful spirit is looking for.
Connection to the divine
Because of its mysterious beauty, the rainbow is a symbol as old as civilization itself. In Greco-Roman mythology, it was a bridge between Heaven and Earth; a Greek messenger goddess called Iris personified this natural phenomenon. The rainbow is also an important symbol in Christianity, where it represents a promise in the book of Genesis. After Noah’s ark braved the great flood, God sent a rainbow as a peaceful covenant between Heaven and Earth. Whatever faith you practice, rainbow jewelry can be a beautiful way to remind yourself of a spiritual connection.
Just-for-fun fashion
Rainbow rings can certainly hold lots of meaning for their wearer, but they can also be worn for pure enjoyment. After sporting a minimalist ring stack for a while, you might be ready to inject a bright burst of color into your collection, just because. The Zoe Report recommends rainbow brights as a way to dig yourself out of a sartorial slump, and Glamour has considered the rainbow ring meaning to be as simple as “just plain fun.”
What does a rainbow ring mean to you? Shine on with this radiant jewelry trend!