For more than 4,000 years, the diamond has symbolized the strength of a couple's devotion, often with the understanding that the bigger the diamond, the deeper the love. Recent estimates note that roughly 70 percent of American brides opt to wear the "King of Stones," but in some countries, such as Spain, France, Italy, India and Greece, other precious gemstones are just as prized for their unique beauty, mythological properties and historic associations with marriage.

Sapphire

The stone of wisdom and royalty, ancient cultures believed sapphires carried divine favor because they were sent from the heavens. Favored by monarchs, clerics and shamans, scholars note that the 10 Commandments were presented to Moses on a sapphire platter, and Buddhists use the blue gem to induce trances that enable them to communicate with the supernatural world to gain insight and inspiration.

Brilliant sapphire wedding rings are particularly common in Europe, especially during the Edwardian era and after Princess Diana and Princess Kate accepted an 18-carat sapphire and diamond engagement ring from their respective princes. In the symbolic language of jewels, the peaceful energy of the sapphire is said to promote a long, happy marriage because it has the power to bestow faith, communication, honesty and understanding upon the wearer.

Although blue is the most common color, the September birthstone is available in a variety of shades, including yellow to maintain harmony and promote fidelity in a marriage as well as pink to promote forgiveness and strength in difficult situations.

Ruby

Second only to the diamond in its durability, the vivid red hue of rubies has a long association with passionate love. Ancient civilizations, from the Aztecs, Sinhalese and Chinese to Christians and Hindus, revered the scarlet stone as the King of Gems, the one that surpasses all others in virtue.

The birthstone of fiery personalities born under the July sun, rubies are believed to open the heart so that the wearer can accept all the love and good fortune that is meant to come their way. It is also prophesied that rubies can protect the wearer from having impure thoughts, change colors to signal health problems or crack to forewarn of coming troubles. In Greece, a coiled snake ring with glistening ruby eyes has been traditionally given by lovers to represent their eternal union. It also represents the Greek god of healing, Asclepius.

Emerald

Backed by a 6000-year history, the emerald was the sacred stone of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, and Venus, the Roman goddess of passion, as well as Cleopatra, the venerated pharaoh who wielded great power over influential men. Believed to attract good fortune, used to foretell the future and worn to promote good health, the stone is used by numerous cultures as an amulet to heal the heart and eyes as well as ease the pains of childbirth.

Although wearing an emerald engagement or wedding ring is a slowly rising trend in America thanks to celebrities such as Halle Barry and Kate Hudson, the earthy gemstone is a common betrothal gift in Ireland. With its rich green tone representing change and rebirth, the May gemstone offers a particularly appropriate sentiment for a marriage. In fact, emeralds are the traditional gift of the 55th wedding anniversary.

Believed to contain aphrodisiac powers, emeralds also endow the wearer with devotion, tranquillity and wisdom to ensure a blissful marriage. Legend holds that the stone can change its color to inform the owner of any unfaithfulness from their partner. A long-held wedding superstition states that an emerald given to a lover on a Monday will lose its lucky properties.