Beautiful, tough-like nails, sapphires are made from corundum, a hard mineral that gets the 9 grade on the Mohs scale of hardness. Diamonds are the only gem to get a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale, but sapphires are close behind, able to easily take everyday wear.
Sapphires are among the strongest minerals. Sapphires have a rating of 9.0 on the Moh scale because they are a form of corundum. So they are weaker than diamonds, as strong as rubies, and stronger than emeralds. This means that sapphires may be scratched by diamonds if the two are stored together.
On the Mohs mineral hardness scale, sapphires are at 9, placing them behind only diamonds (10). Ranked 1–10, diamond being the hardest mineral with 10 being ranked, sapphire is ranked right behind it with 9 on the Mohs scale.
Diamonds are rated ten on the Mohs Hardness Scale, sapphires are rated at nine. While sapphires are tough and long-lasting, they are not quite as tough as a diamond. Sapphires are an amazing option for engagement rings, as their toughness and durability mean that the stones – just like your love – will last for life. The high hardness makes both the Sapphire and Diamond engagement rings the logical choice for daily wear.
A comparison between sapphire versus diamond engagement rings shows many similarities, so the biggest factor when choosing between both stones is simply personal preference. When it comes down to choosing between Sapphire or Diamond engagement rings, sometimes it is simply impossible to decide.
Sapphire Engagement Rings Vs. Diamond Engagement Rings
The wedding band is a huge, life-long decision, and choosing only one ring is incredibly difficult given all of the different options available. Blue sapphires are making a comeback, and if you are looking for an engagement ring with some sparkle, it is important to understand the differences between buying diamonds vs. buying sapphires. While blue is the most popular (and expensive) shade of sapphire, white sapphire has been becoming popular as an alternative to diamonds as a wedding band stone.
The gentle sparkle of white sapphire is ideal for a vintage setting, and you can get a much larger white sapphire for the price of a smaller, medium-sized diamond. For the same bite of your engagement ring budget, you can get a much larger white sapphire versus a diamond. If you just love how a white sapphire looks, and you do not mind it being a different kind than a diamond, you could end up with a much larger stone for your ring.
Colored stones are still priced on a per-carat basis, and the larger a sapphire is the more rarity there is and therefore higher per-carat prices. A 3-carat sapphire, which is as well-cut, cleaned, and has a color that is comparable to the 1-carat gem, would be so much rarer that it would probably cost closer to $2,500 per carat, which would come out to $7,500 per stone. Even sapphires at the higher ends of the price spectrum are not going to be comparable to a diamond, like this 1.13-carat blue sapphire at $2,610.
Price Comparisons for Sapphire Rings and Others
Sapphire rings and diamond rings often will have similar prices, however, that is because larger-sized sapphires are used more frequently. Of course, both diamonds and sapphires have a large price range depending on the size, shape, cutting, color, quality, etc. While both diamonds and sapphires are rare and valuable, buying jewelry that features the combination of these gemstones could cut down the amount of money that you would have to spend for multi-stone rings that feature only one or the other.
Sapphires are an excellent alternative stone choice for brides who would rather stand out from the crowd, as they are far less common than diamond rings. Many sapphires are cut poorly, which can affect color and brightness. Diamonds are cut separately, allowing for diamond brilliance and fire, but with sapphires, one has to trust gem cutters’ judgment when it comes to maximizing the unique mix of color and clarity in every single sapphire.
Hardness and durability concerns should not affect your choice of either diamonds or white sapphires. Whether you opt for a diamond or a white sapphire, you can feel assured your stones are ethically sourced if you purchase them from a reputable retailer. It may be easy to look at a transparent gemstone and assume that it will share properties with diamonds (the stone that you are probably most familiar with), but it is good to be aware of some of the key differences between diamonds (mined vs. lab-grown), moissanite, and white sapphires before you decide which is the right one for you.
Sapphires and Diamonds as Stone Choices
While this stone is prone to damage compared to a diamond, sapphires’ higher durability makes it a more popular choice compared to other gemstones, like emeralds or rubies. Sapphire is not quite as hard as a diamond or moissanite, but it is still one of the hardest gems. Sapphire is the most sought-after gem after diamond because of its brilliant range of blues, other vibrant colors, and durability.
Nearly as long-lasting as a diamond, sapphire is the ultimate long-lasting jewelry option, which is yet another reason it is favored in rings. Both diamonds and sapphires resist scratches caused by everyday hazards, such as fingernails, coins from a bag or pocket, countertops, and even house dust (which has a hardness of 7). Sapphire chemical resistance means that your gemstones will not get etched or lose their shine in normal conditions. Diamonds may scratch it; so may man-made materials containing silicon carbide, which, at Mohs ratings between 9 and 10, is harder than sapphire.
Because both minerals and sapphire crystals are extremely hard, they are virtually unflexible. If you are not as strict about your watches and are unsure whether or not sapphire is necessary, you can always just order a regular mineral crystal for your watch.
Sapphire gives diamonds a run for its money in terms of beauty and durability, and we cannot decide on the one color from a wide selection of options we love most. While sapphires are graded like diamonds or any gemstone, a sapphire that is intensely colored, but is slightly dull, or has one or two additional imperfections, will not stand out to a casual observer, particularly with a diamond at its core so brilliantly sparkling.
