Sapphire or Diamonds, which gemstone is the best for you? Sapphires and Diamonds are the most precious and in demand gemstones perfect for engagement and wedding rings. They look very identical and people get confused in identifying whether are they white sapphires or diamonds.
In this blog, we are going to discuss white sapphire vs diamond so let’s get started.
What is a Sapphire?
A sapphire is a naturally occurring shiny and durable gemstone that belongs to the corundum gem family. Sapphires also include elements of some chemical compounds like iron, titanium, cobalt, and silicon which gives them more vivid colors. Sapphires are popular for their intense blue color while they exist in more rainbow colors like pink, green, and white.
What is a Diamond?
A diamond is a crystalline form gemstone purified from pure carbon which is the strongest and oldest material known to man. Diamonds are the hardest gemstones among all gem families with a full score of 10/10 on a Mohs Hardness scale. Diamonds are usually white-colored or transparent crystalline gemstones. Diamonds occur naturally and can be synthesized in labs also.
What’s the Difference Between Diamond and Sapphire?
Sapphires are shiny, durable, and hard gemstones with a score of 9/10 on the Mohs scale. On the other hand, diamonds are pure crystalline white-colored or transparent gemstones and the hardest gemstones of all stones.
They both look so beautiful and identical that people often are unable to differentiate between sapphires and diamonds. Let’s have a look at some key differences for diamond vs sapphires:
1. Composition
Diamonds are purified and crystalline forms of carbon while sapphires are part of the corundum family which is Aluminum oxide.
2. Colors
Diamonds are typically colorless but are also found in different colors due to some impurities or other structural effects. On the other hand, sapphires are famous for their blue color but are also available in rainbow colors like pink, yellow, white, and violet.
3. Hardness
Diamonds are the hardest natural gemstones with the highest score of 10/10 on the Mohs hardness scale. Sapphires are considered the second-highest gemstones with a score of 9/10.
4. Durability
Diamonds are more durable as compared to sapphires due to their hard nature. They are more scratch-resistant and can be cleaned using strong chemicals. Conversely, sapphires are more susceptible to scratches so they must be prevented from interacting with sharp and hard materials.
5. Shine and brightness
Diamonds have a high refractive index, and reflect most of the light internally due to high refractive index. Therefore, diamonds are shinier and sparkle than sapphires. Conversely, Sapphires are less shiny than diamonds due to their low refractive index but they emit a subtle shine giving elegance.
6. Symbolism and Meaning
Diamonds symbolize love, eternity, and commitment while sapphires are associated with wisdom, good fortune, and depth of love. People consider sapphire as a charm for good fortune.
7. Price
Sapphires are less expensive per carat as compared to diamonds due to diamonds’ rareness, shine, popularity, and demand.
| Diamonds | Sapphire |
| Diamonds are more expensive than sapphires and cost per carat between $2000-$14,000 approximately depending on the quality and 4C’s. | Sapphires are less expensive than diamonds and cost between $1700 to $10,000 based on the quality and the 4C’s. |
The price of sapphires varies depending on the 4 C’s color, clarity, carat weight, and cut, same is for diamonds.
Can you tell the difference between Diamond and White Sapphires?
Yes, Diamond and white sapphires are yet very identical but they have some major visual dissimilarities. Although both are colorless or transparent, their white shine and sparkle (brilliance) and colored sparkle (fire) make a huge visual difference. Moreover, their dirt handling differentiates them from each other.
Do white sapphires sparkle like Diamonds?
Yes, white sapphires sparkle like diamonds but their brilliance makes a huge difference. White sapphire sparkle is white-gray whereas diamond sparkle in rainbow colors with some white color mixed in. Diamond’s high refractive index enables it to sparkle even through dirt and oil but sapphires need regular cleaning to sparkle.
How do you know is a white sapphire?
White sapphires are the pure and colorless version of the corundum crystal which is completely natural. Their excellent clarity, and shine with no internal minerals make them elegant just like a diamond. They also sparkle and exhibit excellent light reflection in direct sunlight but without color.
What’s the difference between diamond and blue sapphire?
A blue diamond is a pure form of carbon with a small amount of boron trapped in the crystal structure. Blue sapphires are made of corundum also known as aluminum oxide with traces of titanium responsible for their elegant color.
Which is more expensive blue diamond or sapphire?
Natural blue diamonds are exceptionally rare as compared to blue sapphires and are becoming difficult to find. Due to their limited availability, they have crossed high price records and rising even more. According to Natural Color Diamonds Association (NCDIA), blue diamonds’ prices have increased an average of 12-17%, in the last decade.
What’s the difference between Diamond and Moissanite?
| Parameter | Diamond | Moissanite |
| Composition | Diamonds are crystalline forms of carbon after purification. | Moissanites are composed of silicon carbide. |
| Hardness | Diamonds are the hardest gemstone with a score of 10/10 on the Mohs scale. | Moissanite is also harder having a score of 9.25/10 on the Mohs scale. |
| Sparkle | Diamonds exhibit good brilliance and fire due to their high refractive index. | Moissanite exhibits strong fire sparkle as compared to diamonds. |
What’s the difference between Sapphire and Moissanite?
| Parameter | Sapphire | Moissanite |
| Composition | Sapphires are natural gemstones composed of corundum or aluminum oxide. | Moissanites are composed of silicon carbide. |
| Hardness | Sapphires are less hard with a score of 9/10 on the Mohs scale. | Moissanite is harder than sapphires having a score of 9.25/10 on the Mohs scale. |
| Sparkle | Sapphires sparkle less due to their low refractive index. | Moissanite exhibits stronger fire sparkle than sapphires. |
Conclusion
White sapphires and diamonds are very similar in appearance but they still differ from each other having distinct attributes. They differ from each other in terms of brilliance, fire, shine, and hardness. In this blog, we discussed the difference between white sapphire and diamond for identifying these valuable gemstones. Both are precious, the choice depends on the user’s needs, desires, and budget.
Are you looking for high-quality and elegant diamonds and sapphire rings? Sayabling Rings is the best platform to buy reliable, high-quality, and precious engagement rings.
FAQs
Which is better for engagement ring White Sapphire or Diamond?
White sapphires are less expensive and less durable than diamonds with elegance and beauty. In terms of affordability, they are the better option. White sapphires may not be a good option for engagement rings due to low durability. On the other hand, Diamonds offer long-lasting durability with their unmatched brilliance.
Which is better White Sapphire or Moissanite?
White sapphires are a better option in terms of affordability as they are less expensive but less durable. In terms of durability, Moissanite is more durable than sapphire but is expensive. Moreover, they sparkle more than sapphires. Hence, Moissanites are an affordable option for greater brilliance and fire than diamonds.
Is White Sapphire better than Cubic Zirconia (CZ)?
Yes, White sapphires are better than Cubic Zirconia in terms of durability and hardness. Sapphires are harder with a score of 9/10 than Cubic Zirconia having a score of 8.5 out of 10. Due to its slight hardness and durability, white sapphire is a better option.