The gorgeous blue sapphire is well-known, while the white sapphire, its cousin, is less well-known. However, this stunning jewel is worth noticing. It has a diamond-like appearance and is also cheaper.
However, there are significant variations between these two valuable stones, just as there are between cubic zirconia and diamond. So, in this white sapphire vs diamond comparison, we’ll go over the differences as well as some other lovely options for real diamonds, such as lab-grown diamonds, if you’re looking for a comparable stone for your engagement ring.
What Is White Sapphire?
Understanding how various gemstones are formed is necessary to comprehend what a white sapphire is. A diamond, for example, is produced from carbon that dwells under the earth’s surface and has been subjected to extreme heat and pressure over millions of years.
Colored sapphires, on the other hand, come from the mineral corundum, which may be found in rocks. Corundum interacts with other trace minerals such as titanium, chromium, and vanadium when it crystallizes, giving it its color.
Sapphires are commonly assumed to be blue, although they can be any color depending on whatever trace elements it comes into contact with during crystallization. Sapphires are entirely white or transparent when there are no other minerals present. As a result, white sapphire is the purest type of sapphire.
White sapphires are extremely rare in nature, although they may be made in the laboratory. They are, of course, beautiful stones in and of themselves, but their popularity has grown due to their likeness to diamonds and lower price.
Pros of White Sapphire
Yes, white sapphires are lovely, but there’s a lot more to like about them. They’re also quite tough, with a Mohs hardness rating of 9. Durability is critical for any piece of jewelry worn regularly, but especially engagement rings, to guarantee the stone lasts.
White sapphires are a particularly appealing alternative for any jewelry because of their white or translucent tone, as well as their affordability. Furthermore, while white sapphires are rare in nature, lab-created white
sapphires make even enormous white sapphires possible.
White Sapphire Vs Diamond:
There are several visible distinctions between white sapphire and a genuine diamond. A diamond, for example, reflects light far more than a white sapphire. A diamond will appear crisp and dazzling in appearance, but a white sapphire would appear soft and emit a far more delicate light.
White sapphires can sometimes seem foggy or milky, and inclusions might be visible. You can assess whether the stone is translucent and eye-clean enough for your liking with just a glance.
Aside from appearances, natural white sapphire is a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, whereas diamond is a 10. While a diamond is more durable than a sapphire, both stones are extremely scratch-resistant.
Finally, most individuals choose a white sapphire over a diamond because of the cost difference. Even in big carat sizes, white sapphire is substantially less expensive than diamond.
1. Blaze and Elegance:
You’ve probably heard these phrases used to describe gemstones, but what do they mean? The capacity of a gemstone to reflect light is evaluated by the Refractive Index (RI), whereas the ability of a gemstone to split white light into a rainbow of colors is measured by the Dispersion Value (DV).
Diamond has a RI of 2.41 and a DV of 0.044, compared to 1.77 and 0.018 for sapphire, indicating that diamond reflects more light but disperses less than sapphire. Technically, a white sapphire has more fire
than a diamond, but it has less fire since it reflects less light than a diamond.
Because it lacks the pellucidity of diamond, it seems less lustrous and milky. White sapphire is a good choice for individuals who seek a gentle shine.
2. Scarcity and Cost:
A diamond’s worth is determined not only by its unrivaled radiance but also by its perceived rarity. Is the price proportional to the rarity factor? Diamonds, to be honest, are not as scarce as they are portrayed.
Mining diamonds, or any gemstone for that matter, in the nineteenth century, when technology was not as sophisticated, was not as simple as it is now. Diamonds and many other gemstones are now manufactured in laboratories.
However, because diamonds larger than 1.5 carats are extremely difficult to discover or manufacture, the price per carat climbs dramatically as the size increases (keeping the 4Cs constant).
White sapphire, on the other hand, is a completely unadulterated variety of the mineral corundum. This makes white sapphires extremely rare and an ideal alternative to diamonds, especially for engagement rings, where a colorless center stone is traditionally used.
The rise of diamonds in the public eye is due to a well-designed demand-supply mismatch and effective marketing initiatives. Nonetheless, you must accept the market price for diamonds.
White sapphire is far less expensive, and the disparity grows in magnitude. The disadvantage is that the difference in sparkle is readily noticeable. This tradeoff is determined by your personality.
Apart from these criteria, there are a few more factors to consider when purchasing a diamond or a white sapphire: the lack of faults or inclusions, color purity, and cutting perfection.
3. Formulation & Durability:
Diamond is the hardest substance on the planet. On the Mohs hardness scale, it is a ten out of ten, whereas sapphire is a nine. Hardness is defined as the ability to endure scratches and abrasions.
Advocates for diamonds would undoubtedly argue that only a diamond can scratch another diamond or a sapphire, but not the other way around. True, especially given the non-linearity of the hardness scale, but truly, how many individuals have you seen who would do it?
We all treat our jewelry with great care, and there’s no way your diamond or sapphire will get scratched unless you place all of your gems (assuming you have a lot) in one pouch and start rolling it around on purpose.
The composition of these stones accounts for the relative variance in strength. A diamond is made up entirely of carbon and has an extremely hard and dense atomic structure. Corundum, which is a crystalline form of aluminum oxide, is used to make sapphires.
These two naturally occurring minerals have significantly distinct properties. These minerals are created by a large number of natural processes deep inside the ground, therefore your use will have no impact.
4. Color and Clearness:
Diamonds are (maybe stereotypically) more stunning than white sapphires, and when their clarity and color are compared, it’s simple to understand why. A colorless sapphire does glitter, but not in the same way as a diamond does. White sapphire is confined to monotone shades of grey and white, with only a trace of silver, unlike a diamond, which glows in a variety of colors.
Although white sapphires can appear identical to diamonds in terms of clarity and mirror-like facets, closer inspection reveals a hazy, milky appearance.
Conclusion
To be honest, comparing white sapphire with diamond is like comparing an apple and a pineapple. The comparison isn’t fair because they have certain similarities. Nonetheless, getting a greater knowledge of the two jewels is a good thing.
If you enjoy competitions, then the white sapphire versus diamond match appears to have a clear winner by points. White sapphire, on the other hand, is not far behind; in fact, it outperforms it in terms of price and size.
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