What is the first thing you think of when you picture a breathtaking engagement ring? For the majority of us, it is the dazzling center stone, which in most cases is a shimmering diamond. A diamond is the quintessential gesture of eternal love, however, there are plenty of other alternatives to choose from that are equally stunning and timeless that will still fit your budget or style! We are counting down the top 5 diamond alternatives and the pros and cons of each one.
5. Colored Gemstones
If you are looking to stand out from all the rest and move away from the traditional options, a surefire alternative is a colored gemstone. There is an abundance of gemstones to choose from like crisp blue aquamarine, golden brown topaz, fiery orange citrine, pastel pink morganite, deep purple amethyst and many more!
Pros: Colored gemstones vary in price; however, they are genuinely not as pricey as diamonds. Colored gemstones are a unique way to break from the conventional simplistic diamond ring and stand out with your engagement ring!
Cons: Wedding rings are worn every day, make sure you check out the Mohs Scale of Hardness* to determine the hardness rating of the stone. A diamond comes in at a 10 out of 10, while gemstones such as aquamarine, amethyst, and peridot score 7 or softer, meaning they will tend to look worn over time.
4. White Sapphire
Sapphire is the third hardest gemstone, coming in at 9 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. White sapphires come from corundum which is composed only of aluminum and oxygen. They are also rarer to find in nature than yellow, pink or blue sapphires.
Pros: Stunning white sapphires are considered more affordable, around 80% cheaper, than mined diamonds. They are also uncommon like mentioned above, meaning you will not find many people with the same stone as you.
Cons: Although sapphires are durable, diamonds are still much harder, making them more scratch-resistant than sapphires. Diamonds also have a higher clarity in color and brilliance, whereas white sapphires have a cloudy appearance and may look dull. White sapphire is also mined from the earth, so if you are not a fan of that method, this would not be the best option for you.
3. Cubic Zirconia
A very inexpensive diamond alternative is a cubic zirconia (CZ). For those who love a good bargain, CZs may be the best option for you. CZs are made by melting powdered zirconium and zirconium dioxide together and putting them under high heat.
Pros: These are a reasonably priced option, ranging from $30-$200. CZs also provide flawless clarity comparable to a diamond.
Cons: CZs only rate an 8.5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. Similarly, to the previous alternatives, this can result in a scratched and hazy appearance over time. To keep their clarity, CZs should be replaced every two years. Compared to diamonds, CZs are not rare (hence the price).
2. Moissanite
Moissanites may look indistinguishable from diamonds, but they are made up of a completely different set of elements. Diamonds are formed solely from carbon when they are placed under high heat and pressure, whereas moissanite gems are made from silicon carbide. Some say moissanites have more sparkle than a diamond!
Pros: Looking at the Mohs Scale of Hardness, diamonds sit at a 10 while moissanites follow closely behind at 9.25. Moissanites cost about 1/10 of the price of diamonds, so if you are on a tight budget, this is a perfect alternative for you. They are also man-made, meaning it is created in an ethical and sustainable way. Compared to diamonds, moissanites are less attracted to dirt, grease and debris due to their elemental properties.
Cons: Since they sit at a 9.25 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness they are not quite as scratch resistant as diamonds. Moissanites may have a yellow or greenish tint to them, that is because they tend to have a warm hue even after they go through the whitening process. Since it is not a diamond, some jewelers (not us!) may refuse to make adjustments on your ring.
1. Lab-Grown Diamond
If you are a fan of diamonds but would prefer an ethical alternative to mining, we have a solution for you with lab-grown diamonds! Lab-grown diamonds have the same physical, chemical and optical properties as mined diamonds. The only difference is their origin; lab-grown diamonds are created in a lab and mined diamonds are created deep within the earth. With diamonds, you can get them in a variety of colors other than the popular colorless option.
Pros: Lab-grown diamonds cost around 30% less than natural diamonds, which means with the money you are saving you could upgrade the carat size of the diamond. The core diamond qualities of cut, color, carat and clarity are identical to a mined diamond because they have the same chemical makeup and structure.
Cons: When you buy a natural diamond, it supports those who depend on mining for their income. Creating a lab-grown diamond requires a lot of energy consumption. Some diamond mines have lower CO2 emissions than diamond labs. Also, since it is made in a lab it can be mass-produced and does not have the same rarity as a mined diamond being one-of-a-kind.
No matter what you choose, we want you to be fully educated about all the potential options before making the final decision on the perfect center stone! If you have any questions, feel free to message us and one of our friendly sales associates can answer any questions that you have.
* This scale is a chart of the relative hardness of the various minerals (1 - softest to 10 - hardest). A mineral's hardness is a measure of its relative resistance to scratching, determined by rubbing the mineral against another substance of known hardness on the Mohs Hardness Scale.