Selecting Between a Diamond and a White Sapphire

by Kim G. Jewelry Stores

Diamond says to Sapphire “I am the hardest gem around.”

Sapphire replies, “I have the most versatile colors.”

Diamond snaps back, “I also have colors such as pink and blue.”

Sapphire says nonchalantly, “Those are not colors just hues, my colors are brighter”.

Diamond boasted, “I am pricier.”

Sapphire: “I have more reach because I am affordable”

No one is willing to budge, so the debate still continues.

If the same debate goes on inside your head, then perhaps after reading this, you’ll have some clarity about selecting between a diamond and a white sapphire.

Hardness

Is it really a big differentiator? A diamond is a 10/10 whereas a white sapphire is a 9/10 on the Mohs scale. You are not going to put to test your diamond or a white sapphire to see how they measure up. No one does. For that, you have a certificate of authenticity. So, whether you get a white sapphire ring or a diamond ring, it will be passed down through generations unless something unexpected happens. Both white sapphire and diamonds are created in extreme conditions inside the earth, so your usage is not going to affect them.

Rarity

Are diamonds really rare or is it just a perception created by the big players like De Beers to exercise control on the market and manipulate price? The perception was augmented by campaigns such as ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ and ‘a diamond is forever’.

Well, all gem quality diamonds are rare and so is the white sapphire. If you look around, you’ll find that most of the people around you own one or two diamonds if not more. That makes it one of the most common gems. Can you say the same thing for white sapphire?

If you want to get a rare piece of earth, then you will find it in both diamonds and white sapphires. Explore our inventory of over fifty thousand gemstones here.

Ethical and Environmental Issues

Many ethical and environmental issues surrounded the diamond industry for a long time. Many diamonds were mined amid war zones and under subhuman conditions to finance civil wars. This ethical issue was addressed in 2003 by the ‘Kimberley Process’ which mandated the origin of each diamond be traced. Kimberly Process ensures that the diamonds are not “blood diamonds”. Nevertheless, the environmental concerns related to diamond mining still persist.

Sapphires in general are not untouched by the environmental issues surrounding all other gemstones, such as land degradation and effects on biodiversity.

On these counts, sapphires probably score somewhat better than diamonds.

Visual Appeal

Diamonds are usually said to have more ‘fire’ than any other gemstone, referring to their ability to disperse white light into a spectrum of colors. They are also said to be the most brilliant gemstone meaning they reflect more light than any other gemstone. Diamonds do have a very high Dispersion Value (0.044) and Refractive Index (2.41) , they don’t match with many artificial materials, for example Rutile.

So how does a white sapphire generally compare on these counts? Well, it has an RI of 1.77 and a DV of 0.018. The lower number of DV indicates a better ability to break white light into colors whereas a lower RI number means less ability to reflect light. In a way a white sapphire may have more ‘fire’ but less ‘brilliance’. Generally, white sapphires tend to have less sparkle/shine than diamonds. Also, white sapphires tend to have a hint of gray color and are not as pure white as diamonds.

Visual appeal of a gemstone also depends on the cuts or facets among many other things such as impurities or inclusions. Look at this picture and you’ll notice that the white sapphire is shinier than the diamond.

Price & Value

It will be unfair to the white sapphire to say that diamonds command a higher price and are more valuable. Price is usually considered the index for value but there is another aspect of value. You experience an enhanced sense of value when you expend less resources to acquire something similar. In that sense, a white sapphire perhaps scores better than a diamond of similar size and comparable quality even though diamonds are graded differently from white sapphires.

In general, white sapphires present an affordable alternative of diamonds to a price conscious buyer. You may like to explore the wide variety of diamond rings and white sapphire rings at GemsNY to understand the price-value relationship.

So, what really matters is your sensitivity towards all of the factors mentioned above. You can simply prioritize these points to see what combination fits the bill. No matter what you choose, be sure to get a certificate of authenticity for your diamond or white sapphire. At GemsNY, you’ll find all the certificates right there on the website.