In this short, info-packed article on white sapphire engagement rings, you’ll learn what to know about them in a Q-A format. Then you’ll see a constantly-updated list of 10 white sapphires you can choose for an engagement ring right now.
Are White Sapphires Good for Engagement Rings?
Blue sapphires are increasingly popular as a choice instead of a diamond. (I’m loving the #2 choice, below). One big advantage is the price is lower than diamonds. This means you can get a bigger stone, and own it as a brilliant blue sapphire, and set the symbolization of your love apart (from the usual symbol of a diamond).
Is Moissanite better than White Sapphire?
On the Mohs scale, White Sapphire (the official name of any Sapphire of any color is Corundum) ranks 9.0. Moissanite ranks 9.25. Diamonds rank a perfect 10. That means in a diamond-vs-moissainite scratch fight, Diamond will scratch Moissainite. And in a moissanite-vs-white-sapphire scratch fight, Moissanite scratches White Sapphire. So, White Sapphire is great for wearing daily for decades. It will stand up just as well in most situations as diamond. (Hey, she won’t be rock climbing diamond-embedded or moissainite-embedded cliffs with that ring on.)
So White Sapphire is perfectly able to stand up under daily wear for decades. It won’t get scratched and chipped.
Are White Sapphires rare?
White Sapphires aren’t rare, but they are precious and scintillatingly beautiful. That’s true especially of larger ones (over 3 carats). (Check out #4 below!) But even these large, naturally-found White Sapphires are less expensive than diamonds of the same size.
But gemologists in labs do heat-treat Sapphires to turn them into White Sapphires. (They weren’t white in nature. But heat-treating them removes color and makes them White Sapphires.) These are quite a bit less expensive than the naturally occuring White Sapphires. (Any White Sapphire purchased from a reputable seller such as James Allen or Blue Nile or Brian Gavin, etc., will come with a certificate that states whether it has been heat-treated, among other facts about it.)
Are all White Sapphires lab-created?
In all practicality, as you shop (see the #3 example below!), you can assume virtually all the White Sapphires you see are lab-created or else heat-treated sapphires mined from the earth. Most are lab-created. But they’re still 100% sapphire. In fact, because conditions in a lab can be precisely controlled, lab-created white sapphires are purer than those mined from the earth. It’s no big deal.
How expensive are White Sapphires?
It varies, of course, depending on the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. But a 1-carat White Sapphire will generally cost $800 to $1,000. And a 2-carat White Sapphire will usually cost $1,800 to $2,000. Pre-set sapphire engagement rings will feature stones that cost less.
Link to James Allen and ALL the sapphire engagement ring sellers (like a drudge report)
How do White Sapphires compare to diamonds?
Diamonds will have more sparkle, more fire, without a doubt. Anyone looking closely can tell the difference. On the other hand, white sapphires are almost as hard as diamonds (almost as durable), and they’re also beautiful. Carat for carat, white sapphires are much less expensive. So they put rings within the budgets of more people. And there’s no heavenly rule declaring only diamonds can symbolize love. Nowadays white sapphires are a perfectly respectable alternative, as long as you don’t pretend it’s a diamond. đ
10 Sapphire engagement rings to buy right now
#1: 1-carat 6mm heat-treated Ceylon white sapphire engagement ring on a platinum setting. Check current price.
This is a classic and timeless 6mm natural round white Ceylon sapphire engagement ring. Very slightly included, colorless intensity, 5.94×5.94 mm, set in fine platinum 950. As a classic solitaire, this is a solid choice for a white sapphire.
How much you save vs a similar-sized diamond: A 1-carat diamond of SI-Clarity and I-Color would cost around $3,200 for the diamond alone. Check current prices.
#2: 1-Carat lab-created Princess Cut VVS1-Clarity white sapphire engagement ring on a 14K white gold setting. Check current price.
The Princess cut is surging in popularity. Here’s another classic setting, beautiful stone. It won’t be as beautiful as a diamond, let’s face that fact. But it will do, if you need a budget engagement ring. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
How much you save compared to a similar-sized diamond: 1-Carat Princess cut diamonds of I-Color and SI1-Clarity cost around 10 times as much for the diamond alone. See current prices.
#3: 2.62-Carat natural Asscher Cut white sapphire engagement ring on a Platinum setting. Check current price.
The Asscher cut is often called the “square emerald cut” and it’s perfect for a white sapphire. Classic Art Deco look. This cut shows depth and transparence.
How much you save compared to a similar diamond: Similar sized Asscher Cut diamonds are generally found closer to 2 carats. (It’s unusual find one of 2.6 carats.) 2-Carat Asscher Cut diamonds start at around $8,000 for the diamond alone. See current prices.
#4: 3-Carat lab-created Princess Cut white sapphire on 14K gold setting. Check current price.
For those who love the silky look of a huge white sapphire against natural yellow gold.
How much you save compared to a similar sized diamond: A 3-carat lab-created diamond? Starts at around $9,500. Check current prices.
#5: 2.56-Carat Pear Shaped white sapphire on an approximately 1.25-Total Carat Weight 14K Yellow Gold Setting. Check current price.
A simply beautiful design, flanked by around 1.25 total carats of accent diamonds.
How much you save compared to a similar sized diamond: A similar-sized lab-created diamond (it’s hard to find natural pear-shaped diamonds of that large a size) costs around $9,500 for the diamond alone. Check current prices.
- Picture some pre-made rings
- Picture every other one, a loose gemstone with a recommended setting
Category of Sapphires
