In today’s article, we’ll be discussing some potential options for diamond alternatives. When it comes to selecting the perfect stones for your engagement ring or custom jewelry piece, diamonds have generally been a top choice. However, this needn’t be the case with the variety of gemstones and diamond alternatives available.
While many couples opt for natural and lab-created diamonds as their centre stone, we have also had the pleasure of crafting many pieces featuring a variety of gemstones, such as sapphires, rubies, and many other potential diamond alternatives. These stones offer an array of colours and brilliance to your jewelry piece that you will cherish for a lifetime. Let’s take a look at some of the popular alternatives to the classic diamond ring:
Why Choose a Diamond Alternative?
As experts in custom engagement ring design, we aim to help our clients express their individuality in each piece. Sometimes, this involves adding a pop of colour to the mix. In this case, sapphires and other coloured gemstones can be a popular choice for a diamond alternative.
For some clients, budget is an important factor; in this case, lab-created diamonds can be significantly more affordable for those who want a diamond engagement ring. This allows the client to get a larger diamond for a given budget. Whatever your preferences, a diamond alternative may be the choice for you if you’re looking to add a unique touch to your perfect ring.
Diamond Alternatives: Things To Consider
When it comes to considering a potential diamond alternative for your engagement ring or other custom jewelry pieces, there are a few essential things to keep in mind. One is the durability and hardness of the stone. While lab-created diamonds, sapphires, and rubies also have exceptional hardness and tend to wear very well over time, aquamarines, amethyst, and morganites are on the softer side and may not be the best choice. For this reason, we may suggest harder stones of the same colour. For instance, a purple sapphire is often recommended for those wanting an amethyst due to its higher level of durability.
Another factor to remember when looking at diamond alternatives is the style and colour preferences of the individual who will be wearing the ring. Sapphires offer many possibilities, from deep blues to hot pinks, greens, teals, and many other shades. For this reason, sapphires tend to be an excellent option for a gemstone engagement ring.
Pros of Diamond Alternatives:
The main advantage to considering diamond alternatives is the level of customization this allows for. Whether you want to have your birthstone featured in your engagement ring or jewelry piece, or you are just looking for something a little different, choosing a diamond alternative can help provide a level of customization that will bring out your unique style.
Environmental sustainability is another factor to consider when it comes to some diamond alternatives. While many steps have been taken to ensure that the natural diamond mining process is sustainable and environmentally friendly, many clients wish to opt for a lab-created diamond, as these have been created in a lab setting rather than mined from the Earth.
Cons of Diamond Alternatives:
The main potential drawback when it comes to looking for possible diamond alternatives has to do with the varying levels of durability and hardness. As you may have heard, diamonds are exceptionally hard and can last almost indefinitely. Other stones, on the other hand, depending upon their hardness, can be subject to wear and tear over time. For this reason, it’s always important to consider a stone’s hardness. This can be discussed with your trusted custom jewelry design team at Omori Diamonds.
Another thing to consider in the case of clear diamond alternatives is how discernable the appearance is from the diamond. Moissanite, for instance, can look quite a bit different with its colourful sparkle pattern, whereas lab-grown diamonds look identical to their natural counterparts.
Popular Diamond Alternatives:
Moissanite:
Contrary to popular belief, moissanite is not a synthetic diamond. It is, in fact, a naturally occurring gemstone found in the Earth. However, the moissanite stones used in most modern engagement rings are specifically created in laboratories, utilizing special conditions to achieve maximum brilliance and clarity. Like diamonds, moissanites are graded for colour, ranging from colourless to near colourless, resulting in a stunning white appearance. With a remarkable hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale, moissanite is highly durable. While diamonds score a perfect 10 and sapphires and rubies follow closely, moissanites are still an excellent choice for engagement rings due to their long-lasting nature.
One notable visible distinction between moissanites and diamonds is that moissanite stones exhibit even more brilliance and display a wider range of vibrant colours, especially in natural sunlight. When observed under natural light, one can often observe brilliant flashes of blue and green in moissanite.
One of the major advantages of choosing moissanite is its significantly lower price compared to diamonds. This means that within your budget, you can acquire a substantially larger moissanite than a diamond of the same size. For instance, while a two or three-carat diamond can cost tens of thousands of dollars, a moissanite of equivalent size can be much more affordable.
Sapphire:
Probably the most popular diamond alternative when it comes to a non-diamond engagement ring, sapphires are an excellent choice. The Ceylon sapphire is known for its deep blue hue and has become very popular due to the attention of Kate Middleton’s engagement ring, which features an exceptional Ceylon sapphire as its centre stone.
Sapphires are the hardest of coloured gemstones and score very high on the Mohs hardness scale, ranking with a 9 (diamonds score a solid 10). This means that they will last very long and can be passed down as heirloom centrepieces. Sapphires also come in a wide range of colours allowing for excellent customization.
Another possibility in this regard is combining sapphires and diamonds together in a single ring. Not only do these two precious gemstones dazzle with their inherent brilliance, but they also boast exceptional durability. With diamonds scoring a perfect 10 and sapphires a remarkable 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, you can be assured that these gems will withstand the test of time.
Cubic Zirconia – NOT RECOMMENDED:
Cubic zirconia is an inexpensively manufactured stone often used in costume jewelry. It is considerably less durable than diamond, and differences in appearance can easily be detected with the naked eye. Cubics are less brilliant and less reflective than diamonds. Under most lighting conditions, cubics will give off a rainbow light pattern, while diamonds will give off bright white flashes. Due to its low value, and lack of durability, we do not recommend cubic zirconia be used in fine jewelry pieces and engagement rings.
Lab-Grown Diamonds:
The most popular on the list, lab-grown diamonds are on the rise for those looking for a diamond ring. Lab-grown diamonds, commonly called lab diamonds, are meticulously crafted using a sophisticated process that replicates the natural conditions required for the formation of diamonds deep within the Earth. This involves subjecting carbon or a minute fragment of a natural diamond to extreme heat and pressure within a controlled chamber. The primary techniques employed to create these extraordinary lab-grown diamonds are chemical vapour deposition (CVD), high pressure and high temperature (HPHT).
Lab-grown diamonds present several compelling advantages when searching for your perfect engagement ring. One notable benefit is their cost-effectiveness, allowing you to obtain a considerably larger diamond within a specific budget.
Aquamarine:
Aquamarine, a gemstone belonging to the beryl family, shares its lineage with renowned stones like emerald and morganite. Its name derives from the Latin words “aqua marinus,” meaning “water of the sea,” reflecting its captivating greenish-blue hue. Aquamarine is highly regarded for its remarkable clarity, which imparts a mesmerizing radiance to the gem.
While aquamarines possess unique beauty, they may not possess the enduring characteristics typically sought in an engagement ring, such as those found in diamonds. Based on our experience, we advise against selecting aquamarine as the centrepiece for an engagement ring, as it may not withstand the demands of daily wear.
In addition to being more susceptible to scratches and chips, aquamarines tend to accumulate dirt and grime quickly when worn regularly. Furthermore, due to their lower light refraction and lighter colour, they require consistent cleaning to maintain their optimal appearance. If aquamarine is the gemstone of your choice, it’s important to be prepared for the increased maintenance required for your ring. Alternatively, consider using aquamarines in earrings or a simple pendant, where they are less exposed to dirt and potential damage.
Ruby:
For countless years, rubies have captivated the hearts of gemstone enthusiasts as one of the most cherished and romantic precious stones. It’s no surprise that ruby engagement rings have garnered immense admiration from jewelry aficionados and designers alike. In fact, these exquisite gemstones have graced the fingers of numerous celebrities, including the renowned diamond halo ruby engagement ring adorning Eva Longoria and Jessica Simpson’s captivating engagement ring.
Much like sapphires, rubies belong to the corundum family and are esteemed as one of the most valuable gemstones alongside emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, and diamonds. One remarkable characteristic that both sapphires and rubies share is their exceptional hardness, with a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale. To put it into perspective, diamonds rank at a solid 10. This signifies that rubies and sapphires possess remarkable durability, ensuring they will withstand the test of time and make a splendid choice for lifelong jewelry such as engagement rings or wedding bands.
Amethyst:
Amethyst, a timeless gemstone of historical significance, is a type of quartz renowned for its captivating purple hue. It exists in myriad shades, spanning from deep violet tones to delicate, nearly transparent purple hues. Amethyst is an affordable gemstone, even when opting for larger carat sizes and higher quality grades. Its uniqueness makes it an ideal choice if your loved one has a fondness for the colour purple. Moreover, amethyst holds special significance for those born in February, making it a perfect birthstone option to celebrate their birthday.
While amethyst possesses its allure, it is important to note that it isn’t as durable as diamonds, requiring extra care to maintain its beauty over time. In terms of value, amethysts may not hold the same monetary worth as certain other gemstones. Extensive exposure to heat and light can cause amethysts to fade or undergo a colour change, emphasizing the need for cautious handling and storage.
For these reasons, we often recommend purple sapphires as an alternative option to amethyst for those who want a non-diamond engagement ring featuring a purple stone.
Morganite:
Morganite belongs to the beryl family and is a delightful semi-precious stone with a lovely pink colour palette. Its shades can vary from orange and coral to salmon and soft pink, with the latter, a light peachy pink, being the most prevalent and recognized hue.
Despite its beauty, morganite is also considerably softer than diamonds and sapphires, making it more likely to wear over time, and the edges of the stone can be prone to chipping. For this reason, we often advise clients to look for a pink or peach colour sapphire instead.
Discover Brilliant Diamond Alternatives With Omori Diamonds Today!
We hope that you have found this look into the word of diamond alternatives helpful in your search for the perfect engagement ring in Winnipeg. From the everlasting brilliance of sapphires to the affordability of moissanites and lab-created diamonds, these options allow maximum customization and expression in your perfect ring.
At Omori Diamonds, we specialize in creating custom engagement rings and jewelry pieces tailored to your unique style. Whether you’re looking for a diamond engagement ring or a ring featuring one of the brilliant diamond alternatives from this article, we can help you in your search for the perfect design as you benefit from our years of experience in the diamond and coloured gemstone trade. Book your appointment with our father and son team to create your masterpiece.