Choosing a Sapphire or Diamond Engagement Ring
Choosing the right engagement ring is a life-long decision, and choosing one can be overwhelming.
Traditionally, engagement rings have been diamonds, but other gemstones have begun to gain popularity. women nowadays may prefer to have a splash of colour on their left hand. Therefore rubies, emeralds, and sapphires have grown in popularity within the gemstone market.
It still remains a tough choice – if to go the traditional route or something a bit more modern and colourful.
Although not as popular as diamonds, the sapphire has grown in stature as a perfectly acceptable stone for an engagement ring.
Each gemstone (ruby, sapphire, diamond etc) has its own legends in history. In days past sapphires were said to have medicinal and protective powers, while in medieval times, they were said to be symbolic of honesty and wisdom.
All gemstones are loved for their durability making them the perfect family heirloom to pass down from generation to generation. A sapphire engagement ring is no exception to this tradition. Both diamonds and sapphires rate high on the hardness scale of gemstones making them both perfectly beautiful stones to adorn an engagement ring. However, it is to be noted that sapphires might be subject to scratches more readily than diamonds.
In terms of light refraction, diamonds refract more light than sapphires do, which makes them appear more dazzling and adds to their greater value. Blue sapphires, the most popular of sapphire types contain traces of iron and titanium. A perfect sapphire with a deep blue hue is the purest. Lesser popular sapphires are found in pink, purple, orange, yellows, greens, and blacks.
Modern jewellers will find merits in all types of gemstones. It is often not the rough stone but the cutting, polishing, and setting that sets apart the values of different gemstones on the modern market. Diamonds sparkle even when they are dirty, but a white sapphire may not sparkle unless treated – and this treatment may need to be repeated periodically over the years. No two sapphires, or indeed, any two gemstones, are exactly alike – but all are noted for their durability and rarity among rocks and minerals.
A sapphire engagement ring is guaranteed to be unique, making sapphires more intimate than diamonds. Because of this uniqueness, the durability of the stones, and their intense colour, sapphires are quickly becoming more popular as the ideal engagement ring. This has resulted in a rise of their value. Regardless of this, sapphires remain less valuable than diamonds on the general market, meaning you can acquire a larger sapphire engagement ring at a lower cost compared to a diamond.
Choosing engagement rings with diamonds and sapphires can cost you a small fortune.
But it is a lifelong investment.
While both diamonds and sapphires are rare, precious, and expensive, buying jewellery with a combination of the gems can reduce the amount you would spend on multi-stone rings with just one or the other. So maybe, why not choose both?
Photo by Eileen Pan on Unsplash
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