White Diamond Alternatives

White Sapphire is commonly seen in inexpensive engagement rings on the internet. However, because of its refractive index, it does not have the scintillation (rainbow sparkles) of a diamond. What that means is as the stone gets dirty (within a week or two of showers and hand washings), it will start to appear dull and lifeless. If you choose white sapphire, be sure to add on an ultrasonic cleaner!

The ring on the left was created at the client's insistence with a white sapphire center stone. Within one month she returned and changed it to Moissanite. Honestly, white sapphire just does not sparkle unless perfectly clean and dry and in the right lighting. Otherwise, it's really not that attractive, when you compare it with the rainbow sparkles and fire that you can see in diamond and Moissanite.

White Topaz is another naturally occurring colorless stone that you can commonly find in more affordable engagement rings. Like white sapphire, white topaz also does not have any fire and scintillation, and the white sparkle quickly dies with the buildup of dirt and oils, or even one simple hand washing. Unlike sapphire, topaz has a hardness of 8, so additionally will become abraided (scratched) over time.  Is this really what you want for your forever ring, that represents your love?
 

Lab created diamond is actual diamond on a molecular level. It has all of the optical and chemical properties of natural diamond, making it a synthetic (molecularly identical), not a simulant (made to look like). You will still pay close to diamond prices for smaller stones (10-20% less on average), but for the larger diamonds, you can pay as much as 40-50% less. That means instead of the approximate $30k you'd pay for a 2 carat natural, you're down to $15k (of course depending upon color, clarity, etc.). A diamond continues to sparkle even after it is dirty, unlike white sapphire. Read more >
 

Moissanite is a clear and sparkly stone, with the scintillation (rainbow sparkles) of a natural diamond. It is the best diamond simulant (made to look like) option on the market today. Moissanite is not inexpensive, but that same 2 carat diamond look will be in the $1000 range, with smaller stones being much less. Moissanite is lab created. Read more >
 

Rose Cut and Raw Diamond come in a variety of natural, fancy colors and shapes. They have been used in jewelry throughout history, and are also a great choice for men's rings. The most popular of the rustic diamonds are the rose cut, opaque fancy colored diamonds. These can be set just like a cabochon, either with prongs or a full bezel. Read more >
 

Cubic Zirconia is a poor man's simulated diamond, and it is sold on the market today under many brand names (buyer beware). While it also has scintillation, at a hardness of approximately 7, it is rated Poor for everyday wear in a ring. After daily wear, the stone will start to scratch, chip and abraid, making it appear soap like on the top surface after a year or two of wear.
 

What Gem Will Sparkle in Her Eyes?

 

Make your alternate diamond selections in this Quiz 
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and prepare yourself for the experience of a lifetime.