In other words, it gives you an indication of how hard you have to hit it before it chips or breaks. So, unless you're planning on rubbing all your jewelry together, you really don't have to worry about scratching your sapphire.īoth diamond and sapphire will resist scratches from everyday hazards, like fingernails, coins in your purse or pocket, countertops, and even household dust (which has a hardness of 7).ĭurability (or tenacity) measures a gemstone's resistance to physical blows. However, only a diamond or a moissanite could scratch a sapphire. At a hardness of 10, only another diamond could scratch a diamond. Nevertheless, practically speaking, that difference makes little difference.Ī gemstone's hardness measures its resistance to scratching. No doubt, you'll hear that sapphire's Mohs hardness of 9 is much lower than diamond's 10. Sapphires have excellent hardness and durability. Ultimately, you'll have to decide what look appeals to you most. These oval-cut white sapphires in a three-stone halo setting have a white glow of color, without the fireworks of diamonds.

That means that diamonds will appear brighter (brilliance), have more colorful flashes (dispersion or 'fire'), and sparkles of light (scintillation) than sapphires. No matter what, a well-cut diamond will show more brilliance, dispersion, and scintillation than a well-cut white sapphire. Let's compare them in terms of beauty, durability, and price. White Sapphire vs DiamondĪlthough these stones might look alike, they're actually quite different. Whether you choose a diamond or a white sapphire, as long as you buy from a reputable dealer, you can be confident that your stone was ethically sourced. Tracing a mined white sapphire back to its source is also usually easier than tracing a diamond. Still, gemstone mining can raise many other ethical issues, such as the use of child labor or environmental destruction. However, white sapphires sell for lower prices than diamonds, so they're less likely to be sold to support conflicts. This is what makes it possible to purchase diamonds certified as conflict-free. This is an international agreement to track diamonds from mine to market in order to keep them from being sold to finance wars. Unlike diamonds, colored gemstones don't go through the Kimberley Process. Will My Center Stone be Conflict-Free and Ethically Sourced?

Engagement rings diamond and sapphire