A Guide to The Best Fancy Sapphire Engagement Rings in 2021 on Budget For Stylish Brides
Article by Maria Taylor, January 2, 2021 in Bridal Jewelry
Sapphire VS. Diamond Engagement Rings: What You Need To Know
There’s no doubt that diamonds are by far the most popular center stone choice for engagement rings today, but before diamonds became a traditional choice rubies, emeralds and sapphires were common choice for center stones. Sapphires are the most popular of all three precious gemstones.
Both stones have their advantages and disadvantages and often the choice simply comes down to your personal preference - budget and style. If you’re thinking between the two, this sapphire vs. diamond engagement rings article has everything you need to know.
Get to Know The Moh's Hardness Scale
Not all birthstones are durable enough for every wear, but we will help you find the gem that best suits your budget and style. The Moh's Hardness Scale measures the hardness of a gemstone on a scale of 1-10. The hardness rating of a gemstone measures its resistance to being scratched. Unless you only plan to wear your engagement ring on special occasions, it's best to choose the stone on the higher end of the Mohs Hardness Scale for a long lifespan. Because engagement rings are usually worn every day, the durability of the stone is important factor to consider. Both diamonds and sapphires can take the heat, though. Diamonds are rated 10 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, while sapphires are rated a 9. Sapphires are one of the hardest stone just behind diamonds, making them amongst the most durable of all the colored gemstones. Less harder stones may look
beautiful, but they may not last as long as your love. Which explains why we see so many sapphire engagement rings on the market.
Diamonds, the hardest stone in the world, traditional, forever, a girl's best friend, etc - which is why they are so popular for engagement rings. But what if you are looking beyond a diamond for a gemstone
that will last a lifetime? Our experts are here to help you find the gem that is both beautiful and durable enough for daily wear.
Sapphire vs. Diamond Engagement Rings Hardness - Our Experts Pick: Diamonds
Need to Watch Your Budget
Women love fancy engagement rings. Cost should usually play an important role in the engagement ring process. As you already know by now, sapphire engagement rings are more affordable than those with diamond center stones.
Of course, diamonds and sapphires both come in a wide range of prices depending on their size, shape, cut, depth of color, quality, and many more. On average, though, a one-carat sapphire tend tol cost less than a one-carat diamond.
Blue sapphires are by far the most expensive color because they’re the most sought after, especially after Princess Diana's sapphire ring, now worn by Kate Middleton. Likewise, the more brilliant and deep the color is, the more expensive it will be. As with all gemstones, sapphires go down in price as they decline in quality and get smaller, cloudier, or both.
Sapphire vs. Diamond Engagement Rings Cost - Our Experts Pick: Sapphire
Need to Pay Attention to Color
Colorless diamonds are the most popular choice for engagement rings, but many brides-to-be don’t even know that they actually come in a variety of colors. You can get a diamond in any shade of the rainbow.
Many couples tend to think of sapphires as the color blue, and the most popular blue sapphire engagement ring in
the world has to be Princess Diana, now worn by Kate Middleton, with its vibrant deep-blue velvety tone.
But did you know that sapphires come in almost every color?
While blue is by far the most popular sapphire shade, the Gemological Institute of America expert say that the stone also comes in - violet, green, yellow, peach, orange, pink, purple, lavender and in between hues. Some sapphire stones display the phenomenon known in the industry as color change, usually going from blue in daylight or room lighting to purple under incandescent light. Sapphires can even be gray, black, white or brown.
The only hue that sapphires don’t come in is red. Sapphire and ruby are part of same corundum mineral and red corundum is actually called ruby instead. With the exception of the trace elements that give them their color, the scientific make-up of both rubies and sapphires is exactly the same.
Sapphire vs. Diamond Engagement Rings Color - Our Experts Pick: Sapphire
Something old,
Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue
Every bride-to-be knows about the old tradition 'Spmething old, Something new, Something borrowed'. You can add that 'something blue' to any wedding. Originating from an Old British rhyme, it has become customary that brides carry objects to bring good luck on their wedding day.
Sapphire vs. Diamond Engagement Rings Legends - Our Experts Pick: Sapphire
Personal Style
Sapphires are a great alternative birthstone option for brides who prefer an engagement ring to stand out from the crowd and that represents a unique personal because they’re much less common than diamond rings. The vibrant blue sapphires are eye-catching, especially when paired and contrasted with white gold or yellow gold bands. If you want an engagement ring that’s truly unique from the rest and last a lifetime, sapphires may just be the perfect stone for her.
Sapphire vs. Diamond Engagement Rings Style - Our Experts Pick: Sapphire
And Our Jewelry Experts Pick Is…
In this sapphire vs. diamond engagement rings debate, sapphires have just barely passed out ahead of diamonds.
However, both stones come in a wide range of colors and are hard enough to stand up to the wear of everyday life. Comparing sapphire vs. diamond engagement rings shows a lot of similarities, so the most important factor in choosing between the two is your personal preference - budget and style.
If you prefer to stay with the tradition with a timeless classic piece of jewelry, diamonds may be right choice for you. But, if you want to save some money on your engagement ring and truly stand out from the crowd, sapphires are a perfect alternative choice for modern brides-to-be. Some women want anything but traditional, and sapphires are making a comeback.
Sapphire Frequently Asked Questions
Keep reading our guide to learn more about sapphires! This article covers some of the most common questions about sapphire gemstones that our customers ask.
Where Do Sapphires Come From?
The gemstones are found in many parts of the world. Madagascar, Australia, Ceylon all mine high-quality sapphires and Montana sapphires from the United States are growing in popularity as well, thanks to famous Tiffany gemologist. Kashmir sapphires are the most desirable but can only be found in high end jewelry auctions like Sotheby's, Christies, etc.
What The Sapphire Symbolizes?
The American Gem Trade Association website states that “Ancient Persian rulers believed that the earth rested on a giant Sapphire and that its reflection colored the heavens blue. Even the jewel’s original Latin name, “Sapphiru,” means blue.” Due to their color, sapphires were often associated with the blue skies and planets.
The Jewelry Editor website states that - Signifying faith and purity, sapphires are said to offer the wearer protection from envy and harm. In medieval times, members of the clergy wore sapphires as a symbol of holiness to attract heavenly blessings. While blue is the most popular colour, it comes in a multitude of hues from white, yellow and green, to pink, purple and orange.
Other common meanings associated with the birthstone are wisdom, trust, blessing and faithfulness. Sapphires have also been linked to royalty, a concept reinforced by British Crown Jewels. Prince Charles gave Princess Diana a famous 18-carat blue oval sapphire and halo diamond engagement ring that Kate Middleton still wears today. Many people tend to think that sapphires only come in blue color.
Additionally, Sapphires are the September birthstone and also the traditional stone for 45th-anniversary jewelry and gifts.
What Are Acceptable Sapphire Treatments?
As you begin to research for sapphires on google you’ll start to see the term “treatment” come up a lot. Usually, these are heat treatments to improve the color and clarity of the stone. Heat treatments never wear off or fade away and their improvements are considered permanent in the industry.
Typically, sapphires are either treated or untreated and the history of the stone should be clearly stated when you purchase it. High-quality untreated stones are very rare than their treated counterparts and also much more expensive.
What Is The History & Meaning of Sapphire Engagement Rings?
Giving engagement rings tradition started around the 14th and 15th centuries, and gifting colorful gemstones were more common than diamonds.
However, the diamond market was flooded in the 18th and 19th centuries and diamonds prices began to drop. Due to instability in diamond prices and man-made diamonds, sapphires and other colored gemstones became all the more popular as they were thought their value will keep on increasing over time.
In 1950s, the Diamond Firm DeBeers company came up with their famous phrase “A Diamond is Forever” and the idea became popular. Diamonds became almost synonymous with true love and the use of sapphires and other colorful stones declined once again.
How Should You Care For A Saphire Ring?
Caring for your ring requires special attention but will help ensure that it lasts a lifetime. Wash it regularly with warm soapy water and a toothbrush and take it your jeweler once or twice a year for a deep clean and checking of prongs. Remember to remove it every night before going to bed and take it off before showers, swimming, and active lifetyle activities as well.
Should I Consider A Synthetic Sapphire?
We don't recommended. Synthetic sapphires work well in industrial applications and watches but they shouldn’t be the center stone of a ring. Synthetic sapphires have a color that makes them look truly fake, more like bling costume jewelry than the real thing.
We only use the highest quality sapphires in our custom engagement rings here at Sndgems.com so we never work with synthetic gemstones - especially when it comes to birthstone sapphires. There is such a wide range of natural and heat-treated sapphire options in the market to choose from that we can easily source a beautiful stone for almost any budget.
Should I Buy A Vintage Sapphire Engagement Ring?
We recommend vintage-inspired sapphire engagement ring instead of vintage sapphire ring because of wear and tear, as well as for authenticity. This Victorian-inspired sapphire and diamond engagement ring is guaranteed to make any bride gasp. The midnight blue sapphire is surrounded by round brilliant-cut diamonds that dazzle upon inspection. As part of our vintage-inspired line, each ring is one-of-a-kind and made to order. In modern day, sapphire engagement rings are associated with wisdom and fidelity, as well as old-world romance.
Design Your One-Of-A-Kind Custom Sapphire Engagement Ring!
At SND Gems designing a unique piece of custom jewelry is easy - it’s a honor and a joy to be a part of the love story and build personalized pieces for brides every day.
Here, creating a custom engagement ring is easy with our team of experienced designers in New York City on your side. Simply choose the perfect setting and the best size, shape, color and cut of your sapphire and then see the ring come to life around your center stone.
We design the ring to your specifications in our special CAD software. After your final approval, in-house designers will source your stones and build your custom sapphire engagement ring. Our sapphire engagement ring design includes solitaire, three-stone and multi-stone designs. Choose from attractive blue, pink, yellow sapphires, and more! Each alternative & non-traditional engagement ring is custom made in NYC using responsibly sourced gems, conflict free diamonds, and recycled metals.
New shapes, sizes, fancy colored sapphires and gold colors ... So a modern bride can celebrate her individuality with it! When you design a custom engagement ring with us you have the luxury to personalize the piece any way you choose to. When it comes down to sapphire vs. diamond engagement rings, sometimes you just can’t choose, both look beautiful together. In toi et moi rings, they were paired to symbolize eternity and love. So, why not use both in your unique ring? A white diamonds halo or as side stones around a center sapphire stone is timelessly elegant, but the two stones truly enhance each other in any setting.
Sapphires are a more budget-friendly move and hard enough to stand up to the wear and tear of everyday use. From deep blue to pretty-in-pink, Sapphire engagement rings are vibrant diamond alternatives that make a distinctive statement. They come in almost every color of the rainbow and make a stunning centerpiece for any personalized engagement ring. In fact, our designers often use sapphires in our unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. Explore our collection of custom jewelry pieces to see the stone in action and determine if our style is a good fit for you.
Snd Gems is located at 54 W 47th Street #4R in downtown New York and our workshop is open for appointments Monday through Saturday. Contact us to create your custom piece and turn your dream fancy sapphire engagement ring into a reality!
To browse our beautiful collection of colorful fancy sapphire engagement rings click here or images below.
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Sparkle N Dazzle Co. (sndgems.com) 54 W 47th St Suite #4R, New York, NY 10036
