Can I have a sapphire instead of a diamond for an engagement ring?

The short answer is YES! But why?

To answer the corundum conundrum, on the MOH’S scale of hardness, the Corundum family (of which sapphire is apart of) is the second hardest naturally occurring material (natural moissanite is harder however the largest ever moissanite discovered was around 0.30ct, so very very small). Leaving us with the corundum family, the question we need to answer is why?

Let’s begin with why sapphire and not diamond?

It’s beautiful and it comes in a large range of colours. It has been popular throughout the ages and most pieces are unique. Diamonds, as beautiful as they can be are unfortunately everywhere; and they look the same; yet, try finding two 3ct Ceylon blue sapphires that look the same! As someone whose task it is to source gemstones, it’s almost impossible! Find two 3ct diamonds that are matching; simple!
We’ve all heard that famous slogan, ‘Diamonds are forever’. Referring to a diamond’s hardness, that statement somewhat makes sense. They last a long time. Sapphires are not as durable however they are still by far hard enough. Think about royalty; we all know that famous princess Di ring with the centrally set royal blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds in a cluster style setting. Durability wasn’t an issue there as it’s been past down to the next generation and it’s in great condition. Let’s look to some of that Georgian jewellery. Our ancestors are no longer around but their sapphires still wonder the planet in great condition.

But everyone gets engaged with a diamond!

Yes, most people who get engagement buy a diamond engagement ring. Why? Great marketing; that’s it! Nothing more and nothing less. That’s not to say a lot of people don’t buy them because they are in love with diamonds but the MAJORITY do so because of excellent HISTORICAL marketing. We are creatures of habit and we go with the flow rather than make our own decisions and its been embedded in our nature to go straight for those sparklers.

After reading this post you may think to yourself; why am I against diamonds as an engagement ring? I am not. There are other options out there that should be considered. If your favourite colour is blue, you can have a blue sapphire, if your favourite colour is pink you can have a pink sapphire, if your favourite colour is green you can have a green sapphire; what I’m trying to say is your options are plenty and you don’t need to be bound to tradition. If however diamonds are your thing, go for it and if you need advice on how to buy, I can help. What I want to achieve through this message is you are not bound by any rules; it is solely your choice!

Jewellery and Diamond Buying Consultancy

  • What do I look for in buying a diamond?
  • What is the real worth of this engagement ring?
  • Is this diamond the real deal or is it a scam?
  • I’m worried it’s not what I want?
  • What do I really need to know before I commit?

These are just some of the many questions that go through our minds when we want to buy a piece of jewellery, especially that all important rock. It ranks as one of the most crucial purchases alongside a house and car because of the big investment; both emotional and financial that goes into it.

Layman’s terms below…

Going right to the basics, it is true, the 4c’s are the most important factors. Is one more important than the other? No. It’s like making a good dinner recipe. You need a healthy balance of all the ingredients. The same applies to buying a diamond.

The first thing you need to decide is how big?

0.5 carats, 1 carat, 1.5 carats, 2 carats or bigger? Don’t get too bogged down into carat. Spread is your friend. We need to remember that carat is only a weight. We want the diamond to look big, not a deep diamond that looks like a telescope because all the weight is in the pavilion. 5mm, 5.1mm 6mm, 6.5mm? These little jumps in numbers may look small on paper but are huge to the eye.

The second?

How much do I want to spend? Usually after this question gets answered we tend to revisit question one…

After settling on these two points we are then free to hesitantly move to question three. Ignore colour grades for a second? Am I happy to go with a slightly yellow tinge or do I want a very bright white diamond? If you’re happy with a slight yellow tinge, G colours and lower are your friends. Strictly want it white, F and higher is your friend. That being said, other factors can impact colour so this is not a strict rule.

Next item to consider is although arguably more important than colour is clarity. Do you want to see a spot or two or three…..or four in your diamond when you are walking down the street and you decide to have a look at your engagement ring instead of your phone? If you can tolerate this then you can visit the I1 grade. If you will be annoyed, stick to a good SI or above.

Finally, cut. This is probably the most important factor. You can have a flawless diamond and D colour but if the stone is cut poorly, you have unfortunately failed yourself. This should probably be ranked as the number one priority however once you have narrowed down your colour, clarity and carat, you can then select the stone with the best cut.