For ages, the world’s been holding diamonds synonymous with engagement rings. Frankly, it’s become quite old-school.
And that’s particularly true for the 21st century when we’ve got a lot of contemporary and colorful alternates. There’s Onyx, Alexandrite, Emerald, Sapphire, Tanzanite, and whatnot. They’re not only stunning but cheaper and easy to shop for.
However, if you seek the same white glam of a diamond but not in a diamond, we’ve got five good alternatives for you. Let’s have a look!
Moissanite
Moissanite was initially mistaken for a diamond. It resembles a diamond to an extent that people long considered it to be a diamond before the stone got its own unique identity.
These are colorless like diamonds and have a refractive index of about 2.65-2.69. The refractive index is higher than that of diamond, which is about 2.4. Hence, it shines more. Some Moissanite stones have a yellowish or grayish hue.
In terms of hardness, the Moissanite ranks 9.5 on Mohs scale. And hence, it happens to be the second-hardest mineral. As for the pricing, you won’t save much with a Moissanite. Premium quality Moissanite costs around $300 – $1500. In comparison to this, an average diamond ring would cost you $500.
White Sapphire
White sapphires are brilliant alternatives for diamond wedding rings. Check out the rings listed here in the Diamond Nexus review. The named company lists some of the best diamond ring designs.
Quality-wise too, white sapphires mimic diamonds quite well. They are colorless like diamonds and possess excellent durability. White sapphires rank nine on the Mohs scale, which makes them phenomenally durable. If cut well, it’s brilliant and shiny.
However, the refractive index of a typical white sapphire is somewhere between 1.76 and 1.77. Hence, you cannot expect a brilliant shine without proper cuts. In terms of pricing, lab-grown white sapphires cost much cheaper. They’ll cost $40 per carat. But if you opt for natural white sapphires, they’ll cost you $800 per carat.
White Topaz
Similar to white sapphire, white Topaz is colorless. They resemble diamonds visually but not in the composition.
They’ve got a refractive index of 1.64, which is much lower than an actual diamond. So, you can’t expect them to shine much. However, they’re very durable. They rank about eight on the Mohs scale, which makes them fairly sturdy.
In terms of pricing, these are 110 times cheaper. One carat white topaz will cost you $100 – $150 only.
Opal
When we recommend Opal as the best alternate, we don’t mean it’s the replica. But it definitely delivers the same value and class!
Visually, it has a milky white appearance which conflicts with a diamond’s crystal-clear appearance. You can also get an opal in grey, blue, brown, and orange-red colors.
They do not typically shine. However, we can still categorize them as brilliant because of their vibrancy. The stone has a class of its own!
It ranks 5-6.5 on Mohs scale. So, certainly, it’s not quite hard and durable. It’s not recommendable for everyday wear. But simultaneously, you get an advantage over the price.
Cubic Zirconia
Cubic Zirconia, also known as CZ, is a diamond simulant. It’s typically a lab-nurtured stone that visually resembles a diamond. But it’s very different in chemical nature and overall quality.
At a glance, you’d see cubic zirconia as colorless as a D-rated diamond. But you can also get these in colors. The colors are pretty much under control during the developmental process of these stones.
Its refractive index is about 2.15 – 2.18, which is lower than that of diamonds. So, they may not be as brilliant as diamonds, but they possess their unique rainbow flashes. Unlike diamonds, you’d see them glinting and giving off-color light sparks.
On Mohs scale, the stone measures around 8.5, which makes it softer than diamonds. These stones are more prone to scratches. They might get chipped with ease.
Cubic Zirconia may not be the best diamond alternative in terms of quality, but it’s definitely the best pick if you’re looking for similar looks at the cheapest price. D-grade diamonds will cost you $11000 per carat. But Cubic Zirconia costs around $20 per carat only.
Final Thoughts
We hope the five best diamond alternatives mentioned above help you find the perfect fit for your wedding or engagement ring. Note that we haven’t covered lab-grown diamonds, and that’s only because it’s a complete imitation. It’s certainly not the best pick. But even so, feel free to explore. Choose the stone that suits your routine!
