Non-traditional engagement rings: why she'll love a sapphire ring

When it comes to rings, sapphires of all colors are gaining huge traction in popularity as a non-traditional engagement ring and alternative to diamonds. Here are 4 reasons why she’ll love a sapphire engagement ring:

1. Sapphires are rarer than diamonds

Sapphires provide a stunning alternative to very expensive and colorless diamonds. Sapphires occur far less frequently in the earth’s crust compared to diamonds. Diamonds are one of the least rare gems as they are made of carbon. The development of high-quality lab-created diamonds also makes the sapphire so much more unique.

2. Sapphires are durable

Earlier I wrote about Will Sapphire Scratch? The hardness of the sapphire (9 on the Mohs scale) allows this stunning jewelry to be worn every day without too much risk of damage or scratching. Corundum is very hard and is classed as 9 on the Mohs scale and is therefore one of the hardest gemstones known to man, second only to the diamond.

3. Sapphires come in many different colors

Sapphires come in all colors of the spectrum. Most commonly, sapphires are thought of primarily as blue. Depending on the impurities in the ground after forming, the color of the sapphire can be blue, green, yellow, parti (mix of yellow and green), pink, purples, teal, orange, clear, color change and red. However, most people know the red sapphire as a ruby.

Gemmologist will talk about the refractive index of a gem and is sometimes called the ‘fire’ or sparkle of the gem. The refractive index of the sapphire is notably lower than the diamond, however, the fire of the diamond cannot compare to the beautiful colorful hues of the sapphire.

4. Sapphires are more affordable than diamonds

While sapphires are not cheap by any means, they do offer much more ‘bang for your buck’. For example, a high-quality diamond might cost you anywhere between $2,500 and $16,000 per carat depending on the cut, clarity, and color. A high-quality sapphire retails for anywhere between $500 to $2,000 per carat, once again, depending on cut, clarity and color.

Which shape and color are best for an engagement ring?

There is no wrong answer and the best shape and color is the one she will love. The most popular cut and color is blue sapphire, an oval cut surrounded by a halo of accent diamonds. We are also seeing a movement towards to parti-colored sapphires which are rich in greens and yellows.