Diamond Alternative Wedding Rings
Moissanite
The first, and most popular, alternative white center stone for engagement rings is moissanite, which was discovered in 1893 by Nobel Prize-winning chemist Henri Moissan. Since it looks so similar to a diamond, it was first mistaken for one when it was found in Arizona inside a meteorite. The majority of moissanite used in jewelry nowadays is lab created, which means that it does not present any ethical dilemmas. Whereas some people may have concerns about diamond mining and its environmental implications, moissanite has a much smaller environmental footprint given its lab creation.
Due to its high refractive index, moissanite has greater brilliance than diamonds, which makes it sparkle more as well. It is typically colorless, similar to a diamond graded D - F on the color scale, and exhibits more flashes of rainbow color than a diamond. It is the second hardest on the Mohs scale of hardness (rank 9.25), coming closely behind diamond (rank 10), which means that it is a very durable stone and is resistant to scratches and other damage. This makes it perfect for an engagement ring, as it is worn daily. It is also very easy to clean, similar to a diamond, and can hold up to both steam and ultrasonic cleaning.
Moissanite is available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and can be set in any type of setting, making it very versatile. There are also smaller moissanites, which can be set instead of accent diamonds on your ring, if you prefer to keep consistency and have the same type of stone on your entire wedding set.
One of the most notable aspects of moissanite is its affordability. Whereas diamonds can set you back several thousand dollars, moissanite can be as low as a few hundred, depending upon the size. This would allow you to get a significantly larger and brighter stone with your budget than would be possible with a diamond, if that is a concern. Overall, moissanite is a wonderful option for engagement rings and offers an affordable alternative to traditional diamonds.
White Sapphire
Another popular white stone alternative to diamond is white sapphire. The most well known color of sapphire is blue, but sapphires come in a wide variety of colors, one of which is white. They are available in several shapes, such as round, princess, etc. Although they are white like diamonds, white sapphires have a lower refractive index, so they do not sparkle as much as diamonds and also don’t display color refraction as strongly as diamonds or moissanite.
When purchasing a white sapphire, you'll have the choice between natural and lab-grown. Despite their difference in origin (mined from the ground vs. grown in a lab), both types of sapphires are identical in chemical composition, visual appearance, and durability. Lab-grown sapphires offer an environmentally friendly alternative and are typically less expensive. Natural sapphires tend to command higher prices because of their rarity, but the accessibility of lab grown sapphires offers a more budget-friendly option. This cost-effectiveness allows you to allocate more of your budget to the ring design, wedding bands, or other aspects of the wedding. Many sapphires are mined in countries with stricter regulations than diamonds, so it is thought that white sapphire mining may have less impact on the environment than diamonds.
Sapphires have long been associated with qualities such as loyalty, sincerity, and faithfulness, making them ideal for symbolizing a committed relationship. They also hold significance across different cultures, which can be important for some couples and their families. Sapphires are also one of the hardest gemstones, ranking just below diamonds on the Mohs scale of hardness. This makes them resistant to scratches and chips, perfect for daily wear. Since they are durable, they are also easy to clean and care for; they are not damaged by ultrasonic or steam cleaning. White sapphire is an affordable and durable alternative option to a diamond center stone and one that you should definitely consider.
White Topaz
White topaz is another white gemstone alternative to diamonds. Found in several areas around the world including Brazil, Russia, and Pakistan, topaz is a natural occuring gemstone and can look visually similar to a diamond. Similar to white sapphire, though, white topaz lacks the fire and brilliance of a diamond or moissanite, since the refractive index is lower than diamonds. But it is available in many different shapes, which allows for versatility and customization for your engagement ring.
Topaz ranks an 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so while it is not as durable as a diamond, it is plenty durable for daily wear. As with all gemstones, it’s important to be careful and not wear your ring while doing any physical activity or exposing your hands to chemicals, e.g. cleaning, swimming, showering, etc. Topaz in general is typically a very affordable gemstone, which means that it is significantly lower in cost than a diamond. This makes it an ideal stone for someone who is on a stricter budget for their ring, or is choosing to spend more of their budget on the design and mounting as opposed to the center stone.
Cubic Zirconia
One last white stone alternative that we must mention is the cubic zirconia, which is often offered free of cost as a center stone in many engagement ring settings. Oftentimes, the person proposing will choose to set a cubic zirconia as a placeholder to allow the person wearing the ring to select their own center stone. Or a cubic zirconia is chosen to assist in budget and allow for more to be spent on the ring mounting itself.
Cubic zirconia is a man-made gemstone that was developed in the 1970s to be used as a diamond alternative and has been used as such since then in engagement rings, along with costume jewelry. The refractive index of cubic zirconia is lower than a diamond, but still allows for brilliance. It is made in almost every shape that a diamond is available in, which means that it is incredibly versatile. Rating an 8-8.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, cubic zirconia is certainly hard enough for everyday wear, but could get scratched if you’re not careful enough. If you’re concerned about the ethical issue with diamond mining, cubic zirconia is certainly a good alternative since there are little to no environmental issues with lab grown gemstones.
While diamonds are the traditional choice for engagement ring center stones, there are several alternatives that offer similar visual appearance, durability, and better affordability than a diamond. Whether you choose a moissanite, white sapphire, white topaz, or cubic zirconia, all offer a beautiful and versatile option to fit your preferences.