If you are looking for a sustainable alternative or anything better than diamond, you don’t need to look any further. These days many people are looking for some valuable alternative to a diamond. Resultantly, there are a bunch of precious gems apart from diamonds to consider. It is better to reach out to a professional jeweler or expert when it comes to diamond alternatives. They’ll assist you in picking a precious stone which is just according to your needs. If you want to make sure gemstone is conflict-free, you want to see some affordable options, or just want to set new trends, this article will serve as your guide.
Choosing Mined-Diamond Alternative
These days not many people are willing to pay for the mined diamonds. They are expensive and have low investment value. These are the two main reasons for people to choose an alternative. Potential customers seeking eco-friendly or environmentally ethical rings for their grand day may go for alternative gemstones.
Diamond Alternative
A diamond alternative can mean different elements for various people. Nowadays, people are going for white-colored gems instead of naturally mined diamonds. This helps them to get the sparkly colorless outlook without spending a fortune. Many couples love this alternative! Nonetheless, some couples are interested in more colorful and vibrant diamond alternatives. There are a variety of gems options on the market for these enthusiasts.
All the gemstones describe below look like diamonds, but they possess unique optical as well as physical properties. Simulants can either be natural, mined stones or synthetic, lab-made stones. For instance, the natural white sapphires and lab-made white sapphires can be seen as diamond simulants. However, they are not real diamonds.
The Best Colorless Diamond Alternatives
- The Ultimate Best: Lab Diamonds
Lab manufactured diamonds are the latest and best alternative to a naturally mined diamond. They are extremely beautiful, primarily because Lab Diamonds are the same mineral as natural diamonds. The main difference lies in their occurrence. The lab diamond is created in a lab, and the natural diamond is found on the grounds. The Lab diamonds are the best diamond alternative because of a range of features. It includes the appearance, hardness, and affordable price range.
Lab Diamonds have the same chemical composition as natural diamonds, which is an exclusive feature of this diamond alternative. Both mined diamond and lab diamond is made of pure carbon, the same brilliance, and they both have 10/10 hardness. The only distinction between the mined diamonds and lab diamonds can be seen through gemological testing. Hence, you get the best quality option in 30 to 50 % of the price of a natural diamond.
The earlier synthetic diamonds used to be off-color or highly included. Gone are the days when the man-made gems displayed a slight hint of color. The latest scientific breakthroughs have paved new ways for the Lab Diamonds. They are now eye-clean, white, and indistinguishable from the natural diamonds. In short, Lab Diamonds offer you the exact look you desire and the price you are willing to pay. They are the best and ultimate alternative to the natural diamond.
- The Most Sparkling Diamond Alternative: Moissanite
Moissanite is the preference of couples who are looking for an even more sparkly alternative to diamonds. Owing to its extreme dispersion, Moissanite sparkles even more than the diamond. On the Mohs Hardness Scale, Moissanite is extremely hard and 9.25/10. Therefore, it will stand out in your daily wear, surpassed by diamond only. On top of everything, Moissanite is just a proportion of the price of Lab Diamonds, making it a favorite for its affordability.
Previously, people had complaints of a yellow tint. However, the latest breakthrough in the creation of Moissanite has been successful in introducing entirely colorless Moissanite. For instance, Forever One Moissanite remains as colorless as an E color diamond. It is completely stunning and breathtakingly unique. Overall, Moissanite is one of the best diamond alternatives. The couples who are interested in Moissanite should anticipate a sparkle that gives the outlook of fireworks even more than the diamond’s sparkle.
- Cubic Zirconia
Lab-made Cubic Zirconia (CZ) is the most famous diamond alternative. At an affordable price, it can compete with a diamond in sparkle, brilliance, and fire dispersion. Nonetheless, Cubic Zirconia has low durability, making it easy to break or scratch, and is also slightly porous. As it can absorb oils from your skin, it will dull over the years.
- Glass
Various kinds of artisanal glass have been polished and cut as gems. Lately, some of the renowned selections are available in the form of Swarovski’s glass gems selection. Although glass can be attractive, it can break easily. It is extremely soft, and household dust can scratch it. A glass gem is not the best option for a ring stone. Knocks and scratches from daily wear will make it lose its charm quickly. Moreover, if you are still interested in glass gems, you may consider protective ring settings.
- The Best Natural Alternative: White Sapphire
If you are someone who is looking for a natural alternative to diamonds, White Sapphire is a great preference. It is because White Sapphire is naturally occurring, beautiful, durable, and super affordable. On a Mohs Hardness Scale, Sapphire scores a 9/10. It implies that your White Sapphire can stand the test of time. It comes in a variety of sizes and shapes, and some can come in a quite huge selection.
In addition to being natural, a unique property of White Sapphire is that it is most often not treated at all. White Sapphire has low heat treatment, improving its clarity and color. White Sapphire is the favorite because it happens to be a natural diamond alternative. If you choose White Sapphire, you should anticipate the same white sparkle as the white and colored sparkle diamond.
- Affordable Alternative: White Topaz
If you are looking for value, White Topaz is your go-to option. Topaz is durable, naturally occurring, and is highly affordable. Its gray-white sparkle gives White Topaz a polished, sophisticated appearance. If the couple is seeking a huge impact, they have the good news that White Topaz is available in big sizes. On the Mohs Hardness Scales, White Topaz is ranked 8/10, implying it can withstand scratching quite conveniently. Couples interested in the White Topaz need to select protective settings like a halo, 6-prong, or bezel to make sure its beauty lasts forever.
The bottom line is if you want a huge look for less money, then White Topaz is the diamond alternative that would be your best friend. Nonetheless, you must look for protective settings for your White Topaz. Moreover, if you are buying it, you should expect grey-white sparkle compared to the diamond’s white and rainbow sparkle.
- White Zircon
White Zircon should not be confused with the lab-made cubic zirconia, as Zircon is a natural gem. It has immense dispersion and brilliance; it dates long back as a diamond simulant. Appearance-wise, Zircon comes close to diamond than any other natural gemstone. Nonetheless, when it comes to durability, it is way more fragile than diamond. It can scratch and break with wear. However, White Zircon is readily available at an affordable price, with the ease of replacement.
- Quartz
It is considered the most common natural gemstone, and the best part is it makes an inexpensive diamond alternative. While its sparkle is incomparable to a well-cut diamond, some lapidaries can refine quartz to make it look better than a mediocre diamond. Nonetheless, quartz can gather scratches over the years, thus reducing its value as a competent alternative.
- Goshenite
If you are familiar with emerald, aquamarine, or morganite, then you can add goshenite to the list as they are all related. All these varieties are different colored elements of the mineral beryl. Goshenite is colorless or white beryl. It is a durable gem but with not much sparkle or fire. Thus, it is not the most appropriate or convincing diamond alternative. On the contrary, if you are looking for a natural, inexpensive, huge white gem that will stand the test of time, goshenite is a decent option.
In conclusion, no one diamond alternative offers a unanimous preference for everybody. Each option provides unique feasibility concerning appearance, price, and durability. If you are interested in a gem that can last for several years, then you may have limited options. If you are looking for synthetic stones, Moissanite can offer you the most value for your money. If you have a decent budget, lab diamonds make a wonderful option.
On the other hand, if you are interested in naturally occurring gems, no alternative can beat the sparkle and value of diamonds. White Sapphire, however, is the best alternative in brilliance with about the same durability. You need to ensure you are purchasing a mined white sapphire and not synthetic sapphire. At a lower price, goshenite can make for a fantastic diamond alternative, specifically if you are interested in an emerald, where sparkle is not the priority.