These terms are often used to describe gemstones, but what do they mean? Fire refers to a gemstone's ability to break white light into a spectrum of colors, expressed in terms of Dispersion Value (DV).
To compare, diamond has a RI of 2.41, while sapphire has 1.77 and 0.018, meaning it reflects more light but disperses less than diamond. Technically, a white sapphire has more fire than a diamond, but it reflects less light than a diamond.
It is less pellucid than diamond and thus appears less shiny or milky. A white sapphire is a great choice for a subtle sparkle.
Diamond is the hardest substance. It is 10 times harder than sapphire on the Mohs scale. Hardness is the resistance to scratches and abrasions.
Diamond supporters may argue that only a diamond can scratch another diamond or a sapphire but not vice versa. True, especially given the non-linearity of the hardness scale, but how many people have you seen do that?
We all treat our jewelry with great care, so unless you put them all in one pouch and start rolling it around, your diamond or sapphire won't get scratched.
This relative strength difference is due to the stone's composition. A diamond is pure carbon with an atomic structure that is rigid. However, a sapphire is made of corundum, a crystalline form of aluminum oxide.
These two naturally occurring minerals are very different. These minerals are created by many natural forces within the earth, so your use will not affect them.
The perceived rarity of a diamond adds to its value. Is the price really related to the rarity? Honestly, diamonds aren't as rare as advertised.
Mining diamonds, or any gemstone, was not easy in the 19th century, when technology was not as advanced. So much so that labs now create diamonds and other gemstones.
Because diamonds over 1.5ct are rare, the price per carat rises significantly as the size increases (keeping the 4Cs constant).
White sapphire, on the other hand, is an element-free form of corundum. This makes white sapphires a great alternative to diamonds, especially for engagement rings that require a colorless center stone.
Diamonds' popularity is due to a cleverly engineered demand-supply mismatch and clever marketing campaigns. Nevertheless, you must accept the market value of diamonds.
A white sapphire costs much less, and the difference grows with size. However, the difference in sparkle is also immediately apparent. This tradeoff is personal.
Aside from these factors, a diamond or a white sapphire must have no flaws or inclusions, be colorless, and be cut precisely.
Compare white sapphire and diamond is like comparing apple and pineapple. Their similarity does not justify a comparison. Nonetheless, it's a good idea to learn more about these two gems.
If you enjoy contests, then diamond appears to be the clear winner in the white sapphire vs diamond contest. However, white sapphire is not far behind, leading in price and quality.
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