

However, the GIA does publish sapphire reports, with the main focus being on weight, measurements, shape, cutting style, transparency, color, and whether or not the sapphire has been treated. While diamond cuts are graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), sapphires have no grading scale equivalent. Inspected up close, the diamond will always win in terms of fire and brilliance, but to an untrained eye, the two are quite similar in appearance. Many sapphires hold different lusters some may even appear cloudy or milky. Like many other gemstones, the brilliance of the white sapphire is largely dependent on how it is cut. If white sapphires are so similar to diamonds, then you may be wondering: what’s the difference between the two? Appearanceĭiamond remains the most brilliant gemstone, but white sapphires can look equally stunning. The resulting gemstone is indistinguishable from a natural sapphire. While there are a few different approaches to synthesizing sapphires, the process typically involves applying high pressure and heat to corundum. In contrast, synthesized sapphires are grown and treated in labs that replicate natural sapphire producing conditions. Primarily differentiated by the cutting of the gemstone, the composition of natural and untreated sapphires is as close to the raw material as possible. They are not synthetically produced in a laboratory and thus not chemically changed in any way. Natural sapphires are sapphires found underground. Because it offers a hardness and sparkle akin to the diamond but at a lower price point, white sapphires have become a popular substitute for diamonds in jewelry.

Specifically for white sapphires, corundum sapphire gemstones are usually lab treated to achieve their colorless appearance.Ĭorundum is a tough mineral – in fact, it is second only to the diamond in hardness. Colored sapphire and ruby gemstones are distinguished by unique impurities that create red or blue hues. Sapphires are from the corundum family of minerals, which also includes the ruby. With this guide, you’ll be able to understand what makes white sapphires unique, how they are created, and what to keep in mind before you purchase one yourself. The white sapphire not only looks as gorgeous as the diamond, but it also has similar structural properties that make it one of the best diamond alternatives available on the market. While diamonds have become iconic in the world of jewelry, there is another gemstone worthy of being mentioned in the same vein.
