Are you wondering which gemstone to choose when shopping for engagement rings? Ideally, you do not want your budget to determine which form of jewelry you choose. If you do not want to take on debt, however, you would look to act within your budget constraints. The high rate of a natural diamond is among the unique selling propositions of the product. Nevertheless, you may find it unaffordable. In that case, you may want to choose from one of the following options.
Cubic Zirconia
Cubic zirconia is not as durable or brilliant as a diamond but is cheaper and colorless. Some people describe it as a fake diamond due to its resemblance to the latter. You may find it identical to a diamond at first glance but can spot a big difference in quality and beauty with a further inspection.
Cubic zirconia appears pretty but is not ideal for a long-lasting jewelry item. Why? Because the gemstone can get a scratch or two easily and be cloudy gradually during a long period. Another downside of the gemstone is that it does not have much value.
Moissanite
Moissanite appears similar to a diamond, so much so that it was regarded as a diamond upon initial discovery. There may be a greenish-yellowish hue in moissanite should you inspect the stone more closely. It may appear the same as a diamond but projects a different level of brilliance.
The biggest benefits of moissanite are that it is a lot more affordable than a diamond and almost as durable as it. A bigger moissanite gem can be more affordable as compared to a smaller diamond. On the downside, moissanite can be less valuable vis-à-vis a diamond.
White Sapphire
White sapphire is also a more affordable gemstone than a diamond that looks almost the same as the latter stone. It is almost as hard and long-lasting as moissanite. Jewelers use it as a substitute for a diamond thanks to its similar appearance and relatively lower price. As with moissanite, you can choose a bigger sapphire gem at the fraction of a smaller diamond’s price. That said, to get white sapphire with as similar an appearance to a diamond for a ring, pick a small sapphire gem.
Lab-Made Diamonds
A potential issue with choosing a cheaper natural diamond substitute is that your partner may look down upon it. You can avoid it with an engagement ring set with an artificial diamond or diamonds. Lab grown diamonds have the same chemical, physical and optical properties as mined diamonds.