What gem stone is better than a diamond for a wedding ring?

8 comments

1. Moissanite

2. Ruby

3. Sapphire or emerald

4. A cubic zirconia

5. whatever your partner’s favourite is

6. If I remember correctly- diamond is a hard stone. Next is sapphire & it comes in lots of colors!

7. Guess it depends on what you mean by better. In terms of hardness (durability), diamonds are highest on the Mohs scale. Next would be Ruby, sapphire, or moissanite in the ~9ish range. Among the lowest would be pearls and amber — which a hardness similar to that of a fingernail.

   If your looking purely for the sparkle factor, moissanite would be the best — only after diamonds. There’s the added benefit that it is 2nd highest in durability. This is measured with a refractive index (among other things). The difference between diamond and moissanite would only be detected by someone with a trained eye. Other super sparkly stones include sapphires and garnets. Sapphire has a good Mohs factor for everyday wear. Keep in mind, the clarity, cut, and setting are incredibly important. A poorly cut diamond with bad clarity won’t sparkle as well.

   If you mean better as more affordable, moissanite is going to be up there again. It will be easier to get a larger stone with a better cut and clarity.

   If you can, I would recommend seeing the ring in person first and approving the exact stone that will be set.

   Edited to add: you definitely don’t need to get the hardest of stones. If the intended wearer loves opal (a softer stone, and one of my favorites), there are ways to make it work — specifically with certain cuts and settings. If neither party cares, the intended wearer can elect to only wear it out, on special occasions, or something. It definitely depends on the person and what they like to do, and what they spend a lot of time doing.

8. Better is a relative term. Better how? Stronger? Not possible. Less exploitative? Totally possible. A lab grown diamond is a fraction of the cost and still a diamond. A white sapphire would give you the same look, almost as hard as a diamond, and still cheaper than a diamond.