Rubies Scratched over Time, the Diamonds Look Amazing Years Later. So don’t expect to see chips on sapphires. On the other hand, because of their crystalline structure, diamonds actually chip easier than sapphires. (Note: the gold or platinum setting will still need to be professionally cleaned and polished to bring the whole ring back to its original shine.) Soap, water, and an old toothbrush used on an old diamond will usually make it look as good as new. For this reason, diamonds rarely, if ever, require re-polishing. With diamonds, this practically never happens. Don’t worry, I’m not going to put you to sleep with the gory scientific details. It all has to do with their crystalline structure. DurabilityĪlthough diamonds are four times harder than sapphires, they’re not necessarily as chip resistant. Pure corundum-white sapphire-without any trace elements, however, is colorless! Diamonds and Sapphires Hardness vs. With blue sapphires, it’s iron and titanium. In fact, depending on those tiny amounts of other elements, corundums come in just about every color of the rainbow. It’s the different trace elements in each that give them their unique hue. That’s right! Chemically, they’re all aluminum oxides. White sapphires are corundums-the same gem family as blue sapphires and rubies. White, Blue, & Yellow Sapphires-and Rubies: They’re All Corundums!

However only of these gemstones is suitable for wedding rings.

Then again, I could make a much stronger case for using diamonds.īoth white sapphires and diamonds are rare and valuable and each is steeped in rich history. I could make a case for setting white sapphires in wedding and engagement rings.

White sapphire engagement rings