Looking for an engagement ring? A gemstone engagement ring speaks volumes about the personality of its wearer. Which one to choose though? Finalizing between a sapphire ring and an emerald ring is no less than a battle in itself as both the gemstones are equally beautiful, both are adorned by royalty and both tend to have a competitive price range too.
The Sapphire
Sapphire comes from a mineral called corundum. When different elements in trace quantities are mixed with this mineral, it tends to showcase different colors. For example, if titanium and iron are mixed in the mineral then it would turn royal blue making the gem look ravishing. But if only iron is present, the color is sunny yellow.
The Emerald
Emerald, on the other hand, comes from the mineral beryl which also makes up another gemstone called aquamarine. It is the presence of the trace elements vanadium and chromium which turns beryl bluish-green in shade.
Even though these gemstones look marvelous, the question would be – if you were to choose between a sapphire ring or an emerald ring, which one would it be?
We are presenting here a comparison chart of sapphire vs emerald that might help you make a better decision!
Technical Comparison
| Sapphire | Parameter | Emerald |
| Sapphire can be found in a variety of colors – from blues, pinks, yellows and whites to even purple & black. The blue shade is the most loved shade of sapphire. You can choose your favorite color for your sapphire ring! | Color | Emerald is found in only one color – Green. The most desirable shade is anywhere from blue/green to pure green. Green stands for nature and freshness; the emerald ring will surely be the breath of fresh air you’ve been looking for. |
| Sapphires are given heat treatments for color enhancement or to improve their clarity. Diffusion and irradiation are also the treatments used on sapphires. You should always ask your jeweler about the treatments when buying a sapphire ring. | Treatments | Untreated emeralds are extremely rare and very difficult to find. Most emeralds go through treatments like oiling or filling for better clarity, color enhancement and improved structural integrity. You should always ask your jeweler about the treatments before buying an emerald ring. |
| It is extremely rare to find a sapphire with no eye-visible imperfections. The fewer the inclusions or fractures, the higher the clarity. Your sapphire ring with an eye-clean or very slightly included sapphire will look stunning. | Clarity | It’s common to find inclusions and flaws in emeralds. Just like sapphire, natural emeralds come with low clarity which is usually rectified by using different treatments. An Emerald ring with a very slightly included or slightly included emerald is surely going to make you feel like a princess. |
| Sapphire scores a 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. It is highly durable and strong. | Hardness | Emerald scores an 8 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. It is tough, exceptionally strong, and resilient to damage. |
Other Comparison
| Sapphire | Parameter | Emerald |
| Sapphire, the gemstone of royalty, is loved by all and is an emblem of wisdom, wealth, luxury and divine power | Symbolism | Emerald represents rebirth, growth, fortune, balance and peace. It is highly recommended by astrologers to gain all these qualities. |
| Natural sapphires of good quality are very rare to find and hence command a premium price. | Affordability | Untreated and natural emeralds are rarer than diamonds and hence quite pricey. |
| The price of fine quality sapphire can be as high as $10,000 per carat or more. | Value | Price of a 1-carat 5A quality emerald starts from $12,000 and goes up to $35,000 per carat and beyond. |
| Royalty and celebrities both adore sapphires and wear them on special occasions | Prominence in the Fashion world | Emerald & sapphire both are a part of the ‘big three gems’ and very sought-after gemstones. |
The Verdict
The tabular illustration above must have made it clear to you the big differences between the two gemstones. The flawless gems are quite rare and most of them have inclusions or fractures. Both sapphire and emerald are hard and durable but on the Mohs scale of hardness, sapphire leads with one point, scoring a 9 out of 10 whereas emerald scores an 8 out of 10. Even though there’s a slight difference in their hardness, both gemstones can be used on a daily basis.
If you love colorful gems, then lucky for you, sapphires come in a variety of colors that you can choose – blue, green, white, yellow, pink, purple, and even black… you name it and you’ll find sapphire in that shade. Whereas, the emerald has only one shade to offer – green to bluish-green, which looks stunning. Price is usually the breaking point to finalizing one’s engagement ring, both the gemstones are precious and so are priced quite close to each other.
So really, the decision power for choosing a sapphire ring or an emerald ring – is in your hands! Both the gemstones will make you the talk of the town! Explore different designs of rings and you never know what clicks in the end.
