Blue Lab-grown Diamond VS. Sapphire Engagement Rings
Only few gemstones can rise to the profound moment of an engagement. For most of the recent history, natural diamonds have dominated as the first choice gemstones for engagement rings. However, in recent times, blue lab-grown diamonds and sapphires are increasingly becoming popularized by fashion-forward celebrities and jewelry brands.
However, not all blue diamond rings are as sensational as the mesmerizing Hope diamond, nor are all sapphire rings as instantly recognizable as Kate Middleton’s 18-carat royal blue sapphire ring.
If you’re looking for a ring that impeccably conveys your profound love for your partner without flattening your budget, this guide is designed for you. Are blue diamonds a good choice for an engagement rings center stone? What about sapphires? Where can you get a high quality blue diamond engagement ring at an affordable price? The answers to these and any other questions you might have about the blue diamond and blue sapphire engagement rings are included in the following sections.
Sapphire engagement ring
Sapphires are derived from the mineral corundum, commonly associated with a regal shade of blue. Although sapphire comes from the Greek word for “blue”, Sappheiros, sapphires come in a variety of hues. They range in color from green, yellow, orange, and even violet.
Sapphire engagement ring meaning
Sapphires are known for their radiant deep tones and incredible fire. Although not as popular as diamonds, sapphires are well-established favorites as a center stone for engagement rings today. Engagement rings with sapphires are typically blue, but they also come in a wide array of colors.
Along with blue diamonds, blue sapphires rank high in the league of regal gemstones. Throughout history, sapphires have been taken for magical stones. During ancient times, they were believed to hold healing powers and protection against evil. In medieval times, they were symbols of wisdom, integrity, and good fortune. Today, the striking radiance of blue sapphires makes for highly attractive engagement rings.
Why choose a sapphire engagement ring? - the pros
Livelier colors - The unique internal structures and chemical composition of sapphires give rise to more vivid colors with deeper hues compared to diamonds.
Bigger and more colorful - Sapphire engagement rings are much cheaper than diamond rings, you can get bigger and more vibrant stones for the same price.
Why not choose a sapphire engagement ring? - the cons
Less sparkle: Sapphires do not sparkle as much as diamonds do.
Less reflective: They do not reflect as much light compared to diamonds.
Less intricate cuts: As a cheaper stone, sapphires don’t get as much attention to detail, and therefore come with less intricate shapes and cuts.
Less durable: Diamonds rank 10 on the Mohs scale and are much stronger than sapphires. You might need to repair or replace your sapphire every 2-5 years depending on the level of use.
Blue diamond engagement ring
The breathtaking blue color of this stone has made the blue diamond extremely popular.
Meaning behind blue diamond engagement rings
Blue diamonds have a long history of royalty dating back several centuries. But in modern times, it owes much of its popularity to Hollywood. The famous Heart of the Ocean from the movie Titanic endeared the hearts of millions and quickly popularized the choice of blue diamonds as engagement rings.
Before then, blue diamonds were mostly associated with royalty. Today, a blue diamond ring represents fidelity, trust, authenticity, and tranquility in a relationship. Many people choose a blue diamond engagement ring to bless their marriage so that they can embrace endless marital happiness.
The pros of choosing a blue diamond for your engagement ring
They are enchanting and draw instant attention.
They’re unisex and versatile - suitable for both bride and groom on any occasion.
Blue diamonds symbolize royalty and exclusivity - excellent symbols of status.
They match perfectly with a wide variety of settings (popular ring metals for blue diamond engagement rings include white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, and platinum).
The cons of choosing a blue diamond for your engagement ring
Engagement rings with blue diamonds (and colored diamonds in general) usually command more dollars on every carat compared to colorless diamonds.
Natural blue diamonds, especially fancy blue and fancy deep blue, are rare. It is difficult to get the right large-carat blue diamond engagement ring.
Blue lab-grown diamond engagement ring
With all the above-mentioned pros for sapphire, blue lab-grown diamonds may be an even more desirable choice. They have the same physical and chemical characteristics as natural diamonds but are frequently less expensive. Additionally, a lot of young couples are increasingly selecting lab-grown diamonds for their engagement rings because it is a practical and environmentally friendly choice.
Moreover, nothing can be more unique than a diamond created from your own essence, These days, many dealers provide special services to meet people’s wishes. Sunny Eden™, for example, makes lab-grown diamonds from your hair. A lab-grown diamond engagement ring created from the material containing both person’s DNA is a truly unique and personalized choice for couples. It is also a witness to every unique love story.
How to choose affordable diamond engagement rings in the market
Unless you’re prepared to travel halfway across the world (to a place like France or Switzerland) in search of a lifetime deal in auction houses, a natural blue diamond is not a gemstone you can buy on a budget. However, in recent years, lab-grown blue diamonds have offered every couple the chance at having the regal sparkle of an affordable blue diamond ring to grace their engagement.
Although some people might think that man-made diamonds are inferior compared to natural ones, the opposite couldn’t be more true. A blue lab-grown engagement ring matches its mined counterpart neck-on-neck in just about every respect.
If you want a diamond stone that ticks all the boxes of an exotic gemstone except for a mammoth price tag, then lab-grown diamonds are your best bet.
However, lab-made blue diamonds are not all created equal. There are various techniques for growing lab diamonds, each with its unique attributes. Sunny Eden™ grows deep-glowing blue diamonds from human hair.
The techniques for creating lab diamonds in general can be roughly grouped into two growing techniques: high pressure-high temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapor decomposition (CVD).
The difference between lab-grown diamonds from hair (HPHT) and CVD lab diamonds
HPHT techniques replicate the high-pressure, high-temperature environment in the earth’s crust where diamonds naturally occur. Sunny Eden™ takes the carbon from a customer’s hair and processes it in an HPHT setup to transform it into a diamond within a few months.
In chemical vapor decomposition or CVD, a vapor of chemicals is used to crystallize a shard of carbon into a diamond under extreme temperatures. However, in many cases, HPHT processes are used to improve clarity and color in CVD diamonds. CVD diamonds usually come up a bit short in certain regards compared to HPHT diamonds. On the other hand, most dealers provide HPHT and CVD diamonds for almost the same price. In this way, HPHT diamonds are better choices: the same price, and higher quality.
Meaningful, personalized, and affordable blue diamond engagement rings from hair
Another key advantage of choosing engagement rings with HPHT diamonds made from the hair of loved ones is the wider range of customization options.
At Sunny Eden™, you can sketch your own design and then watch as the designers bring your dreams to life. Not only can you choose any desired color shade, but you can also specify many other aspects of diamond made from hair - the shape, cuts, and lots more. Whatever you need in an engagement ring, rest assured Sunny Eden™’s experts will make it a reality.
Other things you need to know about blue lab-grown diamond engagement rings
Can we use blue diamonds as the center stone of engagement rings?
Yes. Blue diamonds are among the rarest color diamonds. For centuries, they’ve been associated with royalty, high status, and good luck. But the enormous price tags for naturally mined blue diamonds put them beyond the reach of average couples. Lab-created blue diamond engagement rings are modern, prestigious, and sensational. In addition to this, lab-grown blue diamonds offer the equivalent of natural stones at significantly lower prices.
How much does a blue lab-grown diamond engagement ring from hair cost?
Like mined diamonds, the cost of lab-grown diamonds from hair is determined by the 4C’s - clarity, cut, color, and carat. On average, 1 carat of a lab-made blue diamond from hair costs at least $5000. When it comes to cut and shape, round cuts usually generate more brilliance and sparkle and are therefore more expensive. Princess-cut blue diamond engagement rings are among some of the most popular choices. The price of the ring setting starts from $750, different ring styles have different prices.
Sunny Eden™‘s diamonds are made from the hair of their customers. The trace elements in each person’s hair vary slightly, which creates a unique color for each blue diamond. Therefore, the price of Sunny Eden™’s diamonds is not affected by the color intensity.
Bottom line
Both blue diamonds and sapphires are top-notch stone options for engagement rings. They both bring an air of rarity and exclusivity to your engagement. However, if your budget is less than 5 figures, then a blue lab-grown diamond is a great choice. Lab -grown blue diamonds offer every couple a chance at owning an authentic blue diamond ring at an affordable price.
At Sunny Eden™, you can get the blue diamond of your dreams at a pocket-friendly price. You can customize diamonds made from hair down to the last detail, choosing your desired size, color hue, clarity, and cut, and get a personalized ring setting, all at a fraction of the cost of mined blue diamond engagement rings.
