A blue diamond engagement ring is usually a thing of great beauty, and of great value. These stunning rings are perfect for those who are looking for something that is strikingly different, especially from a 'clear' diamond.
The color blue traditionally symbolizes a number of things; wisdom, confidence and intelligence and, perhaps most importantly for an engagement ring, loyalty and trust. This means that for some women it's a color that matches their personality perfectly, making it even more appealing for a ring that is designed to be worn every day for the rest of their lives.
If they have blue on their mind when engagement ring shopping begins diamond - specifically blue diamond - is not their only choice though. The increasingly popular blue sapphire is likely an option as well.
However, while their blue(ish) hue and beauty in common, a blue diamond engagement ring is rather different to a blue sapphire engagement ring. Neither could be said to be better or worse than the other, just different.
If you are considering making a move into the blue, here is a look at some of the most important differences.
raw blue diamonds
Appearance
It's a common misconception that there is a single 'shade' of blue diamond. The fact is that they come in a wide range of hues, from dark, almost sea like blues to lighter, very delicate tinged-with-green versions. The term blue engagement ring can, therefore, refer to a spectrum of blue shades.
Blue sapphires - and we keep using the term blue sapphire as sapphires can also be pink, yellow, a salmon like hue known as padparadscha (the engagement ring Princess Eugenie chose a few years ago) violet and more - tend to be a deeper blue but perhaps, more importantly, they do not reflect light in the same way as a blue diamond.
If you want that dazzling sparkle blue sapphires have it, but their brilliance - as in their white light return, which is the foundation of a gem's brightness and sparkle. - sets blue diamonds apart in this respect.
Hardness
Like all diamonds, blue diamonds are very hard. Blue sapphires are too, but a blue diamond has the edge here. Diamonds are rated ten out of ten on the standard Mohs hardness scale, while blue sapphires are rated a nine. This means they are both very tough, but if you are someone who really wants a ring that can stand up to a reasonable amount of punishment than a blue diamond engagement ring is a good choice (not that you should not take great care of either, you should)
Price
Blue diamonds are some of the rarest diamonds in the world, and so they do not come cheap. Blue sapphires can be rare too, but they are not as scarce as the blue diamond. This means that carat for carat you will almost certainly pay less for a blue sapphire engagement ring and find them more readily available.
Wedding blue diamond ring
Blue Diamond Engagement Ring Vs. Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring: It's Personal
In the end, the choice between a blue diamond and a blue sapphire is a very personal one. Both are beautiful, both make stunning symbols of love. Our best advice? Shop them both and discover which one resonates most with you, as either will make a smart and stunning, a choice that can also serve as an excellent investment.
