White Diamond Alternatives
Non-Traditional Stone Alternatives for Engagement Rings
There are some great white stone options on the market today. Below is a chart of the top four most common white diamond alternatives.
Natural White Diamond Alternatives: While there are a couple other natural options besides white sapphire, white sapphire is the only natural option that Krikawa recommends for a white diamond alternative stone.
Lab Created White Diamond Alternatives: There are three major camps in the white lab created stone arena. Diamond, Moissanite, and Cubic Zirconia.
| Stone Type | Image | Cost for One Carat | Hardness | Notable |
| White Sapphire (Natural) |
 |
$400-600 approx | Hardness: 9 Excellent choice for ring worn every day |
No scintillation (rainbow sparkle) Quickly appears dull and lifeless when dirty. Great choice for really large 3 carat plus stones |
| Lab Created Diamond |
 |
$3000-$5000 approx | Hardness: 10 Excellent choice for ring worn every day |
Cost is still high (natural would be $5000-$7000 approx, H-SI1 color/clarity) |
| Moissanite (Lab Created) |
 |
$500 approx | Hardness: 9.25 Excellent choice for ring worn every day |
-Round and cushion shapes look the best -Princess cut Moissanite is not as pretty (Krikawa opinion). |
| Cubic Zirconia (Lab Created) |
 |
$5-20 approx | Hardness: 7 Poor choice for ring worn every day |
-Will abraid (scratch and chip) fairly quickly, if worn every day. |
White Sapphire is commonly seen in inexpensive engagement rings on the internet. However, because of its refractive index, it does not have the scintillation (rainbow sparkles) of a diamond. What that means is as the stone gets dirty (within a week or two of showers and hand washings), it will start to appear dull and lifeless. If you choose white sapphire, be sure to add on an ultrasonic cleaner!
The ring on the left was created at the client's insistence with a white sapphire center stone. Within one month she returned and changed it to Moissanite. Honestly, white sapphire just does not sparkle unless perfectly clean and dry and in the right lighting. Otherwise, it's really not that attractive, when you compare it with the rainbow sparkles and fire that you can see in diamond and Moissanite.
White Topaz is another naturally occurring colorless stone that you can commonly find in more affordable engagement rings. Like white sapphire, white topaz also does not have any fire and scintillation, and the white sparkle quickly dies with the buildup of dirt and oils, or even one simple hand washing. Unlike sapphire, topaz has a hardness of 8, so additionally will become abraided (scratched) over time. Is this really what you want for your forever ring, that represents your love?
The ring on the left was created at the client's insistence with a white sapphire center stone. Within one month she returned and changed it to Moissanite. Honestly, white sapphire just does not sparkle unless perfectly clean and dry and in the right lighting. Otherwise, it's really not that attractive, when you compare it with the rainbow sparkles and fire that you can see in diamond and Moissanite.
White Topaz is another naturally occurring colorless stone that you can commonly find in more affordable engagement rings. Like white sapphire, white topaz also does not have any fire and scintillation, and the white sparkle quickly dies with the buildup of dirt and oils, or even one simple hand washing. Unlike sapphire, topaz has a hardness of 8, so additionally will become abraided (scratched) over time. Is this really what you want for your forever ring, that represents your love?
Lab-created diamond is actually diamond on a molecular level. It has all of the optical and chemical properties of natural diamond, making it a synthetic (molecularly identical), not a simulant (made to look like).
You will still pay close to diamond prices for smaller stones (10-20% less on average), but for larger diamonds, you can pay as much as 40-50% less. That means instead of the approximate $30k you'd pay for a 2-carat natural, you're down to $15k (depending on color, clarity, etc.).
Like natural earth-grown diamonds, lab diamonds sparkle even after they are dirty, unlike white sapphire. Lab-created diamonds are available in many of the standard diamond shapes.
Learn more >
You will still pay close to diamond prices for smaller stones (10-20% less on average), but for larger diamonds, you can pay as much as 40-50% less. That means instead of the approximate $30k you'd pay for a 2-carat natural, you're down to $15k (depending on color, clarity, etc.).
Like natural earth-grown diamonds, lab diamonds sparkle even after they are dirty, unlike white sapphire. Lab-created diamonds are available in many of the standard diamond shapes.
Learn more >
Cubic Zirconia is a poor man's simulated diamond, and it is sold on the market today under many brand names (buyer beware). While it also has scintillation, at a hardness of approximately 7, it is rated Poor for everyday wear in a ring. After daily wear, the stone will start to scratch, chip and abraid, making it appear soap like on the top surface after a year or two of wear.
What Gem Will Sparkle in Her Eyes?
See a variety of colored diamonds here
Learn different stone setting types to customize your ring
Make your alternate diamond selections in this Engagement Ring Quiz
or Meet Your Ring Design Consultants
and prepare yourself for the experience of a lifetime.
