Diamonds are a popular option for engagement rings because of the brilliant white sparkle they create. They can be a versatile choice in comparison with other colored gemstones. But as natural diamonds are very costly, they might not be affordable for everyone. Additionally, natural diamonds are associated with different problems created by mining including environmental problems, social issues, violation of employees, and other ethical issues. Therefore, many people do not prefer natural diamonds because of their high cost and problems caused by their mining.
But if you prefer the neutral look of mined diamonds, but cannot afford them, then there are certain excellent alternatives available for you. Some of the best low-cost natural diamond alternatives are listed below for your knowledge:
Lab Grown Diamonds
These synthetic stones are the best alternatives for natural diamonds, as they are also real diamonds. All the properties of your natural diamonds are present in lab grown diamonds too. Therefore, it is possible for you to get real diamonds at highly affordable rates by choosing man-made diamonds.
The chemical structure, optical features, and physical properties of lab-grown diamonds are the same as mined diamonds. Even the imperfections present in both types of these diamonds are the same except for certain slight differences that cannot be spotted with naked eyes.
The price of lab-created diamonds can be 20-40% lower than their mined versions. Therefore, the amount you save on these stones can help you to get a bigger or better quality diamond.
Apart from lab-grown diamonds, there are some other gemstones that have a look similar to that of diamonds. They can also be more affordable than natural diamonds. However, there are some significant differences between these gemstones and real diamonds.
Moissanite
Moissanite crystals are made from silicon carbide, whereas, both natural and man-made diamonds are formed from carbon. Even though these stones are colorless, the sparkle created by them can be different from that of diamonds. But they are dramatically cheaper in comparison with real diamonds.
Cubic Zirconia
Even though cubic zirconia is found in nature, it is very rare. Therefore, the cubic zirconia stones you find in jewelry will be artificially created. These gemstones also come at very cheaper rates than natural diamonds.
White Sapphire
White sapphire is another inexpensive alternative to real diamonds. This stone is highly durable and very rare. White sapphires are available for a fraction of the price of real diamonds.
But they do not have the brilliance of diamonds. Additionally, as sapphires are recovered from the earth through mining, they might not be ethically sourced.
Even though alternative gemstones, have a lot of differences from real diamonds, they can be a low-cost alternative to both natural and man-made diamonds.