Difference between Diamond and Aquamarine Gemstones
Many types of gemstones are used together with or as a substitute for diamonds. There could be many reasons for this- for designing awesome aquamarine jewelry, diamond jewelry, or simply if there are no other alternatives available at any given time. Though diamonds and aquamarine gemstones can be told apart by just looking at them, many novice buyers fail to notice the difference. In this post, we’ll show you how aquamarine gemstones are way different than diamonds.
Grading Scale
Each natural diamond is graded and valued according to a grading scale to measure its color, cut, clarity and carat weight (The 4C’s). On the other hand, aquamarine gemstones do not have a grading scale, although some sellers use improvised grading scales for marketing purposes.
Color
Aquamarines come in a range of colors from blue to greenish-blue. These are a variety of the beryl mineral, which comes in many colors but are different from natural diamonds.
Though diamonds too, come in fancy colors, these are quite rare and expensive. Regular diamonds may come with a slight yellow tint, noticeable in several low-quality diamonds. In fact, the lesser the yellow tint, the better quality the diamond is, although this also depends on the other 3 Cs of cut, clarity, and carat weight.
As far as aquamarines are concerned, the most valuable of the lot are those which are dark blue or slightly greenish-blue. In fact, you have the liberty to choose from various hues of blue to greenish-blue. In fact, the price range of aquamarines is determined by the darkness of color each gem has.
Sparkle (Cut)
A diamond’s sparkle depends upon the quality of its cut. The better the cut, the better the diamond will be able to sparkle. If the diamond is poorly cut, it may appear dark or may not be able to refract light. A diamond’s sparkle depends upon its brightness, fire, and scintillation.
The better the aquamarine is cut, the better its color and clarity will end up looking. For many precious and semi-precious stones, there are limited options in the way they can be cut to look attractive. Aquamarines, on the other hand, can be cut in any shape to have a great look. Being readily available, Aquamarines are used widely in a variety of ornaments.
Clarity
The clarity of diamonds varies from stone to stone. This depends on the variety of inclusions in it. More the inclusions, the lesser its value.
Aquamarines, on the other hand, are clear and transparent. However, they do contain long, hollow rods, a similar feature in all beryl stones.
Carat Weight
We all know, the more the weight of the diamond, the more valuable it is. The diamond’s value also depends upon its cut, color, and clarity.
The same is true for aquamarines, what also matters is their size to weight ratio.
Hardness Difference
Diamonds have a hardness rating of 10, whereas aquamarines have a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale. Between the two, aquamarines scratch more easily than diamonds. From a jewelry standpoint, both aquamarines and diamonds have decent durability and hardness.
Price Difference
Diamonds are priced based on their value in the market and their 4C features. The bigger the diamond, the more expensive it can be. That is why rare large diamonds cost so much.
If you are planning to buy a diamond engagement ring, it could cost you up to $4,000, if you go for a good quality diamond. On the other hand, an aquamarine diamond ring can cost way less than that.
This depends on what other materials are used with the aquamarine engagement ring. If there are smaller diamonds or other fancy stones around the aquamarine stone, this could make the engagement ring dearer. Nevertheless, if you have a larger budget, diamond engagement rings can cost up to $20,000.
Why Is A Diamond Ring Better?
Though buying an aquamarine engagement ring can have its set of benefits, it isn’t a real diamond. It will not have the colorless sparkle that diamonds are known for.
A real diamond is a real diamond, its sparkle, look, and glow is unmatched elsewhere. Though there are many substitutes to diamonds, aquamarine gemstones included, none can match the regal status of having a natural diamond-studded engagement ring.
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