Therefore, the hardness of the gemstone you choose is an important consideration.Īs rubies and sapphires share the same composition for the most part, they are equally as hardy, with both ranking at an impressive nine on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Naturally, you will want a design that will stand the test of time, in both style and durability. HardnessĪn engagement ring, with any kind of centre stone, is a lifetime investment. The decision ultimately comes down to the colour you wish to be present on your ring - if it’s the romantic red shade then rubies are the way to go, whereas if you have an eye for any other hue, we recommend looking at a sapphire engagement ring. Therefore, determining which stone is best is all dependent upon personal preference. For instance, the presence of titanium is what turns sapphires blue, while chromium is the trace element that creates the red shade of a ruby.

The gems get their colour during the formation process, where other minerals and elements interfere with the rock. However, there is a whole spectrum of ruby shades to choose from, ranging from pinkish to ‘pigeon blood’. Rubies on the other hand are only available in red tones. Although the most common colour of a sapphire is blue, they do come in a wide range of other colours and shades, including pink, yellow, orange, purple, white and more. ColourĬolour is where the only distinct difference lies between sapphires and rubies. These are then pushed to the earth’s surface through natural movements and shifts, and then mined. They form deep within the earth’s crust, in intense and extreme conditions of high temperature and high pressure.īoth types of precious stone are gem-quality corundum, whereby crystals have formed as the rock begins to cool. Interestingly, rubies and sapphires are formed in the exact same way. Pigeon blood shade rubies are the most valuable More valuable than sapphires as they are rarer.

Vibrant royal blue sapphires tend to be the most valuable Gem-quality corundum formed deep within earth’s crustĪvailable in a range of colours and hues including blue, pink, yellow, orange, purple and whiteĭepends on various factors, including carat, cut and colour. Sapphire vs ruby engagement rings Side by side comparisonīefore we delve deeper into the details, here’s a quick overview of the similarities and differences between each type of engagement ring…

Sapphire and ruby