What Differentiates Yellow Diamonds from Yellow Sapphires?

You have probably seen quite a few natural yellow diamond rings, as well as rings set with yellow sapphires. While the two stones look similar at first glance, there are major differences you should be aware of before choosing one over the other

The most important difference is that yellow sapphires do not cost nearly as much, making them the more budget-friendly gem. Both are durable, but yellow diamonds are slightly more so with a score of 10 on the Mohs scale. This does not mean sapphires are not hard enough to resist scratches; in fact, at 9 out of 10, they are extremely durable as well.

If you are considering purchasing one of these stones, its safe to assume you enjoy the color yellow. If you are badly torn between yellow sapphires and yellow diamonds, you should know that there is a chance that the former could lose their color as time passes. This only applies to artificially colored stones or ones exposed to radiation during formation. Long exposure to sunlight triggers color loss, so make sure to keep your gem away from direct sunlight. Diamonds never lose the color they have, which is one of the reasons they are considered “eternal”.