Morganite vs. Pink Champagne Sapphire

Morganite, a pale pink gemstone of the Beryl variety, has exploded in popularity in the last few years, and for good reason! It comes in a variety of hues, from salmon to peach to light pink, and a natural morganite is typically heat-treated to obtain a richer pink color. Morganite is a 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness, which is a scale determining the ability of a mineral to scratch another mineral. The hardest is a diamond, at 10 on the scale. However, it is not a linear scale. For example, Corundum (a "9" on the scale) is about twice as hard as topaz (an "8" on the scale), and a diamond ("10" on the scale) is about four times as hard as Corundum! So while Morganite is still pretty high up on the scale, it is not comparable to a diamond's hardness, and should still take care when wearing your stone.

While there are lab-grown Morganite stones, most commonly grown by Chatham, they've recently stopped production to introduce a similar color, Champagne Sapphire, which rivals the pinkish/peach color of Morganite, but ranks a "9" on the hardness scale. They also have a "Pink Champagne" sapphire which is very similar, but instead of nude undertones, it has pink undertones. 

We recently did a color comparison between a mined  Morganite (top left), a lab-grown Champagne Sapphire (bottom left), and two cubic zirconia's. We absolutely adore the color and brilliance of the champagne sapphire. All Chatham created gemstones are chemically, physically, and optically identical to their mined counterparts, and they also do not color-treat or enhance their gemstones. 

Sapphires, while lab-grown or mined, are popular for an alternative to a diamond as a center stone, as they are typically a less costly option, and perfect for those looking for a bit of color. Sapphires comes in many colors, like deep blue, bright pink, yellow, and more recently, this Champagne color. 

The benefits of utilizing a Chatham Created gemstone include a Lifetime Warranty, which covers any chipping or cracking due to unusual circumstances. Also, Chatham stones have been shown to be up to a $100,000 price difference per carat compared to their mined counterpart! This is an incredible cost savings, considering they are physically & chemically identical. Also, Chatham gemstones are grown under perfect conditions, creating amazing clarity and deep, rich hues that would cost a fortune if mined below the earth.  

Please enjoy this short snippet of one of our custom three-stone engagement rings, set with a lab-grown emerald cut Pink Champagne Sapphire in the center. 

There is a small difference in the "champagne sapphire" versus the "pink champagne sapphire." Below, we will share two recent rings we've made, one with a champagne sapphire, and the other with a pink champagne sapphire. The main difference is the "champagne sapphire" has a peach undertone to it, and the "pink champagne sapphire" has a pink undertone. 

Above is a photo of an oval champagne sapphire, set into a 14k rose gold accented ring. It definitely has pink tone to it, but you can tell there is that hint of peach to it. 

Below is a 14k rose gold engagement ring featuring a custom cut radiant pink champagne sapphire. It has more of a true pink color and looks beautiful against a rose gold ring. 

What do you think about the champagne sapphire?