Emerald Vs. Sapphire

Emerald is a very popular gemstone composed of beryllium aluminum silicate.^[1] Sapphire is also a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is silicon dioxide.^[2]

Quick Facts on Differences of Emerald and Sapphire

For a quick recap of the differences emerald and sapphire:

• While both emerald and sapphire is hexagonal, in terms of crystallography, sapphire can be trigonal.
• For chemical formulas, emerald is Be3Al2Si6O18 while sapphire is Al2O3.
• While both emerald and sapphire is vitreous, in terms of luster, sapphire can be adamantine.
• While both emerald and sapphire can be commonly green, sapphire is often blue.
• Emerald's rarity is more rare than sapphire.
• Emerald's hardness is lower than sapphire - emerald ranges from 7.5 to 8 and sapphire is 9 on the Moh's scale.
• Emerald's specific gravity is lower than sapphire - emerald ranges from 2.68 to 2.78 and sapphire ranges from 3.99 to 4.

Quick Facts on Similarities of Emerald and Sapphire

The similarities of emerald and sapphire include:

• Emerald and sapphire both can be opaque, translucent or transparent.
• Emerald and sapphire both streak colorless.

Summary of Emerald

Emerald is a green variety of beryl, a mineral that also includes aquamarine and morganite. The color of emerald is caused by the presence of chromium and vanadium in the crystal lattice. The intensity of the color and the purity of the green hue are the most important factors in determining the value of an emerald.

Summary of Sapphire

Sapphire is a precious mineral that belongs to the corundum family. It is a variety of aluminum oxide that is distinguished by its blue color, although it can also be found in other colors such as pink, yellow, green, and purple. Sapphire is one of the hardest minerals in the world, with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, making it an ideal material for use in jewelry and industrial applications.

Table Comparison of Emerald vs Sapphire