

Black Sapphire Specifications & Characteristicsīlack sapphire is a corundum mineral, which encompasses rubies and sapphires. This may be why some newlyweds opt for black sapphire engagement rings as non-diamond alternatives. Luckily, both black onyx and black sapphire are great ring stones, though black sapphires are slightly better. Origin of Color & Rarity: Naturally black sapphires are pretty abundant, but solid-colored black onyx stones are so rare, the majority available have been dyed Hardness: Black sapphire is harder, ranking at 9 on the Mohs scale while black onyx ranks at 7. Species: Black sapphire is corundum and black onyx is chalcedony. Onyxīlack sapphire looks similar to black onyx, but there are key differences: Speaking of, is black sapphire the same as onyx? No, but they do have some similarities - along with key differences. One example is the L'Oreal Paris hair dye color called “Black Sapphire.” Another instance is a pure black metallic BMW car color also called “Black Sapphire.”īack to gems, sapphires are traditional September birthstones, Taurus zodiac stones, and traditional 5th, 45th, and 75th wedding anniversary gems.īlack sapphire can also substitute for black onyx as a mystical December birthstone and Leo zodiac stone. Since they’re not blue sapphires, they’re called “fancy” or “fancy color” sapphires.Įven non-jewelry industries have been inspired by black sapphires. In this guide, we’ll break down black sapphire properties, quality, benefits, and more!īeing in the sapphire family, black sapphires are precious gemstones. Of course, normal black sapphires are still beautiful, unique, and budget-friendly gems. The one exception for most jewelers is black star sapphires, which are prized more highly for their bright, celestial optical effect. However, many jewelers consider black sapphires lower-quality options than other sapphires. Do black sapphires exist in nature? Yep! These stones form naturally, and black is one of the most common sapphire colors.

The gemstone sapphire comes in virtually every hue, including the lesser-known black sapphire.
