Gemstones and astrology run parallel to each other and are interlinked in the most subtle way. Every precious gemstone represents a specific planet and carries its energy. When you embrace a gemstone according to Vedic astrology rituals, the energy within the gemstone activates and kicks off to influence the different aspects of life.
Precious gemstones like sapphires, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, or corals are rare and quite exorbitant. Not everyone can afford the majestic precious gemstones; that’s why upratans (semi-precious gemstones) exist. Upratans, popularly regarded as substitutes for navratans or precious stones, are considered profoundly by astrologers and the masses because they possess similar enigmatic and transfiguring vibes like valuable precious gemstones and don’t make a dent in your pocket.
If you are down on money but desperately want to wear a powerful gemstone to reap particular benefits, we bring you a comprehensive blog post that comprises substitutes of 9 precious gemstones or upratans for navratans that will help you pick up your preferred substitute of precious stone without any hitch.
Upratans As Substitutes of Navratans
Substitute of Neelam Stone
Blue sapphire or neelam ratna, valued for its beauty and astrological significance, can be substituted with alternatives for practical or symbolic reasons. Gemological substitutes include lab-created sapphires, which mirror natural sapphire’s properties at a lower cost, and blue spinel, a durable, naturally blue stone historically confused with sapphire. Iolite (“water sapphire”) offers pleochroic color shifts, while blue topaz and aquamarine stone provide budget-friendly pale blue hues, though with lower durability. Astrologically, amethyst or lapis lazuli may align with Saturn’s energy in Vedic traditions, whereas blue kyanite or hessonite garnet (Gomed) are used to mitigate planetary challenges. When choosing a substitute of blue sapphire, prioritize durability for jewelry (e.g., spinel or lab sapphire) and consult an astrologer for cosmic compatibility. While alternatives may lack blue sapphire’s exact allure, they offer accessible, ethical, or astrologically tailored solutions.
Upratan of Yellow Sapphire
Yellow sapphire, a popular gemstone known for its vibrant yellow colors and astrological significance, can be expensive or difficult to source in high quality. For those seeking alternatives, several natural and lab-created options are available. Natural substitutes include citrine stone, which is believed to carry similar energy-attracting properties, and yellow topaz, valued for its brilliance and durability.
Golden beryl and yellow tourmaline also offer comparable hues to pukhraj stone. Lab-grown yellow sapphires provide the same chemical composition as natural ones at a lower cost, while cubic zirconia and moissanite serve as affordable, though less durable, simulated options. In Vedic astrology, citrine and yellow topaz are often recommended as planetary substitutes for Jupiter, the celestial body associated with yellow sapphire. Choosing the right substitute of pukhraj depends on purpose, budget, durability, and intended use.
Substitute of Emerald
Emerald, the vibrant green variety of beryl, has several substitutes that can provide similar aesthetic appeal or metaphysical properties at different price points. The most popular alternatives of emerald include green tourmaline, which offers excellent brilliance and durability; tsavorite garnet, known for its exceptional fire and clarity; chrome diopside, which provides an intense green color similar to fine emeralds; and peridot, offering a lighter, more yellowish-green hue.
For those seeking budget-friendly options of panna ratna, green cubic zirconia and synthetic emeralds created through hydrothermal or flux-melt processes can closely mimic natural emerald’s appearance. Original Green aventurine and jade serve as traditional alternatives in many cultures, particularly for their supposed healing properties and spiritual significance.
Upratan for Manik Stone
For those seeking the vibrant allure of a ruby without its significant cost, several excellent substitutes of manik offer similar beauty and sometimes even comparable astrological benefits. Red Spinel is a top contender, often mistaken for ruby due to its rich red hues and impressive brilliance. Historically, famous “rubies” in crown jewels have turned out to be spinels, highlighting their visual similarity.
Natural Red Garnet, particularly varieties like Almandine or Pyrope, provides a deep, often wine-red color and is a more affordable and widely available option. Red Tourmaline, especially the vibrant pink-to-red variety known as Rubellite, is another popular choice and alternative of manik ratna, offering a beautiful color range that closely resembles some rubies. Red Topaz can also be a substitute, though its red color is generally rarer and can lean towards orange-red.
Substitute of Diamonds
Diamond, prized for its brilliance and hardness (Mohs 10), can be replaced with alternatives for affordability, ethics, or aesthetics. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically identical to natural diamonds, offering sustainability and lower cost. Moissanite, a silicon carbide gem, rivals diamond in brilliance and durability (Mohs 9.25) with a distinctive fiery sparkle. Cubic zirconia (CZ) is a budget-friendly synthetic option, though softer (Mohs 8–8.5) and less durable.
Natural White sapphire (Mohs 9) provides a natural, subtler sparkle, while white topaz (Mohs 8) or synthetic zircon (Mohs 6.5–7.5) offer cheaper but less resilient options. For ethical or eco-conscious buyers, lab-grown stones or moissanite are ideal, whereas CZ suits temporary or cost-sensitive uses. While no substitute perfectly replicates diamond’s unmatched hardness, alternatives balance brilliance, accessibility, and values.
Substitute of Pearl Stone
A substitute for pearl stone refers to alternative gemstones or materials that mimic the appearance, energy, or astrological benefits of natural pearls. Pearls are traditionally associated with the Moon and are valued for their lustrous, soft glow and calming properties. However, due to factors like cost, availability, or personal preference, many opt for substitutes. Natural alternatives include moonstone, known for its shimmering adularescence and similar metaphysical properties, and white opal, which offers a comparable play of color.
Glass pearls, cubic zirconia, and lab-grown pearls are also popular synthetic options that replicate the look of real pearls at a more affordable price. In Vedic astrology, moonstone is often recommended as a planetary substitute for pearl, especially when affordability or suitability is a concern. Choosing the right substitute depends on intended use, whether for jewelry, spiritual purposes, or astrological benefits.
Upratan of Gomed Stone
Hessonite, the honey-colored to reddish-brown variety of grossular garnet, has several substitutes that can provide similar warm tones and metaphysical properties. The most common and embraced alternatives of gomed include spessartine garnet, which offers comparable orange to reddish-brown hues with excellent brilliance; carnelian, a translucent chalcedony that provides similar warm orange tones at a more affordable price point; and amber, which naturally displays honey-colored transparency reminiscent of fine hessonite stone.
Substitute of Cat’s Eye Stone
The Cat’s Eye gemstone, primarily known as Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye (Lehsunia), is highly prized for its unique optical phenomenon called “chatoyancy,” where a sharp band of light appears to glide across the surface, resembling a cat’s eye. While Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye is the most sought-after and astrologically potent, several substitutes offer a similar visual effect and can be considered for their aesthetic appeal or alternative metaphysical properties.
Quartz Cat’s Eye is a common and more affordable alternative to Lehsunia, exhibiting chatoyancy due to fibrous inclusions of minerals like rutile or asbestos. While it possesses a similar “eye” effect, it is generally less sharp and intense than that of chrysoberyl. Tiger’s Eye is another popular and highly accessible substitute, known for its golden-brown to reddish-brown hues and distinct wavy chatoyancy, making it a visually striking option.
Red Coral Substitutes
Several gemstones serve as substitutes for red coral gemstone (Moonga), especially for astrological purposes linked to the planet Mars. The most recognized alternatives include carnelian, red agate, and red onyx, all of which share similar properties and are believed to offer benefits such as increased confidence, courage, vitality, and protection from negative energies.
Carnelian, a variety of chalcedony, is valued for enhancing creativity and leadership, while red agate is known for boosting willpower, relieving stress, and promoting inner strength. Red onyx, from the same mineral family, is used to improve concentration and stamina and is considered effective in warding off bad luck. Other stones sometimes recommended as substitutes are bloodstone, red jasper, red aventurine, and red garnet, though their effects are generally considered less potent than those of natural red coral.
