Moissanite vs. Diamonds: What’s The Difference?
To many people, diamonds are and have always been the pinnacle of fine jewelry and elegance. In the last couple of decades, however, moissanite has emerged as an alternative gem that rivals some of the most high-quality and sought-after stones out there. But when it comes to understanding exactly what sets these two stones apart, we have to take a closer look at what they are and where they come from. Read on as we break down everything you need to know about shopping for moissanite vs diamond rings!
What Is Moissanite & Where Does It Come From?
Moissanite is a gemstone whose brilliance and beauty resemble the stars in the night sky from which it was born over a hundred years ago. Named for the French scientist who discovered the gemstone in the crater of a fallen meteorite in 1893, moissanite was initially mistaken for diamonds because of the striking aesthetic similarities between the two gems.
It was soon determined that these newly discovered celestial stones were not, in fact, carbon-based, as are diamonds, but composed instead of silicon carbide. Moissanite, it seemed, was officially its own, unique type of gemstone.
The story doesn’t entirely end there, however. It didn’t take very long for people to realize that naturally occurring moissanite is incredibly rare and difficult to find on our planet. For almost 100 years after its discovery, moissanite was so scarce that it was not even used in jewelry.
In a funny twist of fate, artificial silicon carbide (the same stuff that moissanite is made of) had already been successfully synthesized in a lab setting two years before being discovered in a meteor. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that chemists had refined the process enough to produce synthetic moissanite that was suitable in size and detail to be used to adorn jewelry.
From then on, moissanite has continued to build a reputation as one of the world's most popular and distinct diamond alternatives. Beloved by environmentally and cost-conscious buyers alike, moissanite has redefined how we think about fine jewelry & sustainability!
Are Moissanite And “Lab-Grown” Diamonds The Same Thing?
One question that we hear a lot is whether lab-grown moissanite and lab-grown diamonds are the same things. It would be really easy to get the impression that the two terms are interchangeable from the names alone.
The truth is that lab-grown diamonds and lab-grown moissanite are about as different from each other in composition and aesthetics as moissanite and naturally occurring diamonds are. Lab-grown diamonds are created by subjecting carbon dioxide to extreme temperatures and pressure to grow the diamond. This process is meant to replicate the conditions under which natural diamonds grow.
Lab-grown diamonds can produce a stone within as little as 2-3 months, whereas this process can take years under natural conditions.
On the other hand, lab-grown moissanite is created using a different and much more complicated thermal growing process to turn silicon carbide into moissanite. This process takes approximately 2-3 months to produce a stone.
Though some people mistakenly believe lab-grown moissanite and diamonds are an “imitation” product of the real thing, they are compositionally identical to their naturally occurring counterparts. In other words, lab-grown or not, these gems are still the real deal!
Moissanite Vs. Diamond Rings: A Comparison
Though moissanite & diamonds may seem nearly identical at first glance, they are two very distinct types of gemstones with unique properties. Below we will break down five main characteristics of moissanite vs diamonds that set them apart from each other.
Price
When comparing the two stones, you’ll find that the price tag alone is one of moissanite’s most dazzling qualities. Moissanite is significantly cheaper than your average diamond while sacrificing nothing in detail in quality. Generally speaking, a moissanite stone will cost around 1/10th of the price of a diamond of comparable size and detail.
The simple fact is that no matter how you get them, diamonds are expensive to find or produce. It takes a lot to haul a diamond out of the dirt, and even more to make one from scratch. With moissanite, you can rest easy knowing that you made a responsible investment in a truly elegant stone.
Durability
We know that a ring is a treasure that you will hang onto for a lifetime - that’s why yours needs to be able to stand up to the years and the miles ahead. While diamonds may be the hardest gem we know of on the MOHS scale, moissanite is truly right there with it.
The MOHS scale ranges from 1 (incredibly soft, you could scrape with a fingernail) to 10 (extremely hard, difficult to scratch with hard tools). Diamonds are a perfect 10 on the MOHS scale. This is one of the characteristics that have made diamonds so popular in past generations.
Moissanite, on the other hand, scores around a 9.25 - 9.5 on the MOHS scale, which means that these gems are just about as durable as they come. No matter what life throws at you, your moissanite stone will remain as flawless as it was the day you said “I do.”
Color
One of the reasons so many people are drawn to moissanite jewelry is it’s customizability, thanks to a range of colors the stone can be produced in. Whereas diamonds come in a more limited range and can vary depending on the specific stone, moissanite can be found in a dazzling array of colors that are consistent throughout.
This means that there is no settling involved when you go with a moissanite stone. You have the freedom and range to create a ring that truly represents YOU in your own beautiful way!
Brilliance
You could search long and hard for a gemstone more radiant than moissanite, but at the end of the day you would realize what millions of brides already have. That the fiery brilliance of a moissanite stone is simply unparalleled.
When compared with the sparkle of a diamond, moissanite outperforms in just about every single way. It has more than twice the dispersion value than a diamond does, which means it has twice the dazzle. That’s just a fancy way of saying that there is simply no substitute for the vivid, colorful brilliance of a moissanite ring.
Environmental Impact
Many socially and environmentally conscious brides and customers have converted to moissanite in order to make a difference. Because moissanite is lab-created, there is no need to worry about how and where your stone was sourced from.
That means you have 100% assurance that neither people nor our environment were harmed at any point in the creation of your ring. The beauty of moissanite partly lies in your decision to make a positive choice on behalf of our planet, our people, and our future.
Things To Keep In Mind When Shopping For Moissanite
One final piece of advice we like to share with our customers is that when it comes to shopping for moissanite rings vs diamonds is that you shouldn’t think of one as a “substitute” for the other. While moissanite and diamonds are indeed similar in some ways, they are unique in other ways. Each stone has individual properties that appeal to different tastes and requirements of the customer.
Though moissanite and diamonds are often compared side-by-side, moissanite is much more than a mere diamond-like gemstone. While some prefer the simple, classic style of a traditional diamond ring, when you shop for a moissanite gemstone, you are shopping for a high-quality piece of jewelry that will be cherished and passed down for generations to come.
Whether you'd like to know more about moissanite, financing options, are requesting a custom quote or anything in between, we are here for you.
Simply schedule a consultation OR head over to the site today and click on the chat dialogue box at the bottom right hand of the screen. We'll take care of you from there!
1 comment
Many people are perplexed about the difference between Moissanite and diamonds, and this blog will clear up any confusion. This blog was really interesting to me.