Are you confused about Moissanite Vs. Diamonds? Do you want to get familiar with both of these gemstones to choose a suitable option for yourself? If your answer is yes, let’s get into this article to get familiar with these precious stones. We’ll also help you understand which of these gemstones may be a suitable option for you and why!
What Sets Moissanite And Diamonds Apart?
Moissanite was first discovered by a French scientist named Henry Moissan in 1983. When he first discovered moissanite, he initially thought that he had discovered diamonds because of the resemblance of both gemstones.
Moissanite is made out of crystals that are composed of silicon carbide. It quickly became renowned among users like us due to its economic pricing per carat. The 9.25 Mohs scale of hardness makes moissanite a perfect choice for your everyday wear.
The ongoing question about moissanite vs. diamonds and which gemstone is more valuable has been a common one among jewelry connoisseurs. Even though diamonds are the real deal, moissanite rings have also quickly grown to become everyone’s favorite as a diamond simulant.
Even though the two gemstones look similar, they have their differences. Your moissanite consists of more brilliance and fire, whereas diamonds are considered to be slightly harder.
Your moissanite will have higher clarity than diamonds as it is created in the lab under controlled conditions using the perfect balance of elements. In contrast, diamonds are formed naturally, so you don’t have to put in much effort.
To help you understand things better, let’s take a look at what sets them apart:
a. Origin
If you go through the history, you’ll find that the natural hardest diamonds first originated in England and Australia. Diamond was originally derived from the Greek word “Adamas,” which means untameable.
In general, we can find four different types of diamonds, which are:
- Natural Diamonds: You can simply understand natural diamonds as normal, colorless white diamonds. It is a diamond that we all speak about and know diamonds for.
- Lab-grown diamonds: In simple terms, you can understand lab-grown diamonds as man-made diamonds. As it is a technological product, you can get it for almost 60% less than regular diamonds.
- Treated Diamonds: You’ll find treated diamonds look similar to natural diamonds. But it has some common treatments, including the filling of materials that’ll provide you with an enhanced color.
- Natural Fancy Color Diamonds: If you’re an individual who’s into beautiful things, natural fancy color diamonds will definitely attract you. It is extremely rare and came more into the trend after our most renowned celebrities started wearing them.
In moissanite, you can find a rare mineral called SiC. It is perfectly engineered to give you a perfect illusion and similarity, like diamonds. Moreover, it is extremely rare; you can find it in meteorites and mantle rock.
The natural Moissanite originally came from space. It was created from a meteorite that fell on the earth, which makes it one of the rare minerals found on our planet.
b. Their Brilliance
You can simply understand brilliance as the ability of a stone to reflect white light. Through this, we can determine the sparkling ability of the respective gemstones. If we have to be honest, moissanite is more brilliant than diamond.
Similarly, you’ll get a 2.65 to 2.69 refractive index in moissanite and a 2.42 refractive index in diamonds. Due to its powerful refractive index, moissanite exhibits more brilliance than diamonds.
If you are a sparkle lover, you will most likely love moissanite gemstones due to their sparkle and greater fire (meaning they display spectral colors).
You can see diamonds reflect a whiter light; moissanite, on the other hand, reflects a rainbow-like effect, reflecting and shining more than a diamond. While some people love the brilliance of a moissanite gemstone, others might deem rings with moissanite as having a “disco ball effect.”
c. Price Points
A moissanite gem will cost you ten times less than a diamond of the same shape and size.
You can purchase one carat of moissanite for around $400 to $600. Similarly, you can get a carat of diamonds for $2,000 to $20,000. The main reason for this difference is the nature of the gemstones. You can find moissanite’s fire to be rated as 0.104 and diamond as 0.044. Due to this reason, your Moissanite will give more rainbow flashes of light than a diamond.
Moissanite also has a greater value with a greater carat weight than diamond. If you want to get a large-carat white gemstone as an economic option, we’d suggest you choose moissanite gemstones.
d. Durability
As we all know, diamonds are well known for their durability. Your diamonds will bear any kind of wear and tear due to their naturally occurring hardness. It’s rated 10 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Likewise, moissanite is the second hardest diamond, and it is also suitable for daily wear. Moissanite comes in a close second at 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale. Even though the hardness of moissanite does not come close to that of diamonds, it is still perfect for your daily wear.
e. Color Between The Two
You can find the most valuable moissanite stones colorless. As per the strength of the color, its value will decrease for users like us. You can purchase moissanite in a variety of colors, like yellow, blue, green, pink, and red.
On the other hand, diamonds are often bright white in appearance. Whether you see a lab-grown diamond or a natural one, it has a natural white body color and has no traces of yellow or gray hues. However, these days, you can get diamonds in any color, including brown, pink, green, white, gray, and yellow. If you decide to purchase such canary diamonds, you’ll be charged extra for their unique colors.
f. Certification
Independent labs do not usually grade moissanite. Diamonds are usually certified by independent third-party labs. They can also be graded by the 4C’s color, clarity, cut, and carat. However, some vendors can issue their evaluations for moissanite.
Your moissanite certificate will help you understand its weight, color, measurement, quality, and polish in a better way. It will not only help you understand the internal process but also the external characteristics.
You can never go wrong when choosing between moissanite and diamonds. While both gemstones have a unique feature that sets them apart, your taste is what matters when you need to pick between the two.
Can Moissanite Pass For Diamond?
Yes, some of your moissanite can pass a diamond tester. In most cases, a moissanite is compared to a K-color diamond that is GIA-certified. Only professional gemological equipment can truly tell the difference between a moissanite and a diamond. Since both diamonds and moissanite are great conductors of heat, a diamond tester usually cannot distinguish between the two beautiful gemstones.
Which Is Better: Moissanite Vs. Diamonds?
The dilemma between the appeal of moissanite vs. diamonds is something we have not been able to settle. While some people prefer moissanite over diamonds because of their cost, versatility, and fire, other people prefer diamonds for their authenticity and their unique appeal. There is no correct answer when choosing between moissanite and diamond. Depending on your personal preferences, both gemstones hold equal weight in their names.
Some Tips Before You Purchase A Moissanite Gemstone
As moissanite is a versatile stone, you need to be very careful before purchasing it. You’ll get a certain quality of moissanite based on the budget you have.
To help you understand things better, we’ve listed the top four tips to consider before buying a moissanite gemstone.
- A jeweler with a good reputation: If you decide to purchase a moissanite gemstone, we’d suggest you purchase it from a jeweler that has good reviews and a reputation, like Online Jewelry Store, to prevent getting scammed.
- Customer service: You should purchase moissanite gemstones from a store that has contact methods like live chat, email, shipping policy, plans for payment, and more.
- Pricing: Different jewelers will charge you different prices. You shouldn’t purchase low-quality moissanite gemstones, but you shouldn’t pay extra either. So, before buying any of these gemstones, have detailed information about their pricing.
- Quality of Moissanite: Make sure that your moissanite has amazing dispersion (an ability to throw light). You can also ask in detail about the color, cut, and clarity to get the most beautiful stone.
Wrapping Up
Whether you are looking for a rare gemstone or an affordable one, you can now pick between moissanite vs. diamonds. Diamonds have reigned as the ultimate gemstone for engagement rings and other luxury jewelry items. Still, moissanite is here to give you a similar experience, but on a budget. You don’t have to break the bank anymore. Enjoy this gemstone however you like it!
Check out our latest collection of moissanite diamond rings: