Diamond vs. Moissanite: Which Will Make Her Say Yes?
Diamonds and moissanite are two popular gemstones that are often compared because of their similarities in appearance. However, there are several key differences between the two stones that you should consider before making a purchase.
Diamonds are a naturally occurring mineral that are formed deep within the earth's crust over millions of years. Moissanite, on the other hand, is a lab-created gemstone that was first discovered in a meteorite and is now synthesized in a lab. While diamonds have a long history and cultural significance, moissanite is a relatively new gemstone that has gained popularity as an alternative to diamonds.
Moissanite has crept into the jewellery market as an alternative to the traditional diamond stone set. The average customer has probably never heard of it, but as the stone edges its way onto more retail shelves and online shop listings, we would like to take a moment to tell our readers all about this stone and how it compares to diamond.
What is Moissanite?
Moissanite is a rare mineral that is seldom found in its natural form in jewellery. When customers are shopping for jewellery and come across a piece that states it contains moissanite, they are likely looking at lab-created moissanite. This is a type of crystalline silicon carbide, used to simulate diamond.
Buying Moissanite Rings
True moissanite will be extremely expensive, and we would recommend ensuring that there is documentation of some kind available with the stone if you do purchase genuine moissanite. The price of genuine moissanite will be similar to that of a low to mid quality diamond. You can expect a ring like this to cost several hundred pounds, at minimum.
However, synthetic moissanite can be purchased from bespoke jewellers for as little as £200 or so. When shopping online, watch out for SEO and buzz words being used in product titles. Read the descriptions of the items – a moissanite engagement ring, for example, may use the words “real” and “synthetic”. In this situation, assume that it is synthetic or contact the seller to check.
Moissanite Versus Diamond
In the case of beauty and purity of a stone, a well-cut diamond with good clarity will always win over moissanite. There’s a certain fire and brilliance to diamond that moissanite just cannot replicate. Fire refers to the coloured flashes that you see when the light hits the angles of a diamond, while brilliance refers to the white flashes in the same situation.
Moissanite will show more coloured flashes than white ones, which can be off-putting to buyers that want a stone that gives off a luxurious sparkle. The downside to using fire and brilliance to compare the two is that the modern cutting techniques for jewellery have made identifying stones in this way more difficult.
Moissanite and diamond also share a colour palette, though truly colourless moissanite is more difficult to find. In this battle, you could say that diamond wins, thanks to the large range of colour options available in today’s jewellery market that include clear diamonds.
Diamonds have a higher level of durability than moissanite. The Mohs hardness scale measures the scratch resistance of gemstones, and diamonds score a 10 out of 10, while moissanite scores a 9.25 out of 10. While both gemstones are very hard and durable, diamonds are slightly harder and more scratch-resistant than moissanite.
We can now look at the clarity of the stones. This is where moissanite reigns superior – synthetic moissanite will never have the same clarity issues that diamond has, which makes it easier to find perfect stones on a budget. Perfectly clean diamonds are not readily available at a low price, unless one is buying an extremely small diamond.
Moissanite certainly makes its case against diamonds in the jewellery world, but there are wins and losses for them both in this battle. If a person is looking for something to replicate a diamond, look no further than synthetic moissanite.
In conclusion, the choice between diamonds and moissanite ultimately comes down to personal preference and budget. Diamonds are a timeless and valuable gemstone, while moissanite is a more affordable alternative that offers a similar appearance. Both gemstones have their unique qualities and benefits, and it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each before making a decision.