Moissanite vs. Diamond: What’s the Difference?
When you’re looking for the perfect engagement or statement ring, nothing beats a diamond…right? Well, there are actually a few diamond alternatives that give the stone a run for its money. In recent years, moissanite has been growing in popularity – and for good reason. Below we’ll get into all the differences between moissanite and diamonds and which one is best for you.
The Differences: What to Look For
When comparing moissanite and diamonds, there are a few elements you should look at to tell the difference:
Brilliance
You might think that diamonds are the top of brilliant gems, but moissanite out-shines diamonds as it refracts more light. In other words, you get more sparkle with moissanite.
Clarity
Clarity is one of the top factors to look at when choosing gemstones – the clearer, the better. Moissanite is usually made in a lab, which means you won’t see the naturally occurring inclusions apparent in natural diamonds. Overall, moissanite is a much clearer stone.
Fire
When you shine a bright light at a diamond, you’ll see rainbow colors flashing. This is called the “fire” of a stone. Compared to diamonds, moissanite has a much more apparent fire, thanks to its incredible clarity and brilliance.
Color
Diamonds can come in all sorts of colors, lightly tinted or intensely hued. Moissanite, however, appears generally colorless with occasional tints of gray, green, or yellow under a strong light.
Weight
Diamonds are slightly heavier than moissanite, by about 15%. That means that a moissanite stone and a diamond of the same size will weigh slightly differently. It’s not noticeable for the most part unless you’re using a jeweler’s scale.
Value
Even though moissanite is much more brilliant and clear, it costs much less than a natural diamond. Part of this is because moissanite is lab-created instead of naturally occurring.
Pros and Cons of Moissanite
When choosing a gemstone for your piece of custom jewelry, you need to consider the pros and cons of each choice to see what suits your needs.
Appearance
The appearance of moissanite can’t be beaten if you want the ultimate in brilliance and clarity. Most people will assume it is a diamond and will be amazed at the incredible sparkle!
Price
Moissanite has a much lower price tag than either natural or lab-created diamond. That means you can get a much bigger stone for your money – and hardly anyone will be able to tell the difference!
Ethical Sourcing
Moissanite occurs very rarely in nature, so chances are you’ll only see lab-created stones for sale. This eliminates the possibility for unethically sourced gems, so you don’t have to worry about that side of gem sourcing.
Artificial Look
Sometimes people complain that moissanite is too brilliant. It outshines diamonds by so much that it can appear “fake” or artificial. Since moissanite is largely unknown still, many people might assume you have cubic zirconia if they can tell it isn’t a real diamond.
It’s Not a Diamond
Like it or not, diamonds have some serious cultural significance, and imposters are looked down upon, even if they look fantastic. If you’re worried that others will see your ring as cheap or less impressive (even if it looks excellent), you might prefer to get a genuine diamond instead.
Contact Bostonian Jewelers
Picking the right gem for your ring depends on your tastes, budget, and availability. Bostonian Jewelers is an expert custom jeweler in the Boston area that can help you select the right stone for your ring. Contact us today to set up a consultation and start creating your dream ring today!