MOISSANITE VS DIAMOND

 

In the world of jewelry, diamonds may reign supreme, but they are far from the only gemstone choice. If you're looking for something new, moissanite, a mineral that looks strikingly similar to diamonds, is a new kind of option.

 

If you're thinking of getting any item from the moissanite Collection, you’ll be amazed to know that it has some stunning choices that you would love to choose. But is it different from the diamond, how can you differentiate it from the diamonds or if other such questions are circulating in your mind, then this guide can help you resolve it.

 

1. History of Moissanite

 

Moissanite – a gemstone that born from the stars!

 

In 1893 it was discovered by a French scientist named Henri Moissan, he is the one who also won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He discovered microscopic particles of the gem that would eventually bear his name in Arizona, in a crater created by a meteorite that fell to Earth. He initially thought that he had discovered diamonds but later determined that the crystals were composed of silicon carbide.

 

With this history, you must be tempted to know about the difference between diamond and Moissanite. At the end of the day, you need to convince your buyers to buy it, so you must have the complete knowledge and the difference point so you can excel your wholesale jewelry business. So, this guide is to help you in comparing the two stones and getting all the information that you can use for getting more customer.

 

Let’s start!

 

2. Moissanite – a new divine

 

Moissanite is a laboratory-created gemstone since natural moissanite is extremely rare. Moissan's particles were successfully synthesized after several years of trial and error, resulting in one of the world's most scintillating gemstones.

 

Although purchasing moissanite is similar to purchasing any other gemstone, there are a few items to consider. The most crucial thing to note is that high-quality moissanite can be found for a fair price, so don't settle for a stone with visible clarity or color flaws. Even though moissanite may have inclusions, you should be able to find an eye-clean stone.

 

Moissanite is a synthetic diamond engineered to look like a diamond but differs from a natural diamond in structure and appearance. The two gems have very different longevity, brightness, and color.

 

Related Article-

HOW TO FIND HIGH QUALITY DIAMOND JEWELRY?

 

3. Is Moissanite a true Diamond alternative?

 

Moissanite is appealing to a more internet-savvy and youthful audience today. Several Etsy shops offer jewellery made with this gemstone, allowing a younger audience to browse and buy fine jewellery at a price point they can afford and on a site they are familiar with. At the moment, their success seems to be primarily concentrated in the United States. Still, with mainstream UK stores such as Debenhams using Moissanite in their ranges and Irish designer Chupi making a beautiful ring using this gemstone, we should expect to see a lot more of it in the future.

 

It's easy to see why diamonds are the most valuable precious stone today; their history speaks for itself, and they're also the top pick for the vast majority of people looking to buy wedding jewellery. Moissanite, on the other hand, should be considered if you want to think beyond the box. A customer may purchase a ring that seems to cost tens of thousands of dollars for far less, allowing for an excellent visual effect without the budget required for a diamond substitute. This leaves plenty of money for your dream honeymoon or a down payment for your forever home.

 

These two gemstones have a lot in common, including their different backgrounds. In this post, let's equate Moissanite to diamonds:

 

(1) MOISSANITE VS DIAMOND: PRICE

 

The 4 Cs determine the price and worth of a gem (Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat). These elements combine to give the stone its charm and elegance. Diamonds vary greatly in price, value, and quality since they are often natural rather than man-made.

 

On the other hand, most moissanite appears to be the same price, even where the size and form of moissanite material—enhanced or unenhanced—differ.

 

While the price of a diamond and moissanite varies, it's important to remember that the characteristics, quality, and elegance of diamonds and moissanite are vastly different. “The worth of moissanite increases as the carat weight increases.”

 

Moissanite is the way to go if you want a big carat, white gemstone but, don't want to spend the money on a large diamond. A colourless diamond with the highest visibility grade is totally out of reach for many but that is no excuse to sacrifice overall consistency for a smaller diamond. The price of a lower-quality, smaller diamond is usually higher than that of a higher-quality, larger moissanite gem.

 

We've put together the information in the table below to show the price differential between moissanite and diamond side by side. While the prices vary, there is no comparison between the long-term worth and real beauty of moissanite and a diamond.

 

Moissanite is about 15% lighter than diamonds in terms of weight. As a result, a precise price relation is impossible. Moissanites are valued based on their size in millimetres rather than carat weight. Below is a rough approximation of a similar relation.

 

Size (in Carats)

Diamond Price

Size (closest equivalent to Carats)

Moissanite Price

 

0.50

$1,060

5mm

$520

0.63

$1,520

5.5mm

$610

0.75

$2,220

6mm

$680

1

$3,890

6.5mm

$850

 

In the table above, diamonds of different carat weights are compared to moissanite stones of approximately equal sizes.

 

A half-carat diamond costs more than twice as much as a moissanite of comparable size at the bottom end. This price ratio rises with size and a 6.5mm moissanite gem costing about $850, or 80% less than a 1ct diamond of comparable size.

 

(2) MOISSANITE VS DIAMOND: COLOR

 

While moissanite and diamonds can appear to be the same color when viewed from afar or in poor lighting, there are substantial color variations between the two when viewed up close.

 

Moissanites are not color-graded on the GIA Color Scale, which ranges from D to Z for diamonds. Moissanites, on the other hand, are not colorless and mimic the K color grade on the GIA color scale for grading diamond color.

 

Moissanites have yellow and green tints when exposed to such rays. The finer the moissanite, the more yellow, grey, or green tints are visible. It's usually straightforward to tell the difference between a diamond and a sapphire at massive sizes.

 

There will be no yellow or grey tinting in almost colorless diamonds ranging from D to J on the GIA scale. Color is one of the characteristics that distinguish diamonds from other gemstones, and it's difficult to confuse moissanite for a diamond's bright, natural elegance.

 

 

(3) MOISSANITE VS DIAMOND: CLARITY

 

Its visibility measures the number of blemishes and inclusions apparent in moissanite. Moissanites, including diamonds, are usually imperfect, with slight blemishes that are conspicuous under magnification.

 

Almost all moissanite sold are rated for clarity on a scale close to those used by the GIA and other grading organizations to measure diamond clarity.

 

It's important to remember that a moissanite's clarity grade isn't determined by the GIA, AGS, or any other unbiased gemological lab; rather, the clarity grade (and credential, whether the moissanite is sold with one) is frequently issued with the stone by its producer or seller.

 

Since moissanites are manmade, unlike natural diamonds, moissanite with clarity grades lower than VS is extremely rare to find for sale. For all of the time, the visibility of moissanite is near-flawless.

 

 

(4) MOISSANITE VS DIAMOND: CUT

 

Moissanites, including diamonds, come in a multitude of shapes and cuts. Moissanites come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including circular, oval, pear, cushion, princess, and radiant cuts. Some moissanite is cut in antique diamond cuts that were common hundreds of years ago.

 

The brilliant round cut is the most common moissanite cut. The popularity of the round genius cut can be attributed to several factors:

 

* Brilliance:

 

The dazzling round-cut, like a gem, provides the most brilliance and fire. This means that when the stone is exposed to bright light, which hits the stone and reflects off its facets in various ways, the stone will sparkle.

 

* Color:

 

The best cut for covering color and making a stone look nearly or entirely colorless is the brilliant circular cut. This is beneficial to moissanite because it conceals the yellow and green tints that are common in moissanite.

 

* Versatility:

 

The round genius cut is a very flexible cut that looks perfect in new and antique engagement rings and other jewelry. Moissanites appear better in cuts that mask color and highlight the stone's brilliance, such as the princess cut (also known as the "square cut"), oval cut, radiant cut, and marquise cut.

 

 

(5) MOISSANITE VS DIAMOND: HARDNESS

 

Moissanite has a Mohs hardness of 9.25, and a diamond has a Mohs hardness of 10 — the highest on the scale.

 

The Mohs scale is used to determine the hardness, or toughness, of a gemstone. The scale goes from 1 to 10, with one being the softest and ten being the worst. One of the most visible differences between a moissanite and a diamond is the Mohs scale.

 

Diamonds, as the hardest known stone, are extremely strong and robust. They're ideal for casual wear and wedding rings because they can withstand cracks and other degradation that can degrade the appearance of softer stones.

 

The Mohs scale is seen below to give you a sense of mineral hardness. Diamonds are stronger than other very tough rocks, such as steel and tungsten carbide, as seen in the graph.

 

Does this imply the moissanite irritate the skin? That's not the case. Moissanites are more durable than diamonds, despite being lower on the scale at 9 to 9.5. Only minerals similar to or higher on the scale, such as diamonds and other moissanite, can scratch moissanite.

 

The Mohs Scale of Hardness:

 

Hardness

Substance or mineral

>10

Nanocrystalline diamond (hyperdiamond, ultrahardfullerite)

10

Diamond

9.5–10

Boron

9–9.5

Moissanite

9

Tungsten carbide

8.5

Chromium

8

Cubic zirconia

7.5–8

Emerald

7

Quartz

6–7

Silicon

6

Titanium

5.5

Glass

5

Apatite (tooth enamel)

4–4.5

Steel

4

Iron

3.5

Platinum

3

Copper

2.5–3

Gold

2–2.5

Halite (rock salt)

2

Calcium

1.5

Lead

1

Talc

0.5–0.6

Potassium

0.2–0.3

Rubidium

 

(5) MOISSANITE VS DIAMOND: BRILLIANCE

 

You can see a diamond's potential to bend and refract light as you see it sparkle. When light hits the pavilions (the tilted surfaces on the diamond's lower half), it bounces back and is refracted up to the eye across the diamond's table (the upper, smooth surface). This is known as brilliance, a rare quality in diamonds that exists when this happens.

 

4. How Light reflects through a diamond?

 

Moissanites, sparkles in a certain way, their facets are sliced and shaped differently than a diamond's, resulting in less white light refraction. Although moissanites do provide a gleam, it is not as bright or as transparent as that of a diamond.

 

Moissanites have a higher refractive index than diamonds, which is an indicator of how fast light passes through a substance. Moissanite has a refractive index of 2.65, compared to 2.42 for diamonds. The refractive index of the two stones is very similar in general.

 

The gemstones often emit heat, which is the reflection of colored, or rainbow light, in addition to the diamond's signature brilliance. Moissanite also reflects light in a rainbow of colors. Moissanite emits substantial color dazzling in certain situations and in some light, which some people dislike.

 

When comparing moissanite and a diamond side by side, the difference in brightness and fire becomes more apparent as the gemstones get larger, particularly when viewed up close in certain lighting conditions.

 

 

5. Certification of Moissanite

 

When it comes to diamonds and Moissanite, certification that each of the stone gets can help you remove your doubts about the worth of the lab-grown stone. Each of the tests like refractive index, shine, color, cut and clarity highlights the results for diamonds and Moissanite to be exactly similar.

 

Even the experts of the diamond industry and the diamond testers are unable to identify the products that are lab-grown and the natural one. So, this leaves with little to no possibility that anyone will point out your Moissanite claiming it to be fake. Even if you don’t buy a Moissanite yourself, you could be pretty sure that it is a diamond. So with no visible or characteristic difference in both the stones, you can easily choose Moissanite over diamond and have all the entire outlook that a diamond would help you portray but within an economical price.

 

 

6. General Benefits of Moissanite

 

When comparing the distinctions between a diamond and moissanite, you can not realize the many benefits that moissanite offers:

 

(1) Conflict-Free

 

The biggest advantage moissanite has over any other naturally mined gem that you know you're wearing ethical jewelry because it was made in a lab.

 

(2) High Quality

 

Due to the rigorous environment in which lab-grown moissanite jewels are made, if a gemstone does not have absolute clarity or any visible inclusions or blemishes, it would not be available for purchase.

 

(3) High Refractive Index

 

The brilliance of each stone is a noticeable contrast when comparing moissanite and diamonds side by side. The High Refractive Index of this gem allows it to produce a superior sparkle that is unrivaled by a regular diamond.

 

(4) Timeless Appearance 

 

Some people can turn to cubic zirconia as an alternative to diamonds. Unlike cubic zirconia, however, moissanite does not get cloudy over time. In reality, a moissanite stone would have a cleaner appearance than a diamond. A diamond's luster can be reduced by dirt and oils quicker than moissanite's.

 

(5) Moissanite will Last Through the Generations

 

Moissanite is a rough stone with a high hardness grade, making it a long-lasting gem. A moissanite ring will be handed on over the generations if properly cared for.

 

 

7. Who should pick Moissanite?

 

To many people, moissanite would still be seen as a "false" diamond, lacking the class and reputation associated with precious gemstones. Although you might be enamoured of the stone's chemistry, the moissanite jewelry might be scorned by some. Others may be concerned that moissanite would never be as valuable as sapphire or diamond as an heirloom. Another issue is that there is a widespread belief that diamonds are a better investment than moissanite, implying that the money spent on moissanite is ultimately lost.

 

But do you know, as a general rule, diamonds are overpriced and lose more than half of their worth as soon as they are purchased. A diamond ring is an investment that loses the most value.

 

Besides, you would be amazed to know that Moissanite is the favorite pick of celebrities too and the overall look and shine of the stone is good enough to let it be assumed as a secret diamond. Bindi Irwin (daughter of crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin), Penelope Cruze, and even Meghan Markle have worn the lab-grown diamonds with great decency and elegance.

 

Moreover, the famous Lady Gaga and Emma Watson have been advocating for the lab grown diamonds by wearing them at different occasions.

 

Since moissanite is just around 10% of the price of a diamond, you can save 90% of the money you would have spent buying a diamond. You've just saved a significant amount of money. Also, keep in mind that you will resell the moissanite for roughly half of the price you paid for it. Overall if you are facing budget restrictions, want to buy an extra-large size of the gem, or just a fan of gem with average sparkle or the entire rainbow that dazzle you, then moissanite could be your priority.

 

 

8. Conclusion of Moissanite

 

Moissanite and Diamond have almost equal optical properties from a conceptual standpoint. Both gemstones are transparent, and they are among the hardest gemstones known to man. Both look stunning, can last a lifetime, and are fantastic choices for daily wear.

 

If you have good friends that have a professional eye for these stuff, moissanite will easily pass for a conventional diamond if that's the look and feel you're after. Regardless, moissanite as a diamond substitute reaches all of the points mentioned above, making it seem too good to be true, but the fact is that it's all true and it's that good.

 

Finally, for those who do not wish to buy a Diamond due to legal, environmental, or financial considerations, Moissanites is a viable and equally stunning token of affection.