You could be eyeing a diamond and don’t want to be scammed, so you’re checking out the fiercest competition. Or you couldn’t afford the real deal and thought of opting for a stone that looks like one!
Enter: Moissanite – a stone that looks like a diamond that it has become the most popular alternative! But before you label it as a fake diamond or a substitute, do know that it’s a whole other gemstone that has a pretty mysterious history.
I suggest you read on and discover how beautiful it can be in its own way. And if you’re still Team Diamond, at least you learned how to spot lookalikes!
Moissanite Has Extraterrestrial Origins
We’re not taking the word “extraterrestrial” lightly. Moissanite is literary from space!
In 1893, Henri Moissan, a French chemist, discovered microscopic particles of a gem from a crater of a meteorite that fell to Canyon Diablo, Arizona. He thought that he had found diamonds, but the crystals were composed of silicon carbide. These rocks were so rare, the moissanites available today are only lab-created. It was eventually named after him, and he later won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
For the past century, Moissanite has been engineered through and through to become a gemstone with one of the best scintillations. Even though it’s fair to confuse the moissanite with a diamond at first glance, they still differ in quite a few factors. Let’s talk about that!
Moissanite vs. Diamond
Moissanite is a beautiful gem in its own right. And truly telling a diamond from a moissanite would require an electrical conductivity test, but it’s tricky, so we leave it for the professionals to figure out. Nonetheless, here the factors where we can compare the two stones side by side:
Brilliance
Diamond |
Moissanite |
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Now, diamonds are best known for their sparkle. They actually reflect light in three different ways: The white light that’s reflected back is known as brilliance, while the sparkle we see is the diamond light return called scintillation. Lastly, the rainbow colors bent through the diamond is knowns as fire. |
Moissanites offer a different kind of sparkle. Since they are cut differently, they don’t exhibit the same white light diamonds can display. A moissanite is known to give off a vibrant color sparkle. Although this is attractive to some, it can be too much for others that its brilliance is sometimes referred to as a “disco ball.” |
Price
Diamond |
Moissanite |
|
The 4Cs determine the price and value of the diamond. While they are relatively more expensive than moissanites, the features and overall quality of both stones differ significantly. And having a lower price doesn’t mean you’re getting a better stone. |
If we compare by size, moissanites are definitely more affordable. For example, you can get a 1 carat, colorless moissanite for $599, while a 1 carat, near-colorless diamond would probably cost $5,000, more or less. Pricing can also be determined by classifying moissanites that are premium, super premium, enhanced, and unenhanced. |
Durability
Diamond |
Moissanite |
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In the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness, diamonds receive a 10 and thus are deemed as super durable stones. They can withstand surface scratching making them great for everyday wear and engagement rings. |
Moissanite scores a 9.25. It’s still a phenomenal score, almost right up the alley of diamonds. This makes them one of the most durable stones, also ideal for everyday wear and center stones for engagement rings. |
Color
Diamond |
Moissanite |
|
Color is graded from D to Z in the GIA scale. Diamonds from D to J will not possess visible hints of yellow, browns, or gray. This makes them appear icy-white! |
While, moissanites aren’t rated by their color. And even if one is called “colorless,” it would still exhibit a yellowish or grayish hue under certain lights especially for large moissanites. If you see an icy-white one, then it has been enhanced to mimic a diamond. Then again, if you’re into warmer tints, you’ll love moissanites. |
Other Stones Compared to Real Diamonds
Stone |
Example |
Description |
|
Cubic Zirconia |
 |
Cubic zirconia doesn’t bear inclusions, and this alone is a great indicator as diamonds usually possess imperfections that can be seen under a loupe or with bare eyes. It also gives off an orange tint and is noticeably not as brilliant as a real diamond. |
|
White Topaz |
 |
A white topaz can easily get scratched as it’s softer than a diamond. So, if you see scratches on the surface, it could most likely be a white topaz or a poor cut diamond with bad polish. And you wouldn’t want either of those. |
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White Sapphire |
 |
Though sapphires are usually known for their blue, red, and other colors, there are also white ones that are sold as diamonds. The difference is stark when you compare a white sapphire and a diamond side by side because the former will look blurry as opposed to the superb brilliance and contrast of the dark and light parts of a diamond. |
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Lab-Created Diamond |
 |
I’m not against lab-created diamonds as they’re still diamonds. It’s just that they are grown in the lab, unlike natural diamonds created in the earth’s mantle. They have the same molecular components so that the only way of knowing – like the moissanite – is to have an expert run a conductivity test. |
Which One is For You?
Moissanite – An Affordable and Eco-Friendly Alternative
Another cool thing about moissanites is they’re not sold unless they have VS clarity or beyond. So, this means that you don’t have to worry about flaws or inclusions.
Best of all, if you’re keen on leaving a smaller carbon footprint, you’ll be glad to know that moissanites aren’t mined from Earth since they are grown in a controlled lab environment – far away from blood diamonds and unfair labor practices!
Diamond – The Traditional Engagement Ring
As we talked about in my post on how much to spend on an engagement ring, the biggest lure diamonds play on man is their emotional value. Aside from being pure carbon crystals that take millions of years to form in the Earth’s mantle, diamonds are dubbed as many things: the most valuable gem, the ultimate symbol of love, a girl’s best friend, and an everlasting spectacle.
The Takeaway
I’ve laid out all the basics for these two remarkable gems. It’s your turn to decide which one suits your wants or needs! Whether you’re looking into moissanites to save money or to watch out for fakes, remember that it has its own character and sparkle. A diamond is a diamond, but a moissanite is also something else!
Should you have questions, please feel free to write to me!
Or comment down below, my advice is free. 🙂