Moissanite versus diamond.
Here are the sparkly details.
Ethical
Moissanites are not mined, unlike their diamond counterpart
Heirloom Quality
Moissanite is a 9.25 on the Mohs Scale. It is durable and considered heirloom quality.
Affordable
Your real moissanite ring is more affordable per carat
THE NEED TO KNOW
Not sure if moissanite is the right gemstone for you? Keep reading below for an unbiased overview on all things moissanite, and how this gemstone compares to a diamond.
THE GEMTSONE
So, what is moissanite?
So, What Is Moissanite? Moissanite was discovered in 1893 by Dr Henri Moissan who was a French chemist and pharmacist. Dr Moissan was examining rock samples from a meteor crater located in Canyon Diablo, Arizona, and at first mistakenly identified the gemstones as diamonds. It wasn’t until 1904 that Dr Moissan realised that the rock samples he discovered in 1893 were not diamonds, they were in fact silicon carbide which we now know as Moissanite.
He re at The Moissanite Company, we like to think of moissanite as a precious stone that originated from the stars.
Real Moissanite VS la b Created Moissanite
Natural moissanite is incredibly rare. After all, we don’t have meteorites falling from the sky every day, leaving natural moissanite to be extracted on the regular. Due to the rarity of natural moissanite, almost all moissanite on the market is lab-created. After many years, the beautiful samples Moissan discovered were synthesised to create the beautiful moissanite we know and love today. Moissanite is popular because it emulates the appearance of diamonds. However, a moissanites composition, fire and brilliance is quite different versus a diamond. Let’s take a look at a side-by-side comparison of a moissanite VS diamond
Chemical Makeup
Moissanite
Silicon Carbide – SiC
Diamond
Carbon – C
Refractive Index - Brilliance
Moissanite
A moissanites brilliance is ranked 2.65-2.69. Brilliance is the term generally used to describe the white light return, which is the foundation of a stone’s brightness and sparkle.
Diamond
A diamonds brilliance is ranked at 2.42. The way a diamond sparkles is slightly different based on its faceting and therefore, the light return.
Fire Dispersion
Moissanite
Fire dispersion of a moissanite stone is 0.104. Fire is simply the coloured or rainbow sparkle that you can see when the stone is exposed to light. The higher fire dispersion of a moissanite is one of the ways it can be distinguished between a diamond.
Diamond
The fire dispersion of a diamond is 0.044. Therefore, diamonds are less likely to disperse a coloured sparkle when exposed to light.
Durability (Mohs Scale)
Moissanite
On the Mohs Scale, a moissanite is a 9.25. This means, it is an extremely durable stone, one of the hardest materials on earth. This makes moissanite engagement rings suitable for everyday wear.
Diamond
On the Mohs Scale, a diamond is a 10. This is the hardest stone and substance available
Colour
Moissanite
Moissanite used in engagement rings are typically colourless, in the ‘DEF’ range. However, you can custom order champagne coloured moissanite to emulate the look of champagne diamonds. Also, grey and black moissanite is available.
Diamond
Diamonds come in various colour ranges however, the most ideal and popular is colourless within the ‘DEF’ range. Diamonds in this colour range throw off a bright white appearance. The more colourless a diamond is, the more expensive it is.
Clarity
Moissanite
Clarity grade refers to the number of imperfections that a stone has. These are referred to as inclusions. A typical moissanite has a range of VVS1-VVS2 of inclusions which is ‘very slightly’ included. These inclusions are barely visible to the naked eye unless you have a microscope and know exactly what you’re looking for.
Diamond
The ideal clarity for diamonds is within the same range of VVS1-VVS2. However, due to the way diamonds are naturally formed and mined, having few to no inclusions in the diamond means the price of the diamond is significantly higher.
Sourcing
Moissanite
Moissanite stones are lab created in sustainable, controlled environment where we can manage best practices and ensure we are leaving as little carbon footprint as possible. If you’re seeking an eco-gemstone with a lot of sparkle, moissanite is for you. Learn how we are ethical.
Diamond
Unfortunately, natural diamonds are mined in unethical ways. Not only does this significantly impact our diminishing environment, but it places millions of innocent people in harm’s way. The industry is known for its unspeakable tragedies associated with ‘blood’ or ‘conflict’ diamonds. The use of diamonds ends in the tragic result of bloodshed, loss of life, and shocking human rights abuses – from sexual abuse to the use of child soldiers. If you’re choosing diamonds, be sure you know where it is sourced from.
Is moissanite real?
Moissanite is its own unique gemstone and should never be considered a fake diamond.
The affordable, ethical and high-qua ty diamond alternative
Although there are similarities between a moissanite and a diamond, they are both distinctively unique. Moissanite is such a dreamy gemstone, with ring properties that make it stand out, when comparing moissanite versus diamonds. The fire, brilliance, quality, ethicality of moissanite make it an exceptional choice when choosing your engagement ring. You’ll never have to settle for less with a ring from The Moissanite Company.