Moissanite vs Diamond: Beauty, Durability, and Price - Gem Society (2024)
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Why?
By
Addison Rice
When it comes to engagement ring stones, there's a lot to consider. In the moissanite vs diamond debate, we’ll look at three main factors: beauty, durability, and price. Ultimately, the best choice for your engagement ring is the gem that you prefer.
Learn more about moissanite and why so many are opting for a moissanite engagement ring, and why others prefer a more expensive diamond.
What is Moissanite?
Although moissanites do occur naturally (and very rarely) in very tiny crystals, when consumers compare moissanites and diamonds they’re most likely considering synthetic moissanites. This is a form of crystalline silicon carbide created in laboratories and widely used as a diamond simulant. Unless you’re shopping for rare mineral samples, when you encounter moissanites and moissanite rings for sale, you’re dealing with the synthetic variety.
Moissanite vs Diamond: Which is More Beautiful?
The top question in the moissanite vs diamond debate is whether one holds more beauty than the other. Certainly, moissanite is a convincing diamond simulant. To tell the difference between diamonds and moissanites, jewelry experts need a "moissanite tester"— a device that measures electrical conductivity— and a loupefor a close visual examination. However, there are slight differences in their beauty that consumers may notice.
Brilliance and Fire
When you’re looking at a diamond, you’ll notice both brilliance (white flashes) and fire (colored flashes). Moissanite also shows both, but typically has more fire than diamond. So, moissanite tends to have more colored flashes of light than diamond.
However, this depends partly on the diamond cut. Diamonds with older cut styles or modern cuts with certain angles will show more fire than most modern diamonds. This can make it difficult to tell the difference between the two.
Distinguishing moissanites and diamonds based on brilliance and fire isn’t reliable, but it's easier to see at larger sizes. Even so, unless you have experience in the jewelry industry, you won't be able to tell the difference justbased on appearance.
“Classic” moissanite has a yellowish or brownish color, often compared to J through M color diamond. This range works best with yellow gold or rose gold settings and vintage styles.
However, moissanite is also available in colors equivalent to “Near Colorless” G to I range and “Colorless” D through F range. This gives moissanite buyers great options for mimicking their favorite diamond looks and styles.
Still, moissanite can change color based on lighting and may not always look perfectly colorless. Some stones will appear more yellow or yellow-green. Those sensitive to color may prefer diamond or white sapphire to moissanite.
Clarity
Because moissanites are grown in laboratories, they don’t have the large clarity imperfections that diamonds may contain. So, a moissanite will always be eye-clean, while diamonds may contain imperfections visible to the eye.
For those with low budgets, finding an eye-clean diamond in their desired size can be difficult. It involves examining many diamonds very closely. This can be time consuming and may require expert help.
Is Diamond More Durable Than Moissanite?
Hardness
At a 10 on the Mohs scale, diamond is well-known as the hardest material. Nothing but a diamond can scratch another diamond. With a hardness of 9.25, moissanite is the second-hardest material used a gemstone. Unless you store your moissanite with diamond jewelry, it’s highly unlikely that it will scratch.
Toughness
However, determining whether moissanite or diamond makes a tougher gem material is difficult. People who sell moissanite may claim moissanite is tougher, while those who sell diamond may claim the opposite.
Moissanite doesn’t have acleavage plane, while diamond does. (This is an internal plane along which a diamond crystal can easily split). This gives a durability advantage to moissanite. However, this doesn’t help establish how hard a moissanite needs to be knocked until it chips or shatters.
The IGS cannot corroborate the following measurements of pressure tolerance in millions of pounds per square inch (PSI) for diamond, moissanite, and cubic zirconia (CZ), another well-known diamond simulant. However, they may give some basis for comparison:
If reliable, these figures indicate diamond takes about twice as much pressure to break than moissanite, while moissanite takes three times as much pressure to break than CZ. However, it’s not clear if the measurement for diamond is an average of pressure applied in any direction or if it was taken along its cleavage plane, which would be weaker. (CZ, like moissanite, also lacks a cleavage plane).
Generally, both diamond and moissanite are unlikely to chip or crack, although this is always a possibility and also depends on the type of cut. (For example, princess cuts may chip more easily than rounds). When choosing between these gems, durability isn't a significant factor.
Budget and Size for Moissanite vs. Diamond
Cost is almost always a major factor when choosing an engagement ring. When comparing moissanite vs diamond, moissanite is the clear winner in the price category. Check out the moissanite sizes you can get for the following budgets, compared to diamonds of different color grades.
For simplicity's sake, these are prices for round diamonds, with the highest carat weight in the budget for an eye-clean SI2, excellent-cut diamond from James Allen. These diamond prices represent a bare minimum of eye-clean quality. Moissanite sizes are taken from Brilliant Earth'sSuper Premium moissanite, which is equivalent to a D-E-F diamond color grade.
As you can see, moissanite offers major cost savings. Even spending under $1,000, you can get a stone the size of a one-carat diamond. For a diamond this size, you’d pay at least $3,000, with significant compromises in color and clarity. If you spent that much on a moissanite it would be huge, over 1 cm across!
Even at smaller budgets of $500, the size difference between moissanite and diamond is significant, with a moissanite being 8% larger than a diamond with faint color or 20% larger than a D-E-F diamond.
Natural Origins or Lab-Made Beauty?
Ultimately, the most important factor in your decision on moissanite vs diamond— even more so than cost— will be whether you'd just prefer to have a diamond or a moissanite.
Some consumers prefer diamond for tradition, prestige, or natural origin.Others prefer moissanite for sustainability or ethical reasons, or simply because they can get the aesthetic they desire for less. This is a personal choice with no wrong answers. If you’d prefer a diamond, buy a diamond. If you’d prefer a moissanite, buy a moissanite.
Where to Purchase a Moissanite or Diamond Engagement Ring
If you’ve decided on a diamond, read about diamond quality first to avoid paying more than necessary. Because a diamond is such an expensive and personal purchase, you simply must get a closeup look at how it sparkles before buying. To get the most for your money, we recommend using online dealers like James Allen and Blue Nile. Both provide 360° video of their diamonds and plenty of ring settings to choose from. With their extensive selections of diamonds, you’re sure to find the one that’s best for you.
For moissanite, quality is far less variable, making the shopping experience easier. Charles & Colvard, the original manufacturer of gem-grade moissanite, has hundreds of ring styles to choose from, all available online.
If you just can’t seem to find the right engagement ring style, try contacting the experts at CustomMade. Whether diamond, moissanite, or something else entirely, CustomMade will help you find the perfect center stone for your style and budget and place it in a unique engagement ring you’ll cherish.
Addison Rice
A geologist, environmental engineer and Caltech graduate, Addison’s interest in the mesmerizing and beautiful results of earth’s geological processes began in her elementary school’s environmental club. When she isn’t writing about gems and minerals, Addison spends winters studying ancient climates in Iceland and summers hiking the Colorado Rockies.
“Moissanite is the second hardest to diamonds on the Mohs hardness scale,” O'Connell says. “Based on rankings from one to 10, diamonds are a 10 and moissanite is a 9.25-9.5.” Moissanite is a very durable option for an engagement ring stone, especially since the material doesn't scratch easily.
At a 10 on the Mohs scale, diamond is well-known as the hardest material. Nothing but a diamond can scratch another diamond. With a hardness of 9.25, moissanite is the second-hardest material used a gemstone. Unless you store your moissanite with diamond jewelry, it's highly unlikely that it will scratch.
The most effective way to tell Moissanite apart from a diamond is to use a loupe to look through the top, or the crown, of the jewel at an angle. You will see two slightly blurred lines that indicates a double refraction, an inherent quality of Moissanite. Double refraction is easier to see in some shapes than others.
Moissanite is a lot cheaper than a diamond. Although this means you can buy a larger stone for your money, it also means that moissanite is far less valuable and ultimately you are buying something worth very little in the long term.
On the Mohs scale, Moissanite gemstones are a 9.25 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, so they are suitable for daily wear. Diamonds are the hardest known mineral and receive a 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. wear. This contributes to their popularity as engagement rings' center gemstones.
Unlike softer stones like cubic zirconia (CZ), Moissanite rates a 9.25-9.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Moissanite is extremely hard! In fact, it is second only to diamond which rates a 10. Moissanite is so tough that even when dirts and oils start to build up on its surface, it still looks sparkly!
Although moissanites are cheap, they aren't valuable. While we usually don't recommend diamonds as an investment (you'll almost always lose money if you ever decide to sell), they do retain some value over the long term and can be passed down as a precious family heirloom — something you can't do with a moissanite.
Of all shapes, round cut moissanite most closely resembles a diamond. Round cut stones have very specific facets and proportions, and round moissanite has been able to be cut in a way that causes light to interact with it in almost exactly the same way it does with diamond.
Yes, moissanite looks very similar to a diamond. It's near-colorless, has a similar refractive index to a diamond and the GIA deems moissanite the closest diamond imitation. Many jewelers consider moissanite a diamond alternative, not an imitation, though you will find plenty of that language on the internet.
If you get the right moissanite jewelry from the right place, you know that they last as long as a diamond does and they'll never turn yellow or any other color.
As one of the hardest substances on earth, it is the perfect option for your engagement ring stone. Highly scratch-resistant and sparkly, moissanite stones will never tarnish or become cloudy – and we can guarantee this with a lifetime warranty!
As Moissanite is grown in a laboratory, they do not have the usual cost of digging, shipping and the discovery of a common mineral diamond. So, the Moissanite rings and jewelry cost less per carat than a diamond engagement ring, yet they are a little better. This means a lot of bang for your money.
Yes, some diamond simulants can pass a diamond tester.
For example, moissanite, a man made gem, may pass as a diamond on a standard tester pen. This is because moissanite also has very high thermal conductivity! Other diamond simulants, such as CZ, will not pass the tester.
The traditional cone shaped cut with a rounded top contains 58 facets, which allows for maximum light reflection making it the best cut for brilliance, fire and sparkle.
Will Moissanite last forever? Yes it will. Moissanite is a beautiful gemstone that is very hard – a 9.25 on the hardness scale! So, just like a Diamond is forever, so too, is Moissanite.
Moissanites or white sapphires are most comparable to a diamond. While there are visible differences, these gems will look the closest to a diamond while offering a more affordable price. These stones are also high on the Mohs scale of relative hardness, making them suitable for everyday wear.
Mineral hardness is judged by the Mohs scale. At the very top of the scale is diamond, which is a perfect 10. However, moissanite comes in quite close at 9.25. Cubic zirconia is an 8.5, which isn't quite as good.
Yes, you can wear your moissanite engagement ring in the shower. On its own, water will not harm your moissanite stone. However, repeated exposure to soap, shampoo and conditioner can create a build-up of oils on the surface of your ring. This can give your stone a filmy appearance, dulling its sparkle.
Moissanite is an extremely stable material. It is durable, tough and highly resistant to scratching, abrasion, breaking and chipping. Its high heat tolerance makes moissanite very unlikely to experience damage during jewelry repair.
Does Moissanite become cloudy? Natural mineral called silicon carbide is where Moissanite grown from. Therefore, Moissanite will never become cloudy, discolour or change its appearance. A Moissanite will maintain its brilliance, colour and clarity for a lifetime and beyond.
Moissanites have more fire than real diamonds This refers to the rainbow spectrum color reflected back at the eye. We work with Charles and Colvard and also Harro Gems, two wonderful moissanite creators who offer some of the highest quality in every shape and size!
This hardness makes it an ideal choice for an engagement ring as you're going to be wearing your engagement ring everyday. Diamonds are still the most durable stone on the market however, ranking a 10 on the Mohs Scale.
Moissanite is also incredibly durable – it is exceedingly resistant to cracks, chips and scratches, making it a popular choice for everyday use. A good quality Moissanite will sparkle with fire!
Stone size is entirely personal choice, completely individual to the wearer. As a guide, typically 1.0ct & 1.5ct are most popular for brilliant round cut moissanite engagement ring.
However, that's about all that can scratch a moissanite! Most other gems and surfaces, such as sapphire or granite, are softer than Moissanite and cannot cause scratches. Because Moissanite is a 9.25 on the hardness scale, and diamond is a 10, diamond can scratch moissanite.
Yes, moissanite engagement rings have a healthy value in the ring resale marketplace. You can always sell your old moissanite ring or replace it with a new one if you feel it has altered in color or quality.
Alternatively, we recommend polishing your moissanite jewelry with a liquid like Weiman's Jewelry Cleaner by soaking the jewelry for up to 30 minutes. Rinse, dry, and buff with a soft clean cloth to shine!
Moissanite is a lab made gemstone with more sparkle than a diamond! It is one of the hardest diamond alternatives on the market, making it a great engagement ring choice. It is also the only diamond alternative that actually passes a “diamond tester” test!
IS MOISSANITE HEAT RESISTANT? Yes. Moissanite exhibits more heat resistance than many other gemstones, including diamond. Tests prove that at 2000ºF—higher than the equivalent intensity of a house fire—moissanite gems remain intact and as brilliant as the day they were created.
Cleaning is necessary for the gemstones to shine and sparkle and its fire to remain. Moissanite tends to get dull from the oil from soaps, cosmetics, skin, and your activities throughout the day. Grease and oil can have much of an impact on them but nothing a quick cleaning can't fix!
Cleaning moissanite jewelry can sometimes require more than soap and water. You can also use the bubbling power of baking soda and vinegar to dislodge stubborn dirt and grime.
Today, moissanite is sought after for its resemblance to diamonds as well as its unique sparkle. Beyond their diamond-like appearance, moissanites are known for their fiery brilliance, uncompromised durability and attractive price, making them an increasingly popular choice for engagement rings.
Arguably the best faux diamond in existence, moissanite comprises silicon carbide, which means it is almost of the same hardness as a natural diamond. It also has reasonable colorlessness, although the glow is far more colorful than what you would see in a real diamond.
The quality side, or lack thereof, of “cheap” Moissanite can tarnish the Moissanite industry. These Moissanite can lack the clarity, color and strength of a quality name brand Moissanite gem.
😏 On average in every 100 people, 11 would prefer Moissanite over diamonds. It's while many new people are discovering Moissanite day by day. Many people would like to buy moissanite because it's more sparkly. Some like it because they can get bigger stones with their money.
Thus, the vast majority of lab-grown diamonds will not test as Moissanite because they lack electrical conductivity. There's one small exception here: "Type IIb" lab-grown diamonds, because "Type IIb" lab-grown diamonds contain Boron impurities.
Moissanite has virtually the same heat conductivity that's why it will show up as diamond on a pen tester. More advanced Xray table testers can differentiate moissanite from natural diamonds however these machines are very big and expensive and are generally not geared towards consumers.
Moissanite stones are not exactly as hard as a diamond, coming in a 9.25, but that's still plenty hard enough to cut glass and pass the last century's diamond test. In fact, that score makes moissanite the second hardest gemstone, just shy of diamond.
Can a Jeweler Tell That a Diamond is Lab Grown? No. Ada's lab diamonds and natural diamonds of the same quality look the same, even to a trained eye. Traditional jewelers' tools such as microscopes or loupes cannot detect the difference between a laboratory-grown diamond and a natural, mined diamond.
Fake diamonds are not as thick, and therefore, more likely to float in water. This test is not always foolproof. Some materials that make up fake diamonds, such as cubic zirconia and moissanite, can sink if they are heavy enough.
Will Lab Diamonds Pass A Diamond Tester? Yes, lab diamonds have the same carbon composition as natural diamonds. Therefore, they have the same thermal conductivity. The test results are positive when exposed to the diamond tester, since the diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds.
The most effective way to tell Moissanite apart from a diamond is to use a loupe to look through the top, or the crown, of the jewel at an angle. You will see two slightly blurred lines that indicates a double refraction, an inherent quality of Moissanite. Double refraction is easier to see in some shapes than others.
Moissanites are nearly as hard as lab-grown diamonds, scoring a 9.25 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. This makes them very strong and suitable for daily wear. Moissanite has a higher refractive index, helping them exhibit a different kind of brilliance than a lab-grown diamond.
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Yes, some diamond simulants can pass a diamond tester.
For example, moissanite, a man made gem, may pass as a diamond on a standard tester pen. This is because moissanite also has very high thermal conductivity! Other diamond simulants, such as CZ, will not pass the tester.
Moissanite ranks 9.25 on the Mohs scale, while diamonds rank 10 on the Mohs scale. While diamonds are slightly harder, moissanite has more fire and brilliance. Moissanite has a refractive index of 2.65-2.69, while diamonds have a refractive index of 2.42. The refractive index is the stone's ability to bend light.
Yes, moissanite looks very similar to a diamond. It's near-colorless, has a similar refractive index to a diamond and the GIA deems moissanite the closest diamond imitation. Many jewelers consider moissanite a diamond alternative, not an imitation, though you will find plenty of that language on the internet.
As Moissanite is grown in a laboratory, they do not have the usual cost of digging, shipping and the discovery of a common mineral diamond. So, the Moissanite rings and jewelry cost less per carat than a diamond engagement ring, yet they are a little better. This means a lot of bang for your money.
As one of the hardest substances on earth, it is the perfect option for your engagement ring stone. Highly scratch-resistant and sparkly, moissanite stones will never tarnish or become cloudy – and we can guarantee this with a lifetime warranty!
Yes.Moissanites are strong, long-lasting gemstones. A moissanite should last for your entire life without losing its appearance or becoming damaged. If you choose a setting that's made from a high-quality metal such as platinum or gold, a moissanite ring will last for a very long time.
Yes, you can wear your moissanite engagement ring in the shower. On its own, water will not harm your moissanite stone. However, repeated exposure to soap, shampoo and conditioner can create a build-up of oils on the surface of your ring. This can give your stone a filmy appearance, dulling its sparkle.
Moissanite is the most popular diamond simulant on the market today. It's fantastically sparkly, hard as a rock, and so much more affordable than diamonds. It's diamond-like enough that our customers complain about not being able to tell the difference.
Of all shapes, round cut moissanite most closely resembles a diamond. Round cut stones have very specific facets and proportions, and round moissanite has been able to be cut in a way that causes light to interact with it in almost exactly the same way it does with diamond.
The traditional cone shaped cut with a rounded top contains 58 facets, which allows for maximum light reflection making it the best cut for brilliance, fire and sparkle.
Moissanites or white sapphires are most comparable to a diamond. While there are visible differences, these gems will look the closest to a diamond while offering a more affordable price. These stones are also high on the Mohs scale of relative hardness, making them suitable for everyday wear.
Mineral hardness is judged by the Mohs scale. At the very top of the scale is diamond, which is a perfect 10. However, moissanite comes in quite close at 9.25. Cubic zirconia is an 8.5, which isn't quite as good.
Moissanites have more fire than real diamonds This refers to the rainbow spectrum color reflected back at the eye. We work with Charles and Colvard and also Harro Gems, two wonderful moissanite creators who offer some of the highest quality in every shape and size!
Will Moissanite last forever? Yes it will. Moissanite is a beautiful gemstone that is very hard – a 9.25 on the hardness scale! So, just like a Diamond is forever, so too, is Moissanite.
Yes, moissanite engagement rings have a healthy value in the ring resale marketplace. You can always sell your old moissanite ring or replace it with a new one if you feel it has altered in color or quality.
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