Moissanite vs Lab Diamond: Read Before You Buy (2024)

FAQs

Moissanite vs Lab Diamond: Read Before You Buy? ›

So for jewelry, gem scientists create it for us in a lab. Unlike Lab Diamond, Moissanite has a different chemical makeup. While Diamond is pure carbon, Moissanite is both silica and carbon. As a result, Moissanite sparkles differently (more!) and isn't quite as hard as diamond (but is still really hard).

Moissanite has a higher refractive index, helping them exhibit a different kind of brilliance than a lab-grown diamond. It's typically of a greater intensity and in fiery, rainbow-colored flashes. This effect is particularly noticeable in sunlight and in larger stones.

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.

There is no definite way to differentiate these jewels from one another. They are difficult to differentiate with the naked eye and even under a jeweller's loupe. Moissanite is a true alternative to diamond, offering unrivalled beauty and incredible value.

A 1 carat diamond of I color and VS2 clarity would cost between $4,000 and $5,000. Even the best Forever One moissanite of the same weight would cost less than $600.

Lab-grown diamonds can sometimes be mistaken for moissanite on diamond testers due to the high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) method used in their production.

Only a trained eye can tell. Armed only with the naked eye, the best way to see the difference is to have a comparably sized diamond and to compare side-by-side. You'll notice that moissanite and diamonds have different brilliance.

Color: Typically, moissanite appears colorless or near-colorless. However, some stones may display a slight yellow or green hue. If your stone exhibits intense color or a brownish tint, it may indicate that it is not authentic. Double Refraction: Moissanite possesses a higher double refraction compared to diamonds.

To sum up, moissanite can indeed fluoresce under UV light, including black lights, and emit a blue or green glow. This property is not unique to moissanite, as a number of diamonds and other gemstones also exhibit fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Most people cannot tell the difference between moissanite and diamonds. The GIA has even stated that moissanite is “much closer to diamond in overall appearance and heft than any previous diamond imitation.” One way to tell apart moissanite from diamond is to examine the stone's brilliance and fire.

What is the downside of moissanite? ›

Cons of Moissanite

Durability: Although moissanite is still a durable gemstone, it may be more prone to scratches and damage over time due to its lower hardness than diamonds. Color: Whereas diamonds have an almost colorless look that some people like, moissanite has a little yellow or greenish hue.

Yes, you can pawn moissanite jewelry, although you may not get the same value as you would for diamond jewelry. Pawnshops will typically evaluate the moissanite based on the same factors that influence its resale value, such as size, color, clarity, and overall condition.

Moissanite has double the sparkle index of a diamond, and it's almost as hard at 9.25 on the Mohs scale of hardness. In other words, moissanite has twice the sparkle and way more rainbow light–aka fire–as a diamond, and it'll last just as long.

In summary, while moissanite is an appealing diamond alternative, it does not always pass diamond testers, particularly those that measure thermal conductivity. Moissanite may mimic the visual appearance of diamonds to some extent, but its unique properties cannot entirely replicate the authentic diamond experience.

1 Carat: Generally, one-carat moissanite ranges from $300 to $600, making it a highly affordable option compared to other precious stones. 2 Carats: For two-carat moissanite, you can expect to pay anywhere between $600 and $800, still promising remarkable savings.

Moissanite is more durable than cubic zirconia due to its greater hardness. With a Mohs hardness of 9.25, moissanite is nearly as hard as a diamond, while cubic zirconia has a Mohs hardness of 8 to 8.5, making it more susceptible to scratches and damage.

Using a jeweler's loupe for magnification, moissanite can be identified by the doubling of junction facets. In layman's terms, facets are flat surfaces cut into gemstones in order to best reflect light, and facet junctions are where these surfaces meet.

Additionally, many jewelers work with accredited diamond grading labs who provide documentation, such as grading reports, confirming the origin of the diamond. By relying on scientific methods and credible sources, jewelers can confidently determine whether a diamond is natural or lab grown.

Because laboratory-grown diamonds are essentially chemically and optically the same as natural diamonds, traditional gemological observations and instrumentation are not able to tell them apart. GIA uses sophisticated devices like the GIA iD100^® and other instrumentation to definitively identify natural diamonds.

While the untrained eye may visually perceive a moissanite as similar to a diamond, it has a higher refractive index — meaning it produces more rainbow 'fire' than a diamond when light hits the stone's surface.