Engagement rings have traditionally been made of diamonds, although substitutes like moissanite gemstones are becoming more and more common. Numerous couples are making the risky decision to choose an unconventional moissanite engagement ring, whether it’s for financial, ethical, or just norm-breaking reasons.
What exactly is moissanite?
A centuries-old meteorite brought Moissanite, a translucent, colorless gemstone formed of silicon carbide, to Earth. Because natural stones are so uncommon, practically all moissanite available today is man-made.
Why are people preferring engagement rings made of moissanite? The key justification is moissanite’s diamond-like properties at a far lesser cost. (Valium) In reality, the first artificial moissanite was accidentally manufactured in 1891 while attempting to create an artificial diamond.
Is moissanite as excellent as a diamond? Today, we’ll respond to that question by contrasting moissanite and diamonds in terms of their respective strengths, aesthetic appeal, pricing points, and ethical sources.
Let’s first review what synthetic gemstones are. What are the distinctions between the gemstones moissanite and diamond?
A Synthetic Gemstone: What Is It?
Gemstones that aren’t created naturally are referred to as synthetic or simulant. Lab-produced synthetic gemstones include moissanite and synthetic diamonds. They are man-made within a shorter time, yet they share the same chemical makeup and characteristics as their natural equivalent. These are some more words for synthetic: Man-made, Lab-grown, Created, and Artificial.
The characteristics of synthetic or imitation gemstones differ from those of the genuine gems they are meant to imitate. Since they resemble genuine diamonds but have different chemical compositions, moissanite and cubic zirconia can also be used as diamond imitators.
Let’s begin the comparisons now that it is over!
Diamond vs. Moissanite Strength
You desire that your wedding band last till death do you part. or, ideally, as an inheritance, longer. Therefore, durability is crucial! The hardness, durability, cleavage, and stability of gemstones are components of durability.
A gem’s relative resistance to scratching is measured by its hardness. Although you may be aware that diamond is the world’s hardest gemstone, do you know what comes in at number two? It is a moissanite!
Mohs’ scale of mineral hardness places moissanite’s scratch resistance between 9.25 and 9.5. In addition to scratches, you should be concerned about chipping and shattering. Tenacity and cleavage are useful in this situation.
A stone’s resistance to shattering or chipping is referred to as tenacity (or toughness). A gem’s cleavage indicates which axis causes it to split most easily. Because of their perfect cleavage, which is the form of cleavage that is easiest to split, diamonds are fragile and will break when struck from any of the four directions.
In contrast, moissanite is substantially more durable than diamond and has an unclear cleavage in one direction (a harder kind to split). So, compared to diamonds, moissanite is less likely to shatter.
The last factor is stability, which deals with the environmental factors or substances that might harm a stone. Moissanites are far more heat-resistant than diamonds and need much hotter temperatures to evaporate.
Moissanite does not shatter with sudden, strong temperature fluctuations, although diamonds can. No chemical will have an adverse effect on either stone.
Cuts Effect on Durability
The cut of a gemstone can also influence how susceptible it is to harm. A forceful impact can cause faceted forms with pointy edges to chip. Pear, princess, trillions, and marquise are common shapes under this category, although specialized fancy designs with pointy edges can be just as prone.
Shapes without corners and with rounded edges, like circles, ovals, and cushions, are less likely to chip. The most robust forms are round; Additionally, they are the most prevalent and provide a large range of options.
Consider a scenario in which you are set on an empress ring. You may still choose this delicate cut and use the proper protection setting to keep it safe from harm.
For diamonds or moissanite, bezel, 6-prong, or claws settings are the most secure. Tension settings are safe for moissanite but not for diamonds since moissanite can endure more pressure than diamonds.
Of course, trimming also has an impact on how anything looks as a whole, which leads us to our following breakdown!
Comparing the appearance of diamond and moissanite
Greater control over a synthetic gem’s look is one advantage. The nature of the stone, however, determines some characteristics. We’ll start by examining the attribute of color.
Colour
Moissanite and diamond are typically colorless gemstones. Both frequently have brown to yellow hues. If they are too blatant, treatments can get rid of such undertones.
Some customers claim that under natural lighting, their colorless moissanite appears somewhat green or blue. Always examine the stone in various kinds of lighting before making a purchase, as per our advice.
Do you favor an engagement ring with colorful gemstones? There are different colors of diamonds, some of which are the result of treatments. Treatments on moissanite can result in hues like pink, blue, green, or gold, to mention a few.
Whether treated or untreated, colored diamonds will be substantially more expensive than colored moissanite. However, the most pristine diamond or moissanite will be the most expensive.
Clarity
The quantity and degree of an inclusion’s visibility are measured by a gemstone’s clarity. Based on diamond clarity grading, moissanite’s clarity is rated. From FL (Flawless) up to I3 (Included), each grade will have a considerable impact on price.
The majority of moissanite sold now have remarkable clarity thanks to advancements in the synthesized moissanite production chain. Higher-clarity natural diamonds are harder to find and cost substantially more.
When will moissanite get cloudy? Nope! Cleaning will remove any apparent cloudiness.
Moissanite vs Diamond Price
Is a diamond more valuable than a moissanite first and foremost? Indeed, diamonds sell for more money than moissanite. How much less expensive is moissanite than diamond, though?
When all other elements are held constant, the price of a moissanite is typically roughly 10% of that of a diamond. Having stated that, let’s look at those components to determine the actual figures.
Larger moissanite will cost substantially less than huge diamonds when comparing carat weights. Though the majority are around $26,000, round brilliant diamonds with high clarity and fair color may cost anywhere from $7,000 to $51,000 per carat.
A 3-carat moissanite that has the same characteristics costs about $3,000, though. But the majority of couples prefer 1-carat rings. The typical price of a nearly colorless, round-cut, one-carat diamond having good clarity is $5,000, although it can range from $1,800 to $25,000.
Similar qualities in 1-carat moissanite are typical $300, although they can range from $450 to $600. A 1-carat round-cut moissanite engagement ring in white gold with VS1 to VS2 clarity normally costs roughly $1,400.
The difference between a moissanite and a diamond of the same carat weight will be measured in millimeters. As a result, rather than classifying moissanite by weight, some vendors do so.
Another crucial point is that moissanite isn’t the least expensive diamond substitute. Even though cubic zirconia doesn’t dazzle or last as long as moissanite, 1-carat stones cost only $20.
The ideal gemstone makes a huge difference as the focal point of your engagement ring. Moissanite is unquestionably an excellent option because of its exceptional durability, stunning look, and deliberate production.
Of course, your priorities will determine which option is best. You desire a natural stone. Your best choice may be a diamond (or an alternate like morganite). Moissanite is the greatest option if you want the most sparkle for your money. Whatever you decide, always investigate the stone, seller, & source to purchase with assurance!
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