Moissanite vs Diamond

Moissanite is something of an oddity as far as natural minerals go. It can be found in only a handful of places on Earth and is extremely rare. It is usually found where meteor strikes have occurred, even in very small quantities. Here’s our opinion of Moissanite vs Diamond.

Indeed, genuine moissanite is so rare that all the moissanite produced today is synthetic.

What is Moissanite?

Moissanite is a white silicone-carbide-based stone commonly associated with synthetic variations that have now become a popular substitute for diamonds.

Moissanite may be visibly similar to a natural diamond, but chemically, it is very different. Diamonds come from carbon, and moissanite comes from silicon carbide.

Moissanite is among the hardest known substances, ranking just below diamond on the Mohs Scale. Due to its toughness, it’s the perfect stone to cut all other materials (except diamonds). The relative ease of producing moissanite synthetically makes it very useful in industrial applications.

The history of Moissanite is fascinating. French scientist Henri Moissan discovered Moissanite in Arizona, in the year 1893. He named the stone after himself. Initially, Moissan believed he had found diamonds, and it was 11 years before he determined that the stones were silicon carbide. Silicon carbide, in fact, had been synthesized in a lab 2 years before Moissan’s initial discovery.

The name moissanite is only given to naturally occurring silicon carbide. Synthetic examples should simply be known as plain old silicon carbide, although it is common for the moissanite name to be used regardless.

Moissanite as a Diamond Substitute?

Despite moissanite’s visible similarity to diamonds, it didn’t come into common usage as a direct substitute until recently. It can be difficult for non-experts to tell the difference, and often requires lab testing to establish one from the other. Buyers, hoping that no one could tell, began purchasing diamond substitutes.

For use in jewelry, particularly rings, moissanite will sell “as is”. The seller usually won’t include any cutting or modifications as an option. Even a certification (if available) won’t have much critical information on it.

There aren’t standards and grades as there are with diamonds. You will buy it by weight and hope that you get a good one.

Keep reading to learn the other differences and to hear our opinion on using moissanite as a diamond substitute.

Difference Between Light Properties

One of the key features of a diamond is its brilliance. Diamonds reflect light in many ways, based on the cut of the stone. Some cuts have a real brightness whilst others, mainly antique stones, have a fiery quality. With moissanite, the fiery level is difficult to control. In bigger stones, the refraction will create a rainbow of colors. The lower refraction index of diamonds controls this effect much better.

Due to the nature of refraction, it becomes more noticeable the larger the object. Because of this, the larger the moissanite stone, the more obvious the effect, and the more obvious it is that it isn’t a diamond.

When measured, the fire dispersion properties of moissanite are about 2 1/2 times that of a diamond.

Color Differences

Sellers grade moissanite using the same system as the diamond color scale. Due to its naturally white characteristics, Moissanite will always fall between the D and K colors. Although nominally colorless, moissanite reflects light differently and can appear quite yellow in certain light. At other times, it can appear dull and lifeless, with almost an opaque effect.

The patent for moissanite as a cut stone was granted in 1998, and two classifications are used: Forever Classic and Forever Brilliant. On the diamond color scale, these would be approximately J-K and G-I, respectively. More recently, the classification Forever One started going into production, with the equivalent color of D-F.

Although Forever One is the closest equivalent to the properties of an equivalent diamond, it still falls some way short of the real thing.

Moissanite Price

To determine a diamond’s value, one must apply the 4Cs of color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. The price for Moissanite, in comparison, evaluates the stone weight together with the three grades mentioned above. The other 4Cs aren’t part of the calculation when pricing moissanite.

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. Unfortunately, this large difference makes passing off moissanite as natural diamonds so attractive to fraudsters.

However, it might also indicate that if a diamond price seems too good to be true, it probably will be. And it probably will be moissanite into the bargain.

Aside from the size of diamonds and moissanite, because of the differing densities, a diamond and a replica in moissanite will weigh very differently. It is for this reason that moissanite sells in millimeter sizes. A 1-carat diamond will usually equal 6.5mm.

Advantages of Moissanite

Of course, moissanite will never compete with natural diamonds, but that’s not to say there aren’t positives that come with it.

Because all moissanite stones are synthetic, they are environmentally and socially responsible. The diamond industry has been blighted for decades by the specter of blood diamonds, mainly out of Africa. Diamonds have funded many civil wars throughout the diamond-producing countries over the last 60 – 70 years.

With Moissanite, there are no such worries.

This same advantage of moissanite is one of the reasons consumers have been flocking to vintage diamond rings.

Examples of Diamonds

Here are some diamonds from our collection. Feel free to window shop.

Moissanite vs Diamond. Which One is Better?

The answer is simple and not so simple.

If you have a tight budget, and there’s simply no way you can get the size of diamond you want, moissanite is a viable substitute. But that’s only true as long as you know the limitations of silicon carbide. It uses light differently, it displays color differently, and probably most of all, it just isn’t a diamond.

It also takes countless years for the earth to make a natural diamond, and that has to count for something.

There is also the resell value to consider. Moissanite and diamond will both lose value once sold, but moissanite will lose a much larger percentage and will be harder to sell. Most jewelers are not even interested in buying moissanite (especially the synthetic counterpart) for any money.

There truly is something special about owning a high-quality diamond. It is a symbol of everlasting love and commitment. In sentimental terms, it’s hard to replace. And why have cotton when you can have silk?

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