Moissanite vs Diamond – How are they different?

If you are wondering…

Diamond vs Moissanite?

Moissanite vs Diamond?

Which is the better option?

Are moissanite stones the perfect alternative to diamonds?

We have the answers!

While we might be slightly biased as we only sell moissanite rings, we made sure to include only the facts while comparing moissanite and diamond.

• Introduction

First, let’s discuss moissanite. Moissanite was originally discovered in a meteor crater in Arizona back in the late 1800s. Today it is almost exclusively a lab-created stone due to its natural scarcity. It looks similar to diamonds, but only in appearance. Chemically, it is quite different. You might already know that diamond is made of pure carbon. On the other hand, moissanite is made of silicon carbide.

• Appearance 

There are too main points of emphasis when it comes to the appearance of a gemstone: Brilliance and Fire Dispersion. Most people want a stone that sparkles, shimmers, shines. You want to show off your your beautiful ring and want it to reflect natural light. A big difference between diamonds and moissanite is that diamonds have less sparkle. No, seriously.

Moissanite ranks higher on both the Brilliance Refractive Index (RI) and in fire dispersion. While a diamond ranks at about a 2.42 in brilliance, a moissanite ranks a tad bit higher at 2.65. Moissanite also ranks above diamonds in fire dispersion with a rating of roughly 0.104 compared to diamond at a 0.44. While these are the two main factors in the beauty of a stone, it is important to note that not everyone falls head over heels for the shimmer and shine. Some people can find the brilliance and fire dispersion almost "too much" with moissanite.

• Durability

Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring material on earth. This means it is nearly impossible to scratch, break, or damage. Moissanite, on the other hand, is also extremely hard in its own right. It ranks just after diamond on the Moh’s scale. To give you a perspective, diamond ranks in at a perfect 10 on the Moh’s scale – the Moh’s scale caps at 10 - while moissanite ranks between 9.25 and 9.5.

If you compare the durability of diamond and moissanite, you won’t find any striking difference. Both are scratch-resistant, durable, and excellent choices for engagement rings and wedding bands. So, it doesn't take a lot of maintenance to keep the stones sparkling and looking brand new. Therefore, both of them are ideal for daily use.

• Cost

Another major differentiation that we should compare between moissanite vs diamond is the cost of both the stones. Clever marketing campaigns have portrayed diamonds as a sign of love, commitment, passion, and devotion. They are known to represent class and prestige. But outside of marketing, what is the actual worth of a diamond?

It is no secret that diamonds are very expensive. So, if you are looking to spend a lot of money to try and prove your love to your significant other, a diamond ring will probably be the best option for you.

However, if you are looking for all the benefits of a classic diamond, without spending obscene amounts of money, you can opt for moissanite based ring instead. Moissanite stones are often a fraction of the cost to a comparative diamond.

A majority of moissanite rings run between 50-95% cheaper than a comparative diamond. Usually the bigger the stone the bigger the discount as larger diamonds tend to grow exponentially in price. A majority of our rings are offered between 75-90% cheaper than a comparative diamond ring. This means you get a larger stone for a cheaper price!

• Colors

Light reflection is one of the bigger differences between moissanite and diamond stones. Moissanite has a colorful, almost “rainbow”, reflection. The colorful flashes of the ring make it look quite different than diamond under natural light. Diamonds, on the other hand, reflect only white light. This is one of the unique appeals about diamonds.

The larger the stone is, the easier it will be to tell the difference between a diamond and moissanite. However, if you are comparing which gemstone is more sparkly and has more fire, you will find that moissanite wins due to the high refractive index.

Diamonds can come in a variety of colors, but almost all moissanite stones come near colorless or have very little color. A “cheaper” or "lower quality" diamond will have a yellowish-brown tinge. This is due to the fact that diamonds are naturally occurring. A near-colorless diamond will cost a lot more than a lower graded diamond.

• Flaws

Since moissanite are almost exclusively lab-grown stones, they tend to be of a more consistent and higher quality. An authentic diamond is strictly made by nature (although lab-created diamonds are a thing too), so they can tend to be more inconsistent and have more flaws. Lots of jewelers will use various tricks and techniques to get an imperfect diamond to look better. Moissanite stones are quality checked and rarely sold below a certain quality - a quality and consistency that simply can’t be matched by a natural-made diamond.

• Environment

Another point that goes in favor of moissanite is that it is made synthetically. While diamonds are found in nature, they aren't simply "found" in nature. Diamonds have to be mined and are often scrutinized for their impact on local residents and the environment. 

You might know the conflicts and issues that go behind diamonds. They have been causing many civil wars throughout diamond-producing countries. Laborers that mine diamonds are often treated poorly and receive little credit for their intensive hard work.

Despite being gorgeous, the ugly side of diamonds is a huge put-off for many people, which is why they start looking for alternatives to diamonds in the first place. They may seem romantic, but if you have a look at where they come from, the romance fades away into erosion, deforestation and barren wastelands. 

Of course there are various buying opportunities nowadays to buy ethically sourced diamonds from all over the world. Mines have started popping up in countries like Canada, for example, and diamond sellers "guarantee" that those diamonds are ethically sourced. 

With moissanite, this will never be an issue. They are an ethical choice because you can trace them back to labs. There is no environmental destruction or human rights abuse in their history. Therefore, it is a socially responsible and environmentally-safe stone.

Moissanite vs Diamond - Final Thoughts

It's easy to understand why a majority of people lean towards buying a diamond when it comes to finding the perfect engagement ring. But the hefty price tag and issues of sustainability make some people reluctant to buy them. More and more people are searching for a solid alternative that is both high quality and affordable. 

This is where moissanite comes in…

To recap, moissanite is similar to diamonds when it comes to durability or feasibility of wearing them daily. It is also environment-friendly, pocket friendly, and oh so sparkly… It's a win, win for everyone.

So, if you are looking for an affordable alternative to diamonds, check out our selection of moissanite engagement rings and wedding bands! 

Looking for men's wedding band and wedding rings? Be sure to check out our variety of tungsten rings and whiskey barrel ring offered on Elemental Bands and Etsy store.