What is the difference between diamond and moissanite?
To some people, without careful examination, the two gems may seem similar, but there are many differences between them, such as color, brilliance, fire, and value. In this article, we discuss diamond and moissanite and how you can tell them apart. Let's see how you can distinguish between these two precious stones.
What is moissanite?
Moissanite is a naturally occurring silicon carbide and its various crystalline polymorphs and has the chemical formula SiC. It is a rare mineral discovered by the French chemist Henri Moissan in 1893 in a crater in Arizona created by a meteorite. It is so rare that Moissanite today is laboratory-created. At first glance, looks like a diamond, but of course, it is not the same gem. Due to its rarity, the moissanite used in jewelry today is created in a laboratory. The good news is, Moissanite is as durable as a diamond, and that's not what makes Moissanite a great alternative to diamonds.
How is moissanite different from a diamond?
The moissanite is different from a diamond in many ways such as color, brilliance and price.
COLOR
Hardness
It is a known fact that diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth and have been given a score of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Moissanite is rated 9.25 on the scale, which is lower than diamonds but higher than any other gemstone used in jewelry. Not too bad!
Sparkle
Sparkle refers to the amount of light reflected from a gemstone to create luster. A diamond with an ideal cut will have the highest degree of brilliance and sparkle because it is cut to reflect as much light as possible. Moissanite is faceted differently than a diamond, which reduces the refraction of white light. Moissanites have more sparkle and scintillation but it is not as vivid and clear as on a diamond. Moissanite generally has more “fire” than a diamond. When placed next to each other, a moissanite will produce more intense and colorful “fires” than a diamond, which most people tend not to prefer.
Diamond (left) vs Moissanite (right) sparkle (credit: Lauren B)
Clarity
Diamond clarity refers to the evaluation of the internal and external imperfections of a stone. Clarity is a measure of the surface blemishes and internal inclusions of a gemstone. In the aim of comparison to natural diamonds, experts agree that the clarity of Moissanite is on average the equivalent to VS clarity on the GIA scale. What this means, in reality, Moissanite can pass the test of the diamond selector, no one can easily clarify & be sure is Diamond or Moissanite.
Price
Diamonds and moissanite have varying prices based on the color, carat, weight, cut and quality. However, moissanite is pretty much always less expensive, even when compared to a lower-quality diamond. For exemple, customers should be able to buy a colorless, 5mm moissanite for about $500. In comparison, they might be able to find a mid-range .3 carat diamond for $500.
Overall, moissanite is a fraction of the cost of a diamond. Also, while a diamond’s price varies based on cut, clarity, and other individual characteristics, moissanite varies only with type and size. Below is a table comparing our pricing for a GIA-certified round diamond (with I-color and VS2 clarity), a classic moissanite stone (not colorless), a near-colorless moissanite stone, and Forever One colorless moissanite stone.
Reasons why you should consider buying Moissanite
In the market for a piece of fine jewellery? Then look no further than moissanite. Not only does it look and feel like the “real thing”, but it also costs a fraction of the price of a diamond. It's easy to see why moissanite has become the most popular diamond alternative. But it's not just about a budget and environmentally friendly gemstone. Moissanite is a precious stone and is very valuable. Of course never as much as a real diamond, but the technology of creating moissanite has been a breakthrough for many industries, and because such qualities are very rare in nature. In fact, moissanite matches the beauty of a natural diamond and even surpasses its fire and brilliance, making it an excellent choice for your next piece of fine jewelry.