Moissanite or Diamond, which is better?
Better is all about what's important to you and you alone! But there is another high quality, near colorless gemstone with TONS of sparkle on the market to give Diamond a run for it's money, Moissanite! The picture to the left is of my 1ct moissanite white gold Solstice ring. It was my test piece I wore daily to prove to my now fiance that moissanite was the way to go for my engagement ring. It just made sense financially and I have an extremely beautiful ring.
Quick Facts
A few random thoughts to get you thinking.
- Moissanite is a near colorless gemstone.
Most common Diamonds are classified in this range. - Moissanite ranks 9.25 on the Mohs Hardness scale making it the second hardest gem.
Diamond ranks 10 making it the hardest gem. - Moissanite possess more fire or dispersion (the flashes) at .104
Diamond rates considerably lower at .044 - Moissanite also has a higher refractive index or brilliance (the sparkle) at 2.65
Diamond comes in at 2.42 - Moissanite is only available as a lab-created stone as its natural state is not found on Earth (it was discovered in a meteorite).
Diamond is readily available in its natural state and there are now companies creating lab-created diamond see Apollo, Gemesis, and Takara. - Moissanite costs a fraction of its diamond equivalent.
Diamonds are sold to us as an "investment", but the average consumer isn't purchasing investment grade stones and very few jewelers will buy them back at full price unless you "upgrade" with a more expensive stone. - One company Charles and Colvard holds the patent for jewelry grade moissanite.
One company has been known for controlling the diamond market and its prices.
Wow, so I'll save lots of money with a moissanite engagment ring!
Probably, but do NOT make that choice for her!
Ask most women and none would turn down a diamond, but that doesn't mean there are not other alternatives that are just as beautiful, if not more. However, and take this advice at what you may gentleman... society has us trained that diamonds and engagement go hand-in-hand. Buying an alternative gem without being 100% sure of her opinion may get an unpleasant reaction. Even more dubious is trying to pass that alternative off as diamond. One day while getting her ring cleaned at a jewelers she will find out the truth, and it probably won't turn out pretty. As long as your beloved knows the truth, no one else has to.The best news is just about all of us are so diamond engagement brainwashed that we'll automatically accept a high quality colorless gem like moissanite in an engagement ring as diamond. With a sparkle like moissanite has it's hard not to think of it like a diamond. My 3 stone engagement ring in the picture above is fawned over by strangers that have no idea it isn't "real". Especially mall jewelers... they coo over my "ideal" cut so sparkley diamond.
Guys if moissanite sounds like your dream come true for an engagement ring, but you aren't sure how to get your lady on board? Try introducing the gem as another jewelry gift. It'll be your chance to educate her and fall in love with the stone on her own.
The 4C's of Moissanite
Although an official grading system is not in place, the majority of moissanite fall into these diamond grading scales.
- Color: The gem typically falls into the near colorless range of a diamond F-G-H-I, but a slight green or yellowish undertone can be found in some in particular lighting. Round Brilliant faces up the whitest. Fancy shapes hold more of the slight green/yellow body color. When buying from any online store where you won't be able to see the moissanite before purchasing, make sure they have a return policy if you get a stone with more color than you like.
- Clarity: VS1-VS2. Moissanite should be eye clean, but under magnification needle or tube like inclusions from the creation process can be seen.
- Carat: Keep in mind that carat is a weight, not a size. Gemstones are typically sized by MM. For example a 6.5MM round moissanite is the equivalent to a 1ct round diamond. Check out the Actual Diamond Sizes for a complete list of sizes.
- Cut: Moissanite would not be as beautiful if it were cut to the same proportions as diamond due to differing optical properties. This brochure from the manufacture explains how they developed the specifications for cutting moissanite: Cut Brochure in PDF format
Shape: Moissanite comes in several different shapes, the best way to view them all (other than in person) is the manufacturer's brochure:
Shapes & Sizes in PDF format
Do your Homework
- Charles & Colvard
- The manufactures web site.
- Diamonds Suck
- An essay on why this person chose a moissanite engagement ring over diamond. Great personalized information.
- SimsTalk
- Forums devoted to stimulant gemstones where you can get the experiences others have had with moissanite.
- JCPenney Moissanite
- If you live near a JCPenney's this is probably the easiest way to see moissanite in person. However there are much higher quality online vendors out there as I found JCPenney's to be overpriced and the settings lacked in quality. Ready made jewelry doesn't always have the best stones either.
- Wiki link on Moissanite
- It's used for much more than just jewelry.
- Actual Diamond Sizes
- Remember carat weight is not the same as size. Two one carat diamonds can be different MM sizes. This chart will help you convert the average MM size to Carat weight.
- Sarah's Jewelry - What is Moissanite
- Sarah Ferguson has a moissanite line with a nice informational page.
Reasons you wouldn't call moissanite a man-made diamond.
- It does not have the same chemical make-up of a diamond. Moissanite was discovered from a fallen star. It's not a natural element to earth like diamond is.
- It is double-refractive (the reason it throws off more sparkles). Diamond is single-refractive. To a trained eye this is the most common trait that will "give away" a Moissanite.
- Moissanite is naturally green. Diamonds can be colored too, but colorless is the most common.
- Moissanite is not graded like diamonds. It's all priced by size and treated the same regardless of any color differences.
Just for Fun!
An Average Price Comparison updated August 14, 2008
Moissanite is more expensive than the average cubic zirconium, but you are also buying a man-made gemstone that is going to keep its beauty as well as diamond does, unlike your average CZ which clouds and scratches after a relatively short time.
I took Blue Nile's search engine filtering for the 4C's that moissanite is equivalent to diamond in to show you the difference in $$$. I choose the cheapest diamond of the selection.
The filter selections were as follows: Color F-I, Clarity VS1-VS2, Cut Ideal, Carat see below, Shape round. The prices on Moissanite come from Bella Jewelry Company's loose stone selection. (Please note that Bella closed their business in March of 2008, however their stone prices are still relative. When I find a new trusted source, I will update)
I took Blue Nile's search engine filtering for the 4C's that moissanite is equivalent to diamond in to show you the difference in $$$. I choose the cheapest diamond of the selection.
The filter selections were as follows: Color F-I, Clarity VS1-VS2, Cut Ideal, Carat see below, Shape round. The prices on Moissanite come from Bella Jewelry Company's loose stone selection. (Please note that Bella closed their business in March of 2008, however their stone prices are still relative. When I find a new trusted source, I will update)
- .5 CT Ideal Cut, I Color, VS2: $1,076
.5 CT equivalent Moissanite: $167Difference: $909
- .75 CT Ideal Cut, I Color, VS2: $2,606
.75 CT equivalent Moissanite: $357Difference: $2,249
- 1 CT Ideal Cut, I Color, VS2: $5,105
1 CT equivalent Moissanite: $439Difference: $4,666
- 1.5 CT Ideal Cut, I Color, VS1: $10,626
1.5 CT equivalent Moissanite: $866Difference: $9,760
- 2 CT Ideal Cut, I Color, VS1: $19,830
2 CT equivalent Moissanite: $1,147Difference: $18,683
Why I told my fiance to go with Moissanite
- I wanted a high quality elaborate setting. Most diamond jewelers pushed us to spend the majority of our budget on the stone and skimp on the setting.
- I couldn't justify spending thousands and then having my heart stop if I happen to drop my ring on the tile bathroom floor or if the cat decides to use it as a hockey puck down the floor vent or god-forbid some one were to steal it. Edit: My heart still stops every time I even bump my engagement ring... but it's not for fear of what it cost; it's because it's so darn gorgeous I don't want to ever hurt it. I'm very clumsy and hard on my jewelry and I have yet to scratch or ding any of my moissanite. From my 2 year old pieces to my brand new engagement ring. All the stones are as gorgeous as the day I got them.
- I still wanted a colorless diamond-like gem with great sparkle that wouldn't become cloudy or scratched up. Moissanite fits that. CZ doesn't. Other colorless gemstones lacked the fire and sparkle. Moissanite has more than even diamond.
- I own other moissanite pieces, love them and get compliments on them. And yes, people assume they are diamonds unless I tell them otherwise. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. Moissanite isn't well known where I live, which is probably why so many are fooled into thinking it is a diamond.
LK Jewelry
Unique and beautiful pieces.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
OC Diamonds
Offering moissanite and diamond jewelry.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byMoissanite on Amazon
Personally I've never purchased jewelry from Amazon so I can't vouch for the quality.
Beautiful! 14k Yellow-gold 6mm (11/2Ct TW) Round Moissanite Stud Earrings
Amazon Price: $669.99 (as of 08/28/2008)
Beautiful! 14k Yellow-gold Pair 04.00MM=(1/2Ct TW) Round Moissanite Stud Earrings
Amazon Price: $269.00 (as of 08/28/2008)
14k White Gold Moissanite Solitaire Ring (2 cttw equivalent), Size 5
Amazon Price: (as of 08/28/2008)
The diamond and moissanite: Natural, artificial and meteoric
Amazon Price: (as of 08/28/2008)
Beautiful! 14k White-gold Pair 07.00MM=(3CT TW) Round Moissanite Stud Earrings
Amazon Price: $1,138.00 (as of 08/28/2008)
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Tell us your experience with moissanite.
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Lady_Gotrocks
Sorry, for me it has to the a mined from the earth gem. But Moissanite is a nice option to have. Posted March 17, 2007 |
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godsgirl
The Moissanite Lady.com is the best place to get great deals. All you have to do is ask her for current discounts and she seems to always work with you on the price. Her jewelry is always amazing, and the stones you get from her are BETTER than what you see in the stores. Barbara is fantastic!!!! Posted January 22, 2007 |
