Moissanite VS Diamonds

You may have never heard of moissanite before, or maybe you have but are just not sure what it is. Moissanite is a gemstone that has increased in popularity for engagement rings in lieu of diamonds. One of the main reasons is the fact that they are significantly less expensive. To someone who is not an expert with diamonds, they may even look exactly the same. But what is moissanite and is it better to choose moissanite than a diamond? 

Although moissanite can occur naturally in nature, it is very rare and is often lab created. They are a form of crystalline silicon carbide created in laboratories. They recreate the conditions that moissanite needs to form much like lab created diamonds. It is very rare that moissanite gemstones are mined from the earth. They are a completely different mineral than diamonds which are created from pure carbon, but from afar have a very similar appearance. 

 

While they are both beautiful and sparkly gemstones, they sparkle in different ways. There are two different attributes to the sparkle of a gemstone: brilliance and fire. Brilliance is the white flashes you see when the gem sparkles and fire is the colored flashes you see when the gem sparkles. Moissanites and diamonds have both attributes but moissanite tends to have more fire than a diamond. This also depends on the diamond cut. More modern cuts of diamonds have more fire as well making it difficult to tell the difference. It is only easier to tell the difference between larger sizes. Typical moissanite has a yellowish or brownish color that is similar to J through M on the diamond color scale. This will work better with warm toned gold. It is now more possible to acquire more colorless appearing moissanite. But it can change color in different lighting and tends to look a bit yellow or green as opposed to diamonds that will always appear colorless if they are a good color rating. Because moissanite is grown in a lab, they tend to have less visible imperfections, but a lab diamond will have less imperfections as well. Natural mined diamonds will have more imperfections because they occur naturally and that is why it costs more to get a natural diamond with no visible imperfections. 

 

In order to choose the perfect stone, one must consider three things: Budget, investment potential, and values. If you have a low budget for your engagement ring, you will be able to afford a larger stone if you go with moissanite. This can end up saving you thousands of dollars. If you have a larger budget for your ring, you can get a really high quality diamond that will also serve as an investment. Investment potential is also something you may want to consider. While moissanite is cheaper, diamonds go up in value over time. Moissanite doesn’t offer much in terms of return on investment if you want to sell it after many years. And finally, while moissanite is a newer thing, they don’t hold the same tradition and sentimental value as diamonds. Diamonds hold a century long tradition of commitment and love and while moissanite looks similar, its not a diamond at the end of the day. Moissanite gems are increasing in popularity as some younger people opt to spend less on rings and more on other things like buying a house or vacations. At the end of the day, you have to choose what is best for you. After all, proposing is one of the most magical moments in a couples life and whatever you choose to propose with will symbolize your love and commitment to each other.