Moissanite and diamond are two gemstones of exceptional quality and brilliance, very popular in jewelry making, especially in engagement rings. Both stones have a similar appearance: they are colorless and have great brilliance. Although even an expert would have a hard time distinguishing between a diamond and a moissanite, there are some differences between the two stones. In this Planderful post, we will tell you all you must know about moissanite and diamond.
Source: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/moissanite-vs-diamond.htm
Moissanite: the gemstone most similar to diamond
Moissanite is a mineral that was discovered in the character of a meteorite by the French chemist, winner of a Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Henri Moissan in 1893. Moissan at the time was investigating the character of a meteorite in Arizona. At first, the chemist thought it was diamonds, but later discovered that it was a mineral composed of silicon carbide, an element that predominates in meteorites and is rare in nature. The mineral was named "Moissanite" in honor of Moissan.
Today, moissanite is an extremely scarce, rare, and unique mineral, difficult to find in nature. For this reason, moissanite is mainly produced in laboratories. The scarcity makes this gemstone very coveted by jewelers and consumers. In jewelry, moissanite is often used as an inexpensive alternative to diamonds because of its incredible appearance and good quality. Like diamonds, moissanite is very resistant, beautiful, and magnificently brilliant.
Diamonds: the world's most coveted gemstone
For centuries, diamonds have symbolized luxury, exclusivity, power, distinction, and elegance. They are the most coveted gems in the world, so their price can reach truly exorbitant figures. Diamonds are truly brilliant treasures that have no competition, or do they? Well, the reality is that diamonds are the hardest and most resistant mineral known, but they are not the most brilliant. That position is held by moissanite, and it's also barely less resistant: the best-kept secret in the world of jewelry.
Next, we at Planderful are going to detail the differences between moissanite and diamond.
Chemical composition
The main difference between Moissanite and Diamond is their chemical composition. Moissanite is composed of silicon carbide, a rare element in nature that comes from meteorites. For this reason, moissanite is also known as "stardust".
Diamond, on the other hand, is a mineral composed of crystallized carbon. This difference in the chemical composition of the two gems is responsible for the variation in optical and physical properties between moissanite and diamond.
Source: https://moissaniteengagementrings.com.au/pages/why-moissanite
Hardness
Hardness is one of the key properties in determining the value of a gemstone. Hardness refers to the ability of a gemstone to scratch. To do this, one stone is scratched against the other, thus determining the hardness of a stone on a scale of values from 1 to 10, called the Mohs scale. The hardness is directly linked to the durability of a gemstone, i.e. its resistance to the passage of time.
Diamond is the mineral with the highest hardness, with a 10 on the Mohs scale. Only another diamond can scratch a diamond. Moissanite follows with 9.25 on the Mohs scale, a very small difference between the two stones. It is for this reason that moissanite is considered the best diamond alternative.
Both gems are resistant to breakage and scratching, making them ideal for everyday wear or for jewelry that will last forever such as an engagement ring or wedding band.
Shine
Diamond was long the most brilliant stone, far above sapphire, ruby, and emerald. The brilliance of the diamond is 2.42. However, moissanite, discovered later, has surpassed it. The moissanite shines brighter than the diamond as its refractive index ranges from 2.65 to 2.69.
You may be interested in: Fire and Brilliance of Moissanite
Color
Moissanite is known for its high dispersion and fire, which means that it reflects light in a broader spectrum of colors than diamond. Diamond, on the other hand, has less dispersion and fire, but reflects light more evenly, which gives it a more intense brilliance.
Diamond is valued based on its purity and lack of color. However, Moissanite can have a yellow or grayish tint, depending on the quality and supplier of the stone.
Weight
Weight as a measurement is calculated by determining how heavy the mineral is, compared to its relative displacement from water. Also known as specific gravity, or the density of a gemstone. Diamonds have a specific gravity of 3.51, which means it is much heavier than water. In this case Moissanite has a lower specific gravity, and is 3.22.
Source: https://aide-memoire-jewelry.helpscoutdocs.com/article/40-diamond-vs-moissanite-vs-white-sapphire
Sustainability
Natural Diamond is obtained through mining, which can have a negative impact on the environment and local communities. It is also a limited resource. In contrast, moissanite is produced in laboratories as it is scarce in nature. Because it is produced in laboratories, moissanite is a more ethical and sustainable option than diamond.
You may be interested in: How Lab-Grown Gemstones Are Transforming the Jewellery Industry
Price
One of the main advantages of Moissanite is its price. Generally speaking, moissanite is much more affordable than natural diamonds of similar size and quality. In contrast, diamonds are more expensive due to their rarity and demand.
Moissanite is produced in a laboratory, which means that the cost of production is lower and, therefore, so is the retail price. However, as we have seen, this does not mean that moissanite is a lower-quality stone.
Moissanite or diamond, which is better?
This question does not have a definite answer, as it depends on many factors. Diamond is more resistant, but only by five-tenths, so it is not a determining criterion. On the other hand, although moissanite is much more resplendent, its brilliance is considered less pure than that of diamond. In short, if you are looking for a stone very similar to a diamond without spending too much, moissanite is the best choice. In the end, it will depend on your tastes and needs.
We recommend you to visit the moissanite collection on the Planderful website.
