Moissanite as a diamond alternative

by Helen Squirrell April 29, 2019

A gorgeous and affordable option, moissanite looks almost identical to diamonds. They come with the look but not the hefty price tag. Moissanite is a budget-friendly, ethical and durable gemstone that will keep it's good looks for many years to come.

Moissanite is engineered to give the illusion of similarity to diamonds, but it's composition makes it visually quite different from a real diamond. The durability, brilliance, and colour of the two gemstones are quite distinct.

Light refraction of Moissanite (on the left) versus Diamond (on the right).

	MOISSANITE	DIAMOND
Colour Colour is the natural colour or lack of colour visible within a gemstone.	While Moissanite is labelled as “colourless”, the gemstones high refractive index and birefringence can still cause the stone to project a yellow, brown, green or greyish hue in certain lights. The larger the Moissanite, and the more colour in the environment the more noticeable the colour.	A colourless Diamond, whether natural or lab created has a lower refractive index, and as such, has a natural body colour that contains no traces of yellow, brown, or grey, resulting in a dazzling, bright white appearance in most light condition
Price	Moissanite is dramatically lower in price than diamonds of the same size. Moissanite gems typically vary in price only based on size and colour as their clarity is generally VVS or VVS1.	Natural diamonds and lab created diamond prices vary based on shape, carat, cut, colour, and clarity.
Sourcing	Because Moissanite require no mining, i.e., they are produced in a laboratory, they are sustainable. For those who wanting an ethical gemstone, Moissanite offers guilt-free peace of mind.	Purchasing conflict free Diamonds that have been selected for their ethical and environmentally responsible origins is expensive.
Durability Gemstones are measured on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, which assesses a gem’s ability to withstand surface scratching.	On the Mohs scale, Moissanite scores a 9.25, a very good score that makes it one of the hardest substances on earth, and with near perfect hardness, Moissanite are damage resistant and excellent for daily wear so you get a lifetime of enjoyment from your Moissanite	Diamonds are the hardest known mineral and receive a 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. Because of this exceptional score, diamonds are very durable and ideal for everyday wear. This contributes to their popularity as engagement rings’ center gemstones.
Brilliance Brilliance refers to the appearance of light reflected from the interior of the gem	Moissanite exhibit a different kind of brilliance than diamonds do, as their faceting pattern is different. The fiery, rainbow flashes emitted by Moissanite is beloved by most, but others feel that the heightened brilliance can create a “disco ball” effect, especially in sunlight. The bigger the Moissanite, the more likely it is that the difference will be noticeable. Moissanite has a refractive index from 2.65 – 2.69, which is higher than a diamond.	A different type of brilliance is what makes it possible to distinguish a Moissanite from a diamond. Diamonds reflect light in three different ways. The white light reflected back is referred to as brilliance, while the rainbow of colours refracted through the diamond is referred to as dispersion. The surface sparkle of a diamond, known as scintillation, is a third type of diamond light return. The combination of these three gives diamonds their famous sparkle.