Which engagement ring should you buy? This is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as you welcome another chapter in your life: marriage. While diamonds are a popular choice, you might want to consider Moissanite if you’re looking for something with a diamond-like appeal minus the hefty price tag. Here’s a quick Moissanite engagement rings vs diamond 101 for your reference.
Moissanite Engagement Rings Vs Diamond: Similarities And Differences
Here are the similarities and differences you should consider when choosing between Moissanite and diamond.
Price
Because the gemstone is lab-made, the Moissanite ring price is substantially lower than diamonds. Estimates show that a Moissanite of the same size and quality is only a tenth of the cost of a mined diamond.
Diamond ring price is high because diamond is resource-extensive to source, mine, and cut.
Nonetheless, the final price difference depends on other significant factors — including the metal used for the ring, the cut of the center gemstone, the presence of accent stones, and the simplicity or intricacy of the design. If you are to order a bespoke ring, expect to pay a higher amount.
Color
Color significantly impacts the visual appeal of an engagement ring — or any ring, for that matter. Jewelry literature describes Moissanite rings as “colorless.” However, some will have a yellow, green, or gray tint.
Quality rings made from Moissanite fall within the D to I range in the color scale. In this scale, D refers to colorless, while Z is for rings with light yellowish and brownish hues.
Diamonds, on the other hand, vary in color. They can be colorless or carry bold colors like red, green, and blue. If you want to go for a softer look, diamond rings are also available in pink, among others.
Brilliance
Gemstones vary in brilliance. Brilliance is a stone’s ability to reflect white light; in simpler terms, it refers to how much sparkle a stone has.
Compared to diamonds, Moissanite is more brilliant. With the kind of faceting pattern they have, they can disperse light better and emit flashes of a rainbow under certain light conditions. This is more noticeable as the stone size gets bigger.
Moissanite has a refractive index range of 2.65 to 2.69, while diamond has a lower number: 2.42.
Hardness
According to the Mohs hardness scale, diamond has a score of 10, making it the hardest material in the world of gemstones. Moissanite comes close with 9.25 to 9.5. This means that Moissanite rings don’t fall far behind diamonds in terms of their resistance to wear and tear.
However, note that although diamonds and moissanite rings are hard, they’re not completely indestructible. Whichever gemstone you have for your ring, make sure to take care of it properly.
Sustainability and Ethics
Diamonds are undoubtedly gorgeous. But they aren’t without their share of controversies. This gemstone is linked to various issues, ranging from child labor to terrorism funding and eco-friendliness concerns.
This is where more sustainable alternatives come into the picture. Moissanites are lab-grown; as such, it’s free of the controversies that diamonds have. If you want to still have a diamond for your engagement ring, consider a lab-grown one (this option still has the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as their mined counterparts).
Though both are from laboratories, your choice between Moissanite vs. lab diamond ultimately depends on your preferences in other deciding factors (e.g., brilliance, color, price).
What Is Moissanite And Why It’s A Good Alternative To Diamond?
Moissanite is a naturally occurring mineral composed of silicon carbide (meanwhile, carbon makes up diamonds).
French scientist and Nobel winner Henri Moissan discovered it in a cater and a meteorite landing site in Arizona in 1893. At first, he thought he had found diamonds, but upon closer look at the composition, he found out that it was another stone.
As Moissanite is scarce and not big enough to be cut into a one-carat gemstone, it was recreated in a lab to create the gemstone we find in Moissanite engagement ring/s today.
As stated, the Moissanite vs. diamond price is one of the biggest reasons you might want to opt for the former. Though it’s synthetic and considered a diamond simulant, it’s hard, durable, and brilliant — it’s even better than a diamond in some aspects.
Make sure to get a Moissanite ring that reflects your fiance’s preference, and you can guarantee that your partner will wear it with confidence, knowing that it’s a recognized quality stone.
Quick Tips When Buying A Moissanite Or Diamond Engagement Ring
Whether you’re looking for Moissanite or diamond engagement ring/s, we’ve got you covered with these buying tips.
- Set a budget. The amount you can shell out for an engagement ring will largely dictate what you will buy. Consider that when your partner utters their sweet “yes,” you’ll also have to be financially ready for the wedding.
- Know the ring size. Jewelry shops follow various ring size charts. But take note that the size is equivalent to a certain measurement of the ring’s inner circumference (the side that comes into contact with the wearer’s skin).
- Opt for a high-quality gemstone. Because it’s an engagement ring, never settle for less. Choose a top-quality ring with a top-quality stone from a reputable shop. And, as mentioned, you must select a style and design that suits your fiance-to-be and a cut that will look flattering on their finger.
Moissanite Engagement Rings Vs Diamond FAQs
How can you tell if it’s a Moissanite and a diamond?
Apart from price, brilliance is one of the main differentiators between Moissanite and diamonds. Use a jeweler’s loupe through the stone’s crown at an angle. Moissanites emit two slightly blurred lines that indicate the stone’s double refraction property.
Will Moissanite lose its sparkle or get cloudy?
Among other gemstones, Moissanite is considered the most brilliant. When it comes to oil and dirt, Moissanite can also withstand them better than diamonds. So speaking of timelessness, you don’t need to worry whether or not Moissanite rings can retain their sparkle over time.
How do you clean Moissanite engagement rings?
Moissanites are low maintenance, and they seldom look dirty. You can preserve a Moissanite ring’s quality and aesthetic appeal by regularly cleaning them.
Simply get a bowl of warm, soapy water (don’t use abrasive cleaning solutions). Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean it, then use the solution to rinse it. Once a year, take your ring to a professional cleaner for some deep cleaning.
Conclusion
Getting the best (and the right) engagement ring is nothing short of important. After all, it is that ring attached to the memory of when you’d popped the “Will you marry me” question.
Having talked about Moissanite engagement rings vs diamond, you now know the key similarities and differences they share. They’re both beautiful and durable, but the former certainly wins in terms of price and eco-friendliness.However, if you think moissanite rings are not for you, there are brands such as James Allen, Clean Origin, or Blue Nile where you can get genuine diamond engagement rings.
