MOISSANITE VS DIAMOND
Moissanite is naturally occurring silicon carbide and its various crystalline polymorphs. It has the chemical formula SiC and is a rare mineral, discovered by the French chemist Henri Moissan in 1893. Silicon carbide is useful for commercial and industrial applications due to its hardness, optical properties, and thermal conductivity.
Today, Moissanite is a man-made Diamond simulant made of Silicon Carbide, a Diamond is pure Carbon. A Diamond simulant is a stone that has a similar appearance to a Diamond but is not a real Diamond. It's very difficult to tell them apart, this makes Moissanite a common Diamond alternative. It's one of the most common gemstones for engagement rings after diamonds.
The Forever One Moissanite was created in 2015. The Forever One Moissanite is brighter and whiter and is colorless. Its clarity is equivalent to internally flawless - VS1 diamonds. While Moissanite has a very similar appearance to Diamonds, they have many key differences. Moissanite weighs much less than Diamonds – 15% lighter, to be exact. Because of this, Moissanite is usually sold by length and width in millimeters rather than carat weight. A Moissanite stone that is visually equivalent in size to a 1-carat Diamond will not actually weigh 1 carat. Moissanite is also sold based on different standards than Diamonds. Moissanite is sold based on size and color (colorless or near colorless) while Diamonds are priced based on their 4 C's: Cut, Clarity, Color, & Carat weight, as well as many other factors.
Diamonds are slightly harder than Moissanite. Moissanite ranks 9.25 on the Mohs scale, while Diamonds rank 10 on the Mohs scale.
While Diamonds are slightly harder, Moissanite has more fire and brilliance. Moissanite has a refractive index of 2.65-2.69, while Diamonds have a refractive index of 2.42. The refractive index is the stone’s ability to bend light. Moissanite’s fire is rated at 0.104, while the fire of a diamond is rated at 0.044.
Moissanite is much less expensive than diamonds. Moissanite can be about $400 to $600 per carat while a 1-carat Diamond can be anywhere between $2,000 to $20,000.
Can you tell the difference between Moissanite and Diamond?
Most people cannot tell the difference between Moissanite and Diamonds. The GIA has even stated that Moissanite is “much closer to diamond in overall appearance and heft than any previous diamond imitation.”
One way to tell apart Moissanite from Diamond is to examine the stone’s brilliance and fire. Moissanite has more fire and brilliance than Diamond – it isn’t as noticeable in smaller stones, but in stones over 5mm, it’s much more noticeable. Moissanite is known for its “disco-ball” effect because rainbow light quickly flashes around the gem. However, looking at a stone’s fire and brilliance isn’t always a reliable way to differentiate the two because an expertly cut diamond will also have lots of fire and brilliance.
It’s all about preference! Choose whichever stone feels right for you. Some people find the “disco-ball” effect that Moissanite creates to be too much for them, while some people love the fire and price point of Moissanite. Others love the romantic, classic appeal of Diamonds and prefer the added assurance of hardness.
You need to ask yourself, why am I buying this? Is this for an engagement or wedding ring? Is this an investment or for fashion? If this is for fashion jewelry, choose Moissanite. Never try to impress someone by passing off Moissanites as Diamonds. Moissanites are more beautiful than Diamonds and should always be your first choice for beautiful quality fashion jewelry. They are also earth friendly because they aren't mined from the earth. Be proud to tell everyone why you chose Moissanite over Diamond.