What Is A Moissanite Diamond? Is It Real?


Moissanite is a gemstone composed of silicon carbide, first discovered in a meteorite crater in 1893. While natural moissanite is incredibly rare, today it is lab-created, ensuring ethical sourcing and consistent quality. Known for its dazzling brilliance, moissanite is a popular alternative to diamonds.


Often likened to diamonds for their strikingly similar appearance, moissanite is distinct in its own right. Just as emeralds and sapphires stand apart from diamonds, moissanite is a unique gemstone celebrated for its remarkable beauty and chemical composition. As a lab-created stone, moissanite offers the durability and longevity of a diamond while being available at a fraction of the cost. With its superior sparkle, budget-friendly appeal, and ethical origins, moissanite is swiftly rising as a top choice in the jewellery world, rivaling traditional diamonds as a modern favorite.

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Why Choose Moissanite?

Affordability: Moissanite costs significantly less than diamonds, often 70-90% cheaper, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious buyers.

Brilliance: With a higher refractive index (2.65) than diamonds (2.42), moissanite sparkles more intensely, creating a rainbow-like fire.

Durability: Moissanite scores 9.25 on the Mohs scale of hardness, second only to diamonds (10), making it suitable for everyday wear.

Ethical and Sustainable: Lab-grown moissanite has a smaller environmental footprint compared to mined diamonds.

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Hardness and Sparkle

Hardness: Diamonds are the hardest natural substance (10 on the Mohs scale), while moissanite is close behind at 9.25. This makes moissanite highly resistant to scratches and perfect for daily wear.

Sparkle: Moissanite's unique crystal structure creates a more intense sparkle than diamonds, with a rainbow-like dispersion that some find even more captivating.

Understanding Diamond Ratings and Clarity

Diamonds are graded on the 4Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat. Here's how moissanite compares:

  • Clarity: Moissanite typically has fewer inclusions than natural diamonds, offering excellent clarity.
  • Color: Diamonds are graded on a D-Z scale, with D being completely colorless. Moissanite is often near-colorless but may exhibit warm undertones under certain lighting.
  • Cut: Moissanite is precision-cut to maximize its brilliance and fire.
  • Carat: Moissanite is lighter than diamonds, so a 1-carat moissanite stone may appear slightly larger than a 1-carat diamond.

How to Care for Your Moissanite Jewelry

Cleaning: Use a soft brush and mild soap to clean your moissanite jewelry. Avoid harsh chemicals.

Storage: Store in a soft pouch or separate compartment to prevent scratches.

Maintenance: Regularly check the settings to ensure the stone is secure.

Professional Cleaning: Consider professional cleaning once a year to maintain its brilliance.

Hardness

The hardness of a gemstone is measured using the Mohs scale, where 1 is the softest and 10 is the hardest. On this scale, moissanite measures between 9.25-9.5 and is second only to diamond, which has a score of 10. As one of the hardest minerals on earth, moissanite is extremely durable and will last a lifetime of everyday wear.

Brilliance and Fire

Moissanite has a higher refractive index than a diamond, meaning that when light enters a moissanite stone, it will bend more than within a diamond. This means there will be more small flashes of white light (brilliance) and greater levels of dazzling colour (fire). When exposed to sunlight, a moissanite stone will sparkle brightly and may exhibit a rainbow, almost “disco-ball” effect. Compared to a diamond’s subtle blue-grey kaleidoscope pattern, moissanite’s sparkle is brighter and more dazzling – often the very quality that our clients fall in love with!