What is Moissanite & How Does it Compare to Diamond?

Moissanite is a precious and valuable gemstone and affordable alternative to standard diamonds. Although Moissanite has a different faceting system than regular diamond, it is consistently reported to have more fire, brilliance and lustre than any other gemstones. Forever Chic Jewellery  uses only the highest quality Moissanite in our jewellery. 

In fact, the Moissanite in our rings and other jewellery has a higher refractive score than a standard diamond, meaning it produces more sparkle and shine. Our Moissanite has a refractive index from 2.65 – 2.69, which is higher than the average diamond.

Additionally, Moissanite also has only just under the Mohs scale of hardness of a standard diamond making it very durable, maintaining its sparkle and value and making it scratch-resistant. To the naked eye, it is impossible to distinguish between a standard diamond and Moissanite diamond, saving you many many more thousands of dollars for the same or even better look.

Moissanite is a gemstone born from the stars. It was first discovered in 1893 by a French scientist named Henri Moissan, who later won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He discovered microscopic particles of the gem that would eventually bear his name in Arizona, in a crater created by a meteorite that fell to Earth. He initially thought that he had discovered diamonds, but later determined that the crystals were composed of silicon carbide.Natural moissanite is incredibly rare, so moissanite available today is laboratory-created. However, it is still chemically identical to earth-mined Moissanite gemstone and so still considered a real, genuine gemstone. After many years of trial and error, the particles Henri Moissan discovered were successfully synthesised to produce what is now one of the world’s most scintillating gemstones.

DURABILITY: Gemstones are measured on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, which assesses a gem’s ability to withstand surface scratching.

1. Moissanite: On the Mohs scale of Hardness, moissanite scores a 9.25, a very good score that makes it one of the hardest substances on earth, and very suitable for everyday wear as an engagement ring. It’s only slightly less than that of a diamond still very durable and scratch-resistant.

2. Diamond: 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’ centre gemstones.

BRILLIANCE: Brilliance refers to the appearance of light reflected from the interior of the gem. It’s the sparkle and shine emitted from the ring.

1. Moissanite: Moissanites exhibit a somewhat different kind of brilliance than diamonds do, as their faceting pattern is different. Moissanite emits a fiery, rainbow flash and sparkle. Moissanite has a refractive index from 2.65 – 2.69, which is higher than a diamond. As a result, Moissanite, in fact, has more brilliance than a diamond on the whole.

2. Diamond: Some say a different type of brilliance can occur and makes it possible to distinguish a moissanite from a diamond under a microscope and in some lights. 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 the third type of diamond light return. The combination of these three gives diamonds their famous sparkle.

COLOUR: Colour is the natural colour or lack of colour visible within a gemstone.

1. Moissanite: While some moissanite is often labelled as “colourless”, some gems can still project a yellow or greyish hue in certain lights. There is however Moissanite available in the equivalent diamond grade of D-E-F for more likelihood of white diamond colour.

2. Diamond: A colourless diamond, whether natural or lab-created, has a natural body colour that contains no traces of yellow, brown, or grey, resulting in a dazzling, bright white appearance.

PRICE:

1. Moissanite: For the same size, moissanite is dramatically lower in pricing than diamonds of that size. Moissanite gems typically vary in price only based on size and whether the stone is Premium or Super Premium or in other words the grade it has.

2. Diamond: Natural diamonds and lab-created diamond prices vary much based on shape, carat, cut, colour, and clarity. Lab-created diamonds are more affordable than natural diamonds.

Overall, Moissanite is a stone that is much more affordable than diamond. It is also very durable and has many of the same optical properties as diamond. If you are looking for a stone that can create a similar sparkle to diamond, then moissanite is a great option.