what is moissanite? What are lab grown diamonds? should i buy a natural diamond? Moissanite Vrs Diamond and diamond alternatives

Moissanite 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 a crater created by a meteorite. He initially thought that he had discovered diamonds, but later determined that the crystals were composed of silicon carbide.  Today however moissanite found in jewelry and rings is synthetic and grown in a laboratory.  Moissanite is engineered to give the illusion of similarity to diamonds, but is compositionally and visually different from a real diamond. The durability, brilliance, and color of the two gems is also distinctly different.  Here at Velvet Box Society we are here to help and explain the differences.

Moissanite vs. Diamond
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 is a 9.25 and this make it very suitable for everyday wear as an engagement ring or in jewelry.  Diamonds however are the hardest known mineral and receive a 10 on the Mohs Scale. Because of this exceptional score, diamonds are very durable and ideal for everyday wear. This contributes to their popularity as engagement rings’ center gemstones making them a great choice for lifetime wear.

Brilliance
Brilliance refers to the appearance of light reflected from the interior of the gem and encompasses sparkle and scintillation.
Moissanite exhibits a different kind of brilliance. They emit fiery, rainbow flashes and create a “disco ball” effect which displays a very high fiery appearance. The larger the stone, the more likely it is that the difference will be noticeable and this is mainly because moissanite has a refractive index which is much higher than a diamond (from 2.65 – 2.69). White light reflected back to the eye is referred to as brilliance, while the rainbow colors refracted through a stone is referred to as dispersion. The surface sparkle to the eye is known as scintillation. The combination of these three gives diamonds their famous sparkle which is unlike any gem known to man.

Color
While synthetic moissanite is generally labeled as “colorless”, many of them still project a yellow, greenish, or grayish hue. A colorless diamond, whether natural or lab created, has a natural body color that contains no traces of yellow, brown, or grey, resulting in a dazzling, bright white appearance.  As natural diamonds move down the color spectrum they will being to exhibit more yellow, brown, or green body colors.

Price
Moissanite is dramatically lower in pricing than diamonds. Moissanite does vary in price based on size and quality of manufacture.  Natural diamonds and lab created diamond prices vary based on shape, carat, cut, color, and clarity. Lab created diamonds are less expensive than natural diamonds (assuming all statistics are the same)  Because moissanite is grown in a laboratory the pricing is not as stable as diamond pricing.  Meaning in time we have seen the price of moissanite become more and more affordable (just as we see in laboratory grown diamonds).  This is important when you consider resale.  If you ever are considering upgrading a piece you have we would suggest considering a natural diamond.

Considerations for Moissanite
While diamonds are graded on the 4 C’s scale (Cut, Clarity, Color, Carat), moissanite is graded mainly color. The cut and clarity is similar across different qualities of moissanite.  Premium moissanite are nearly colorless and can be compared to a D-F  in color on the 4 C’s scale, other types of moissanite can fall below the premium range and are still a great quality at G-I in color.  This is a very very small factor yet does effect the price.
Many people ask us here at Velvet Box Society if moissanite looks ok with diamond accents. Moissanite does have an nice appearance when set in rings or other jewelry that contain diamond accents.  We always suggest going with a natural diamond however should you have interest in a moissanite ring we are happy to help and do carry them in stock! Additionally we are able to cut moissanite to any size or shape!


Other Affordable Diamond Alternatives
If you are considering a moissanite engagement ring, we are happy to help. If you’re attracted to the lower price point in comparison to diamonds but have concerns about the color or brilliance, you may want to consider other diamond options.  Velvet Box Society has some of the top Gemological Institute of America Graduate Gemologists on staff.

• Lab Created Diamonds:  Laboratory grown diamonds, man made diamonds, or synthetic diamonds are more affordable than their naturally mined diamond counterparts.  Typically you’ll save about 30% for a diamond of similar size and quality to go with a laboratory grown stone. Unlike moissanite, lab created diamonds have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds. They exhibit the same properties of sparkle, fire, and scintillation.  The are a are great alternative if you'd like to save some money.  The one consideration is price now as opposed to future price.
• A treated Diamond: HPHT, Laser drilled, or filled diamond are things to consider.  Generally, a natural diamond can be treated to improve its look.  When they are treated the stones become dramatically less expensive and good options for those looking to save some money.  For more information about these types of treatments we will do a further blog explaining them or if you have questions contact us for an explanation and advice on how to select the right stone for an engagement ring!
• Cubic zirconia: also know as CZ.  A cz is an attractive stone that could be used as an alternative as the cost of a cz is dramatically less than that of a moissanite.  So if you are considering putting in a stone until you can afford a natural diamond a cz is probably a great choice as the cost savings in comparison to a moissanite is amazing
• White Sapphire: (or other natural clear stone)  This is a good choice if you believe in natural and do not want to use a stone grown in a laboratory.  These are affordable options and are stones mined out of the ground,  Though they will not have the same sparkle and scintillation of a diamond they do have a great look
• A colored stone: That's right consider using a colored stone instead! It will change the look and often times in a great and meaningful way!

For more information, help, or advice in selecting the right center stone for an engagement ring contact us