What is Moissanite?

Moissanite? Yes, /ˈmɔɪsənaɪt/. In your quest for suitable options for your engagement ring or just to add to your gemstone collections, you might have come across a moissanite. And got you wondering, what is a moissanite? Is a moissanite a diamond? What’s their value? Are they durable? You got all confused with this rarely occurring gem. Well, let’s dig deeper and find out what it’s all about.

Though it closely resembles a diamond, it’s actually quite hard to tell apart a diamond from moissanite with the naked eye. They come as durable and brilliant as diamonds; however, moissanite are not diamonds. Moissanite is its own gemstone occurring in the form of silicon carbide. They come from outer space, from meteorites hence the nickname “stardust” or “space diamonds”.  Naturally occurring moissanites are so rare that there isn’t enough to be used in jewelry manufacture. As a result, you will not find any naturally occurring moissanite in the jewelry market. All the moissanite gemstones are lab created.

Moissanite vs. Diamond

Still confused and wondering what the difference between these two gemstones is? Well, let’s compare some aspects that will bring out the key differences between moissanite and diamond.

 

Moissanite Diamond
Durability

You could be wondering are moissanites durable like the diamonds?

Will moissanite last forever?

 With a score of 9.25 on the Mohs scale, moissanite are the second hardest gemstone.

 

They are also scratch and heat resistant which makes them ideal for everyday wear.

 Being the hardest minaral, they have a supreme score of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

 

They can’t be scratched and are heat resistant. They are able to overcome the exposure that comes with every day wear.
Brilliance

Do Moissanites sparkle as much as diamonds?

 Moissanites have a refractive index of 2.65 which makes it sparkle more than diamonds.

 

They also have a higher dispersion which adds some color to the white sparkle; commonly referred to as the rainbow effect. The rainbow effect is better noticed when viewed under natural light and in bigger sized moissants. The colored sparkle is not easily seen in small sized moissanites.

 

While some people like the rainbow effect in moissanites, sometimes it could be too much and forms some sort of a “disco ball” which makes the gemstone appear to be fake.

 Diamonds sparkle a little less than moissanites with a refractive index of 2.42.

 

Their dispersion is also lower which means when they reflect light, the rainbow effect is negligible.

 

The combination of the brilliance (white light reflection); dispersion (refraction of the rainbow colors); and scintillation (its surface sparkle) is what gives the diamond its unique sparkle.
Clarity Since they are lab-created, they tend to be perfect, without any clarity imperfections hence eye clean. Chances of having imperfections in diamonds are higher since they occur naturally.
Color When it comes to color, moissanites come in three types.

 

First is the classic. The classic moissanite was the first moissanite to be created in the lab. It is more yellow and it compares to K-color diamond. When viewed under some lighting, it looks greenish yellow.

 

The second is the Forever Brilliant or Forever One near colorless Moissanite. They are near colorless and resemble H color diamonds.

 

Then finally in 2015 came the Forever One colorless moissanite which is truly colorless and resembles E- color diamonds.

 

Moissanite is currently available in the market in all the three color variations.

 Although diamonds are considered white/colorless, they also have some color variations. The GIA color scale grades them from D which represents the very colorless diamond to Z representing the diamond with the most color in the white diamonds classification.

 

Diamonds however have other colors which are considered the fancy diamonds. They include the pinks, the yellows, the blues, the black e.t.c.
Value

How much is a carat of moissanite?

 

Does moissanite have any resale value

 Compared to diamonds, moissanites are way cheaper. 1 carat moissanite costs about $400, which is 90% cheaper compared to a similar size and appearance diamond.  The pricing of the moissanites is based on the color type; the classic, the near colorless or the colorless moissanites.

 

Supricingly, Moissanite has a resale value higher than diamond. It resells at 50%-60% of its purchase cost.

 Diamonds are very costly with a carat costing $4000 and above.

 

Diamonds are priced based on the 4Cs of grading.

 

Lab created diamonds cost less than the naturally occurring diamonds but is still more expensive than the moissanite.

 

Diamonds resell value of about 25%-35% of its original retail value.
Size

Does moissanite weigh the same as diamonds?

 Moissanites are lighter, weighing up to 15% less than diamonds. 1 carat moissanite is bigger in size compared to 1 carat diamond. Are heavier than moissanites
Structure and formation

Is moissanite natural or lab created?

 Composed of silicon carbide.

 

Naturally occurring moissanite comes from meteorites and is extremely rare; it’s not available in the market anywhere in the globe.

 

The lab created moissanite made in the laboratory and is the one used to make jewelry.

 Both natural and lab created diamonds available

 

Composed of carbon

 

Formed under high pressure and heat over a million years, and then brought to the surface of the earth via geological activity.

 

Contrary to popular belief, diamonds are not rare as they occur in many parts of the world.
Ethical

Is moissanite ethical?

 Since they are created in the lab, moissanite have no ethical issues.

 

There are no resource wastages and the working conditions are okay.

 The mining process of diamonds makes them quite unethical. This is in the sense of environmental degradation including deforestation, soil erosion, among others. This also includes the poor working conditions in the mines and the abuse of human rights.
Social status

Are moissanites highly regarded?

 Moissanites highly lack the social approval that follows diamonds. They are sometimes even considered as “fake” diamonds or “diamond wannabes”. Generally they lack class. Thanks to the marketing strategies, diamonds are considered highly prestigious and enjoy a higher social status.

In conclusion;

Is moissanite natural or lab created?

As we have seen, as much as naturally occurring moissanite exists, the moissanite available in the market is lab created.

Is moissanite as good as diamond?

This entirely depends on the specific factors that you are looking for in your rock. Are you looking for an affordable gemstone? Are you looking for a prestigious gemstone?

Does moissanite turn yellow over time?

Colourless moissanite will always remain to be colorless, not unless you purchased classic moissanite, to begin with.

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