What is Moissanite Engagement Ring?

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Historically, a ring has been considered a symbol of love. Nowadays, rings are in vogue. Rings can perfectly adorn your finger, no matter what shape it is. They can be worn with any outfit whatsoever.

You will become a party queen with gemstone rings; chic and straightforward designs add a bit of taste to your life, which is also appropriate for wearing at work or an appointment. You can easily display your identity with these rings when paired with elegant outfits.

A combination of Designer Rings promotes your style no matter what you’re doing or where you’re going. In this article, we will talk about what is moissanite engagement ring and showcase some popular moissanite engagement rings.

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Table of Contents

What is Moissanite Engagement Ring?

It is hard and durable like sapphires, rubies, and emeralds, as their hardness is 9.25 on the Mohs Scale. As an engagement ring, you will wear it every day because of its hardness.

Purchasing gemstones without knowing where they come from has become increasingly difficult in a world filled with conflict. The purchase of jewelry is made more difficult by conflict diamonds, unsafe mining practices, fossil fuels, and labor exploitation.

The creation of moissanite is a carefully controlled process, so it’s safe to purchase moissanite earrings or rings. It doesn’t take time for them to be mined, processed, and turned into jewelry, they don’t have a high carbon footprint, and their workers aren’t exploited. Today’s couples can make a social protest and a personal statement with a moissanite engagement ring.

Moissanite, what is it?

Silicon carbide is what gives moissanite its near-colorlessness. The first moissanite crystals were discovered by a French scientist named Henri Moissan in a meteorite crater.

Despite its appearance, moissanite is quite different from diamonds. Carbon is the basic chemical composition of diamonds, whereas silicon carbide, which is found in moissanite, is the only stable fossilized silicon carbide.

It is nearly impossible to use natural moissanite for jewelry because Moissan’s discovery in 1893 was rare. Nowadays, moissanite is manufactured in laboratories.

Although moissanite looks like diamonds, it differs from them in composition and appearance.

Moissanite vs. Diamond: Cut

The cut of moissanite is similar to that of diamonds. Moissanites come in various shapes, including round, oval, pear, cushion, princess, and radiant. Historically, moissanite has even been cut into antique cuts like diamonds.

Moissanites are typically cut into round brilliants. Round brilliants are popular for several reasons:

Brilliance: With a diamond, the brilliant round cut is the most brilliant and firey. If a bright light strikes the gemstone, the stone will sparkle as it reflects light off the stone’s facets.

Color: When it comes to hiding a gemstone’s color, the brilliant round cut is the best approach. Moissanites have this advantage because it helps them hide their yellow and green tints.

Versatility: This cut is extremely versatile and can be used for both vintage and modern engagement rings.

For moissanite, especially the princess cut (also known as the “square cut”), the oval cut and the radiant cut are the best cuts for displaying the stone’s brilliance.

Moissanite vs. Diamond: Hardness

Moissanite measures 9.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, while a diamond measures 10 – the highest score possible. A gemstone’s hardness is measured by the Mohs scale, or in other words, its durability.

A scale of 1 to 10 indicates how soft or hard an object is. It is easy to make the difference between moissanite and diamond using the Mohs scale.

Diamonds are one of the hardest minerals known to man that is why diamonds and sapphires make excellent engagement rings due to their ability to resist damage and scratches. In comparison to steel and tungsten carbide, diamonds are harder.

Are moissanite stretchable? Not really. Although moissanite measures 9 to 9.5 on the scale, it is still durable. Moissanite cannot scratch diamonds or other moissanite; only minerals equal to or higher in scale can scratch moissanite.

Moissanite vs. Diamond: Brilliance

Diamonds are capable of bending and refracting light. A diamond’s table (the top, flat surface) reflects light as reflected by the pavilions. The resulting quality of a diamond is brilliance, a remarkable characteristic.

However, moissanite has another kind of sparkle. The facets of an emerald are different, resulting in less refraction of white light than those of a diamond. Moissanites indeed shine, but they do not do so as clearly or as vividly as diamonds.

Moissanite has a 2.65 higher refractive index than diamond 2.42, meaning massonite can transmit light faster. Both stones have a similar refractive index.

Diamonds are known for their brilliance, but they also emit fire, which is reflected color light. Moissanite also reflects vivid colors. Moissanite can sometimes emit extensive color dazzling, which some people dislike.

Compared with a diamond, moissanite’s brilliance is less obvious when viewed side by side, but grows more apparent in larger sizes, especially if viewed close in the right light.

Do Moissanites Qualify as Diamonds?

Moissanite doesn’t have the same consideration as a diamond by both diamond experts and non-diamond experts. From substance to brilliance to color, they are completely different gemstones.

They’re one of nature’s hardest minerals and are incredibly beautiful and valuable. Silicon carbide is almost always used to create moissanite. The color of these gemstones and the way they perform under light are also very different from diamonds.

A non-expert will be able to tell, even from a distance, that moissanite and diamond are not the same. How does this make moissanite better than diamonds, or worse? The answer to that question is ultimately subjective. The difference between a diamond and moissanite (and vice-versa) isn’t one of quality or price, but rather the different characteristics of the stones.

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Moissanite vs. Diamond: The Differences

Moissanite and diamond may appear similar from a distance, particularly when both are set in engagement rings. If you’re observing moissanite and diamonds up close, you can tell the difference by observing:

Brilliance. Moissanite has higher refraction of light than diamond, making it more brilliant. The moissanite will generally appear more sparkly than a diamond of similar size and cut.

Fire. The combustion of molybdenite into visible spectral colors usually has a stronger fire than diamond. Moissanite will likely produce a stronger flash of color if placed next to a diamond under strong lighting.

Clarity. Moissanite is made in a laboratory, so its clarity is higher than that of natural diamonds.

Diamonds commonly have blemishes and inclusions, while moissanite is more likely to have few internal flaws.

Color. Under the light, moissanite exhibits yellow, green, or gray tints. Diamonds, on the other hand, can be tinted or colorless.

Weighing. Compared to diamonds of the same size, moissanite weighs about 15% less. However, a high-precision jewelry scale will easily display the difference in weight when either stone is held in your hand.

Value. The cheaper the moissanite, the larger the stone you can get. By choosing moissanite, you’re also buying a smaller stone that’s worthless in the long run.

Conduction of electricity. The difference in heat and electricity conductivity between diamonds and moissanite can’t be easily observed with the naked eye. Electrical tools are sometimes used to test diamonds or gemstones to see if they are real.

Advantages of Moissanite

Although not everyone will agree, the following advantages of moissanite typically outweigh those of diamonds:

The lower price of moissanite means you can buy a larger stone for less money. It can be a significant advantage if you’re on a limited budget.
Because moissanite is produced artificially, they’re generally not sold unless they have a high clarity grade. It means that it’s rare to find moissanite with obvious inclusions and blemishes.
The downside is that moissanite is highly technical, which many may not appreciate. The ethical aspect of purchasing a diamond can also be an advantage.
There is a noticeable level of color in Moissanites due to their high refractive index and brilliance. The unnaturally sparkly nature of these stones can be advantageous for those seeking a highly eye-catching, very bright stone.

Disadvantages of Moissanite

While moissanite has many advantages over diamonds, they also have some unique disadvantages:

An artificial-looking brilliance. A diamond is renowned for its brilliance and luxurious sparkle. Alternatively, many people find moissanite’s high intensity and very strong white sparkle unnatural.
Moissanite’s brilliance can also clearly indicate that it’s not a diamond to the trained eye.
Culturally speaking, they aren’t diamonds. As a symbol of romance, marriage, and engagement, diamonds are culturally significant for good or bad reasons.
Moissanites might be beautiful, but they don’t have the same romantic connotations as diamonds. Additionally, your partner or peers may view moissanite as a cheaper alternative to a diamond or other more traditional gemstone.
Individuals have different preferences. You should not let cultural factors prevent you from choosing the gemstone you love the most as the engagement ring for your fiancé-to-be.

Valueless. Despite being cheap, moissanite isn’t valuable. Our recommendation isn’t to invest in diamonds if you plan to sell them eventually, as you will almost always lose money. Still, diamonds can become a precious family heirloom if you keep them over time, something moissanite cannot do.