Moissanite vs Diamonds
Moissanite jewelry is a popular choice for many consumers looking for an alternative to more expensive diamond jewelry. A beautiful stone in its own right, Moissanite is similar enough to a diamond that it can be used in place of the more expensive stone. It pays to do your research though, and the question of whether to buy Moissanite vs Diamonds will best be answered by comparing the pros and cons of each gemstone and understanding the differences between each.
Diamonds
Diamonds are composed of carbon atoms, with various trace elements giving colors from yellow to blue or pink. Natural diamonds are mined, whereas lab created diamonds are produced in a lab by either Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) or a High Temperature High Pressure (HPHT) process. Whether mined or man made, the price of diamonds varies significantly depending on the size, color and clarity of the stone. Diamonds are one of the hardest substances known, making them well suited to frequent wear.
Moissanite
Moissanite does occur naturally, but this is extremely rare. In fact, all commercially sold Moissanite is produced in a lab. Moissanite is composed of Silicon Carbide, and as with a diamond it can be cut to any shape, with the quality of the end product depending on the skill of the gem cutter. Unlike other simulated diamonds, Moissanite is very hard, nearly as hard as a diamond in fact! This quality means that Moissanite is widely used as an industrial abrasive and tool material.
Diamonds VS Moissanite – Comparison Chart
| Quality | Moissanite | Diamond |
| Hardness (Mohs scale) | 9.5 | 10 |
| Price per carat | Around $400-500. | Price varies significantly based on color and clarity but a reasonable quality stone might cost $3000-4000. |
| Color | Off white to yellow-green stones available, usually graded from I-K | Very wide range of colours. Graded from D-Z with D being completely clear to the naked eye. |
| Clarity | Much more inner ‘fire’ than in a diamond. Physical qualities of Moissanite cause internal reflection of facets to appear fuzzy. | High quality stones are perfectly clear to the naked eye. Lower quality stones have minute darker specks visible. |
At the end of the day, both Moissanite and diamonds are beautiful gemstones in their own right, and are well suited to jewelry applications. The much lower cost of Moissanite makes it attractive to anyone on a budget but not wanting to compromise on quality, while the range of colored diamonds available make them of interest to anyone who can overlook the price tag attached.