A Comparison of Diamond and Moissanite Engagement Rings

For a very long time now, couples have been searching for an elegant and suitable replacement for diamond engagement rings. Recently, moissanite has emerged as a growing trend in the engagement ring market because it looks as brilliant and gorgeous as diamonds at a fraction of the cost. Also, unlike cubic zirconia and other knockoff diamonds, moissanite isn’t a cheap copy of real diamonds but an elegant gemstone. This major difference between moissanite and other diamond substitutes for engagement rings has led to a huge increase in their sales as the price of diamonds has become unreachable for many younger couples.

What is Moissanite?

Discovered in 1893, moissanite is a natural mineral that was found while Henri Moissan was examining samples of rocks found in the crater of a meteor in Canyon Diablo, Arizona. At first glance, Henri assumed that he has discovered a vein of diamonds that were either created by the meteor or incidentally were uncovered by the impact. However, upon closer examination in 1904, he realized that the beautiful crystals he had uncovered were made of silicon carbide; which doesn’t exist or form naturally on earth and is incredibly rare to find. Because the mineral was so rare, thus making it precious, there was a race to create a synthetic version of the moissanite in laboratories by scientists. In 1998, moissanite was first used in retail jewelry and introduced to the marketplace with a remarkably warm welcome. Since its release, it has steadily gained popularity as a valuable and quality gemstone that fits nicely into the fine jewelry market.

Benefits of Moissanite vs. Diamonds

Though most people would rank the lower cost of moissanite as its best property, there is actually another feature that makes moissanite a great choice for an engagement ring compared to diamonds. One thing many people don’t know is that moissanite has superior optical properties compared to diamonds; making them sparkler more brilliant and reflect light off of the facets more beautifully.

Drawbacks of Moissanite vs. Diamonds

Obviously, by most people’s standards, diamonds are a superior gem to virtually any other type of stone on earth. Though there are minerals that are more rare than diamonds, such as tanzanite, diamonds continue to hold their place in the market as the most expensive and popular stones. With this prestige comes a certain amount of pride when you show off a good quality diamond perched upon your ring finger.

Furthermore, since moissanite is all lab created, there is something to be said about a mineral that is formed geologically over millions of years by the earth compared to something created in a laboratory in a much shorter time span. Though moissanite is more brilliant and flawless to the eye, there simply is no replacement for the original and beautiful diamond for their engagement ring.