What is Moissanite?
While there is natural Moissanite. it is infrequent and comes in tiny crystals. So for jewelry, gem scientists create it for us in a lab. Unlike Lab Diamond, Moissanite has a different chemical makeup. While Diamond is pure carbon, Moissanite is both silica and carbon. As a result, Moissanite sparkles differently (more!) and isn’t quite as hard as diamond (but is still really hard).
What is a “Lab-Grown Diamond”?
A Lab-grown also known as a “Synthetic Diamond,” or “Man-Made Diamond” is a diamond gemstone that was made in a laboratory instead of the Earth’s crust. That’s it! No secrets. In fact, there is no chemical formatting between a Lab Grown Diamond and a natural, mined diamond: they are both simply crystal-clear carbon. So, a Lab Diamond has the same hardness (10/10), look, and sparkle as a mined diamond. You can only tell it is a Lab Grown Diamond if you have it tested.
What Is The Difference Between Moissanite And Lab Grown Diamond?
1. Sparkle and Appearance
If you compare a diamond vs a lab diamond vs moissanite, they all look similar at first glance; only an expert can tell the difference between the three. However, if you only compare moissanite vs a lab-grown diamond, some subtle differences tell the two apart.
Moissanite sparkles more than both kinds of diamonds, both natural and lab-made. Moissanite stones have a high refractive index of 2.65-2.69, as opposed to 2.45 for diamonds. So, instead of a diamond’s characteristic white brilliance, moissanite has a gorgeous rainbow sparkle.
2. Color Quality
Both lab-grown diamonds and moissanite come in near-colorless and colorless shades. Colorless diamonds are graded D, E, and F, whereas near colorless and faint yellow ones are graded G, H, I, and J. The price increases as the diamond becomes more colorless.
Colorless moissanite is equivalent to D, E, and F diamonds and is white and clear, whereas near-colorless moissanite is akin to G, H, and I diamonds and has a warmer tone. Moreover, moissanite is available in yellow, cyan, gray, and green shades as well.
3. Durability
If you’re wondering “Is lab-grown diamond better than moissanite”, then in one way the answer is yes. If durability is a big deal-breaker for you, then lab-grown diamonds can be your ultimate choice, since they have a rate of 10 on the Mohs scale. This eternal nature is what makes diamonds so appealing.
Moissanite is the second hardest gemstone right after diamonds, with a score of 9.25-9.50 on the Mohs scale. This means that it will not get scratched easily or become cloudy with regular, daily use. It certainly checks all the boxes for a ‘forever’ stone!
4. Clarity
To the untrained eye, comparing moissanite vs lab-grown vs diamond based on clarity may be a futile task. Most diamonds come with natural flaws owing to how they are made, under high temperatures and pressure. Depending on the flaw can affect the brilliance of the stone.
So, if you’re opting for a diamond, make sure it is an ‘eye-clean’ one, that is, you can’t see the flaws with the naked eye. With Moissanite, however, you don’t have to worry about flaws. All moissanite stones are eye-clean and may only have microscopic flaws. Their clarity is equivalent to a VS clarity diamond.
5. Price
If you compare moissanite diamond vs lab-grown diamond in terms of price, then the former is more pocket-friendly. While lab-grown diamonds certainly cost less than natural diamonds, they can still be expensive, especially if you’re on a tight budget.
Lab-grown moissanite stones, however, are much cheaper and offer nearly the same brilliance and durability as diamonds. With high quality and reasonable prices, moissanite is certainly a catch!
|
Point Of Difference |
Moissanite |
Lab Grown Diamond |
|
Hardness |
9.25-9.50/10 |
10/10 |
|
Refractive Index |
2.65-2.69 |
2.42 |
|
Sourcing |
Man Made |
Man Made |
|
Eco Friendly |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Durability |
High |
High |
|
Certificate |
GSL |
GIA/IGI/HRD |
|
Looks vs Diamond |
similar to diamond exactly exactly |
the same as the diamond price |
|
Price vs Diamonds |
90% less |
50% less |
