When it came to engagement rings, it used to be all about diamonds. Now, people are choosing lab grown alternatives to diamonds, and moissanite is a super popular diamond alternative, which gives you the incredible sparkle and shine of a diamond, with a much more affordable price.
What Is Moissanite?
Moissanite is a gemstone made mostly of silicon carbide. It was first found in a meteorite, more than a century go, but natural moissanite is extremely rare.
Most moissanite stones sold today are lab-grown, where the lab recreates silicon carbide crystals, and cuts them into gem shape. Giving you consistent, high-quality stones, without mining large quantities of earth.
Moissanite looks like a real diamond, but it is a different mineral. It has a high refractive index, so it is stunningly sparkly, and often shows more “fire”, aka the colorful flashes, than real diamonds.
Durability matters for your engagement ring, as you’re going to be wearing it everyday. Moissanite stones score on the Mohs hardness scale (about 9.25), so it is very hard, and resistant to scratches from daily wear.
Natural moissanite occurs only in tiny amounts in meteorites and rare rocks. Choosing a lab-grown moissanite gives you an ethical and more affordable option.
How Moissanite Compares To Diamonds In Real Life
When you wear a moissanite engagement ring, you’ll notice the strong brilliance of the stone, and the fire. Moissanite has a higher refractive index, and has a greater dispersion than diamond, so it shows more rainbow flashes and lively sparkle in most lights.
Moissanite solitaires look very similar to a diamond at first glass, giving the same bright look, for a much more affordable cost.
The price and value differs, with you paying far less for moissanite rings than for comparable diamonds, which is what makes moissanite stones an appealing diamond alternative for engagement rings. The cost difference lets you choose larger or high-quality settings, without overspending.
Moissanite stones are simple to care for. You can clean your moissanite pieces with mild soap and a soft brush. Make sure you buy from a trusted retailer for purchasing moissanite pieces, to ensure you get a good cut and clarity, for the best moissanite sparkle.
Ethical And Sustainable Reasons People Choose Moissanite Over Diamonds
With lab-grown moissanite stones, they are created in controlled facilities rather than being mined. So, there’s no risk of supporting conflict zones or exploitative mining labor.
You cut down on land and water damage when purchasing moissanite. Traditional diamond mining moves huge amounts of earth, and uses lots of water, which doesn’t happen with lab-created moissanite.
Lab-grown moissanite and lab-grown diamonds both require electricity to make, so the environmental impact of moissanite depends on the individual factory’s power source. It the factory uses renewable energy, your stone’s carbon footprint falls significantly.
Moissanite jewelry sparkles even more than diamond jewelry, and it is considerably cheaper than buying diamonds for the same size. If you want a super sparkly stone, which doesn’t harm the environment, like the mining for natural diamonds, moissanite is an amazing alternative.
Hi, my name is Gemma, and I’m the owner of MakeupMuddle.com. I’m a true beauty obsessive, and love writing about anything to do with beauty – I have been a beauty writer since 2012.