Let’s chat about Moissanite, shall we!
Although engagement rings are often made from diamonds, there are other options for finding a ring in the white gemstone category that is sparkly and beautiful, and most importantly, affordable. One of our favorite options here at Melissa Tyson Designs is Moissanite. They are lab-grown, diamond alternatives that have similar optical properties to a diamond while maintaining a much lower price point. Moissanite is a gorgeous alternative white gemstone, allowing you to get a much larger stone for your engagement ring at a much lower price point.
Click here to check out some amazing collections of our Moissanite Rings.
What is Moissanite?
Despite what some people may want you to believe, Moissanite is not a fake diamond; it is a gemstone in its own right. If you are considering whether or not to go with Moissanite, here are just a few of the benefits of choosing this gemstone for your engagement ring.
Moissanite was originally discovered as a natural gemstone found in a meteorite; however, it is so rare that scientists decided to try and replicate it in a laboratory. Thanks to advancements in technology, Moissanite has gained massive popularity as an alternative to diamond and gemstone options, particularly for engagement rings.
Moissanite is Sparkly!
Compared to Diamonds, Moissanite has a higher refractive index because of silicone's presence in its structure. In layman's terms, Moissanites can appear more sparkly than diamonds. Moissanites also give off a colorful rainbow sparkle, while diamonds give off a less saturated sparkle in hue. What matters here, however, is your personal preference; both are beautiful!
Moissanite comes in only 2 color grades similar to the color grading scale of a diamond: the Color D-F, which is considered colorless, and the Color G-H, which is considered nearly colorless. The Color D-F has that extra sparkle effect and is a very bright white. The Color G-H is also a beautiful white color with a bit more depth, more closely resembling a natural diamond, and still very sparkly, just not quite as sparkly as the Color D-F.
Moissanite is Durable!
With a ranking of 9.25 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, Moissanites are harder than sapphires, emeralds and rubies which all fall under the most durable gemstone category. Moissanites will last through everyday, year-long wear and tear without breaking, chipping or scratching as easily as other softer gemstones. The hardness of Moissanites makes it an ideal engagement ring choice since you will be wearing your engagement ring every day!
In comparison to diamonds, diamonds are the most durable stone on the market, ranking at a 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
Is a Moissanite a Real Diamond?
No! Diamonds differ from Moissanites. Even though they look similar and share certain similarities (in features), there are ways to distinguish and tell them apart. The biggest distinction between Moissanites and Diamonds include the amount of reflection, sparkle and cost.
Brilliance
What is brilliance? Brilliance refers to the ability of a stone to reflect white light. Brilliance is the best way to measure how much a gemstone will sparkle. In terms of brilliance, Moissanite's are more brilliant than diamonds, meaning they reflect, or bend, more light.
How do we know this? The Moissanite's brilliance is due to its higher refractive index... Diamond’s refractive index is at 2.42, while Moissanite is at 2.65.
So what does a higher refractive mean? What this means is that Moissanite's light bounces around a lot, giving it maximum sparkle. Moissanite has a higher dispersion when compared to diamond, meaning, other than your Moissanite giving off whiter sparkles, it will also reflect a more colored sparkle (fire). Stunning!
Cost in Relation to Value
Diamonds are the most expensive gemstone. We all know this...
Diamonds are regarded for their rarity, their durability as they will last a lifetime, and their value as they hold throughout generations. Think about your grandma’s diamond, it is still just as valuable and maybe even more so with all the sentimental value attached.
Moissanite, with its comparable hardness and appearance, doesn't have the higher cost. They are much cheaper than diamonds, typically about 1/4 of the price of a comparable size diamond.
Concerning cost, the answer is clear.
We Love a Moissanite!
All in all, we love a Moissanite! In fact, they are one of our most popular gemstones, after diamonds, for our engagement rings.
Want to know one more fun fact? All of our Moissanites are custom cut, meaning any shape you can imagine, we got you! Do you love an Old Mine Cut with its big wide open facets? We have Old Mine Cut Moissanites! Do you have a dream design that you're hoping to create? We have even drawn our own faceting patterns to be cut into Moissanite Gemstones! The sky is the limit and with the amazing budget range for Moissanite, you can have a big, super unique gemstone custom cut for your handcrafted engagement ring.
Contact us to get started on your custom creation!
Cheers to bringing your love story to life!