Moissanite Pros and Cons: A Perfect Alternative to Diamond?

Moissanite has gained popularity in recent years as a high-quality and brilliant diamond alternative. Moissanite offers show-stopping sparkle and budget-friendly price points, making it the perfect choice for those seeking something out-of-the-box yet still elegant.

Considering pros and cons of moissanite, this blog post will explore the pros and cons of moissanite, assisting the consumer on whether moissanite is the perfect alternative to earth-mined diamonds.

There are many pros when it comes to considering moissanite. Here are a few to keep in mind as you narrow down your choices:

One of the positive qualities of moissanite is its resemblance to natural or lab-grown diamonds at first sight, hard to decipher by the untrained eye without magnification or identification processes. This durable gemstone offers brilliance and sparkle, rivaling that of a diamond, and serves as an affordable alternative to diamonds, perfect for engagement rings and other fine jewelry.

Moissanite stones can be cut and fashioned into all the popular and classic shapes of a diamond, including round brilliant, princess, marquise, pear, Asscher, and others.

Known for their hardness, ranking 9.25 on the Mohs scale of hardness, they are ideal for everyday wear. Moissanite can also be prong set, bezel set, pave, and channel set into fine metals like platinum and gold, ensuring durability and versatility. Its refractive index enhances its brilliance, making it a favorite among jewelers and an appealing choice for custom designs.

The Mohs scale of hardness is used to measure the scratch-resistant tendencies of minerals and objects from 1-10. It rates the hardness of gems and minerals based on their ability to scratch each other. This scale, often referenced in the diamond industry, should not be confused with mineral toughness, which refers to a gem's resistance to breaking, chipping, or cracking when subjected to impact.

Moissanite rates a 9.25 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it a durable and highly scratch-resistant gemstone. By comparison, diamonds rate a perfect 10 out of 10. Moissanite’s hardness makes it almost as resilient as diamonds, ensuring its suitability for all fine jewelry creations, including engagement rings and other everyday wear. As a durable gemstone and an affordable alternative to natural diamonds, moissanite continues to shine with brilliance and practicality.

Moissanite exhibits exceptional brilliance and fire. Did you know that moissanite is considered the world's most brilliant gemstone? Moissanite has a high refractive index of 2.65 to 2.69, with double refractivity and an adamantine luster. Moissanite showcases doubling on the facet junctions when viewed under 10x magnification. With similar sparkle and scintillation to a diamond, moissanite displays its striking rainbow disco ball effect as it glistens in the light and moves. 

This impressive and glamorous appearance has made moissanite a popular choice for engagement rings, chains, bracelets, and custom-made jewelry that is also gorgeous and high-quality.

Want to learn more about moissanite’s refractive index (RI), what it is, and how it compares to other stones? Check out our blog, Lab-Grown Diamonds vs. Moissanite - Choosing the Perfect Stone.

Choosing moissanite means making a statement in socially conscious, sustainable luxury. Moissanite is considered an ethical choice compared to natural diamonds for several reasons.

As a lab-created gemstone, it offers brilliance, durability, and sparkle while avoiding the ethical concerns tied to diamond mining. Here are some of them:

Moissanite is a lab-created gemstone produced using advanced technology, making it a durable and affordable diamond alternative. Unlike earth-mined diamonds, lab-created moissanite eliminates the environmental impact of diamond mining altogether, offering a sustainable and ethical choice for those seeking brilliance and sparkle like a diamond.

Man-made moissanite is not connected to harsh labor conditions or human rights issues because of its lab origins. Feel good knowing your lab-created moissanite offers brilliance, durability, and sparkle as a socially eco-friendly alternative to the beauty and glamor synonymous with earth-mined natural diamonds in the diamond industry.

Lab-grown moissanite is considered sustainable because it is a high-quality gemstone created to withstand a lifetime of wear and tear. Durable, brilliant, and scratch-resistant, moissanite stones are an excellent alternative to natural diamonds, making them the perfect choice for wedding bands, engagement rings, and moissanite chains .

Moissanite is very popular and sought-after not only for its stunning fire and brilliance but also for its affordability compared to diamonds of the same quality and carat weight.

Diamonds, whether earth-mined or lab-created, are known for their prices due to their market demand. Moissanite provides an attractive alternative to diamonds at a significantly lower cost while maintaining durability, brilliance, and a refractive index similar to that of a diamond.

This affordability, compared to diamonds, makes choosing the look and size of the moissanite stone more attainable for the consumer. Have the moissanite engagement ring of your dreams at a cost-friendly price point you will love without compromising quality, size, or style. A durable gemstone like moissanite, rated 9.25 on the Mohs scale of hardness, ensures lasting brilliance for everyday wear.

Moissanite is a very versatile gemstone frequently used as a diamond alternative in all types of fine jewelry, from engagement rings to custom-made pieces, and is also sold as a loose faceted stone ready for setting.

Moissanite exhibits remarkable brilliance, sparkle, and fire, along with high scratch resistance and durability, making it an excellent choice for engagement rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, chains, and more.

Replace a natural diamond solitaire engagement ring with a moissanite version and enjoy its affordability compared to diamonds while maintaining a similar brilliance and refractive index.

Sparkling pave or channel-set side stones enhance a multi-stone look, perfect for an engagement ring or wedding band. Gift yourself or a loved one a durable moissanite tennis chain necklace or bracelet.

Complete your look with moissanite stud earrings instead of diamond stud earrings—or opt for lavish chandelier earrings dripping with moissanite gemstones for added brilliance and style.

Some moissanite attributes may be considered as “cons.” Here are a few of them:

While moissanite shares many similarities with natural diamonds, such as brilliance, sparkle, and durability, it differs in color variations. Moissanite stones can show a faint gray, blue, or slight body color tinge that affects their overall appearance. Unlike a colorless natural diamond or lab-created diamond, this tint does not resemble earth-mined diamonds.

Although very subtle, this haze-like color can be noticeable to a trained jeweler or professional when evaluating the stone for quality and identification. This is one of the pros and cons of moissanite when compared to diamonds. 

Moissanite has never gained the same level of popularity as natural diamonds, which remain the most sought-after gemstone for engagement rings and other fine jewelry. Diamonds, especially earth-mined diamonds, are considered the traditional choice, often passed down as a keepsake, heirloom, or other significant memento. The prestige of diamonds in the diamond industry stems from their long-standing reputation and association with durability, brilliance, and colorless beauty.

Finding expert jewelers specializing in moissanite can be challenging, as most jewelers focus on natural diamonds, lab-created diamonds, or synthetic colored gemstones. Many have limited experience working with moissanite stones. This can make it harder to find a jeweler with in-depth knowledge of moissanite’s brilliance, durability, and affordability compared to diamonds.

However, as moissanite continues to gain recognition as a durable gemstone and a popular diamond alternative for engagement rings and other fine jewelry, more jewelers are equipping themselves to assist consumers. 

Interested in learning some easy-to-remember facts about moissanite? Here are a few that make your moissanite jewelry all the more interesting:

Curious about the origins of natural moissanite? The name "moissanite" comes from Dr. Henri Moissan, a renowned chemist who discovered this gemstone in 1893. Natural moissanite is an exceptionally rare gemstone, typically found in small amounts in kimberlites, lamproites, and meteorites. Its rarity adds to its allure and makes this durable and brilliant gemstone even more fascinating as an alternative to diamonds.

Considering moissanite pros and cons, natural moissanite is even rarer than natural diamonds! Natural moissanite is found in such limited quantities, this makes them very expensive and difficult to source. In contrast, natural diamonds have a more widespread occurrence, making them more accessible in the diamond industry.

Moissanite has exceptional heat resistance, able to withstand high temperatures without damaging its crystal structure. This makes moissanite a highly durable gemstone, perfect for various jewelry applications, including resizing, soldering, re-pronging, and other jewelry repairs with a jeweler's torch.

It’s said that moissanite can even survive the high temperatures of a house fire, making it an excellent choice for everyday wear or any activity where your jewelry might be exposed to harsh elements. As a durable gemstone and diamond alternative, moissanite’s heat resistance adds to its appeal for those looking for a lasting and reliable stone.

They do! The pros outweigh the cons of moissanite, depending on many factors. Moissanite is not only gorgeous--it offers several advantages for those who seek something other than natural earth-mined diamonds. It has a diamond-like appearance, is more affordable compared to diamonds, and has ethical origins. Moissanite also provides endless versatility in fine jewelry design and common jewelry settings.

Additionally, moissanite has excellent heat resistance, making it perfect for everyday wear. Moissanite is not a cheap imitation of a diamond; it is a high-quality, lab-created gemstone that serves as a durable and stunning diamond alternative.

In conclusion, moissanite offers a brilliant, affordable, and durable alternative to natural diamonds, characterized by its exceptional sparkle and ethical production. 

Its affordability and durability make it an attractive option for those who desire the appearance of a diamond without the associated costs. Additionally, its lab-grown nature supports sustainability and ethical consumerism. 

However, despite its many advantages, moissanite's distinct optical properties and its synthetic origin may not appeal to everyone, and its resale value does not match that of natural diamonds. Therefore, while moissanite is an excellent choice for many, it is important to consider these factors when deciding on this gemstone for jewelry.