Moissanite Pros and Cons: A Perfect Alternative to Diamond?

Moissanite has gained popularity in recent years as a high-quality and brilliant alternative to natural earth-mined diamonds. 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 moissanite pros and cons, this blog post will explore the pros and cons of moissanite, assisting the consumer on whether moissanite is the perfect alternative to diamonds.

Pros of Moissanite

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

Looks Like Diamonds

 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.  

Moissanite can be cut and fashioned into all the popular and classic shapes of a diamond. This includes round brilliant, princess, marquise, pear, Asscher, and others. Moissanite can be prong set, bezel set, pave, and channel set into any fine metal (frequently platinum and gold).

As Hard as Diamonds

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. The scale 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. Diamond rates a 10 out of 10, making moissanite almost as scratch-resistant to diamonds. This makes moissanite suitable for all fine jewelry creations.

Extra Shine and Glaze

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.

Ethical

Choosing moissanite means making a statement in socially-conscious sustainable luxury. Moissanite is considered an ethical choice vs natural diamonds for several reasons. Here are some of them:

Lab-Created

Moissanite is created in a lab using advanced technology, removing the environmental impact associated with diamond mining altogether because of its man-made origins. 

Conflict-Free

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 is a socially eco-friendly solution to the beauty and glamor synonymous with earth-mined natural diamonds.

Sustainable

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 make the perfect choice for wedding bands, engagement rings, and moissanite chains.

Very Affordable Compared to Diamond

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 are known for their prices due to their market demand--moissanite provides an attractive alternative at a significantly lower cost with all the same quality and carat weight factors compared side by side. This affordability makes choosing the look and size of the 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.

Replaces Diamonds in Any Kind of Jewelry

Moissanite is a very versatile stone frequently used to replace diamonds in any type of fine jewelry (and also sold as a loose faceted stone ready for setting). Moissanite exhibits a high scratch resistance displaying remarkable brilliance and fire, making it an excellent alternative for engagement rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, chains, custom-made jewelry, and more.

Replace a diamond solitaire engagement ring with a moissanite version. Sparkling pave or channel set side stones offer a multi-stone look just right for your engagement ring, wedding band, and other purchases. Gift yourself or a loved one a tennis chain necklace or bracelet. Finish your look with moissanite stud earrings instead of diamond stud earrings--or lavish chandelier earrings dripping with moissanite.

Cons of Moissanite

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

Not as Clear

While moissanite shares many similarities with diamonds, one aspect where it differs is its color variations. Moissanite may exhibit a gray, blue, or slight body color tinge affecting its overall appearance. This haze-like color doesn't resemble diamonds at all. This color tint is very very faint but is noticeable to the professional trained eye as they are evaluating the stone for quality and identification.

Not Very Popular

Moissanite has never really gained the same level of popularity as diamonds-diamonds remain the most sought-after gemstone for engagement rings and other fine jewelry designs, passed down as a keepsake, heirloom, or another noteworthy momento. Natural earth-mined diamonds remain the most prestigious due to their long-standing reputation. The more people become aware of moissanite's presence, affordability, durability, and diamond-like fire, the more moissanite will gain a loyal consumer base.

Not Many Expert Moissanite Jewelers

Finding expert jewelers specializing in moissanite can be challenging because most jewelers focus on diamonds, natural or synthetic colored stones, and may have limited experience working with moissanite. This may make it harder to find the right jeweler who offers in-depth knowledge for selecting, designing, and working with moissanite and moissanite jewelry. 

However, as moissanite continues to demand recognition, more jewelers offering consumers knowledge to make informed decisions about their moissanite jewelry purchases may assist in creating stunning moissanite jewelry over time. 

Find out 10 known moissanite problems by reading this article.

Some Surprising Facts About Moissanite

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

It Came From a Meteor

Curious about the origins of natural moissanite? The word/name moissanite originates from Dr. Henri Moissan, a distinguished chemist who discovered natural moissanite in 1893, hence the name. However, natural moissanite is an exceptionally rare gemstone, usually found in kimberlites, lamproites, and meteorites, all in small amounts. Its scarcity adds to the allure and fascination surrounding this remarkable gem.

Want to find out more? Visit one of our many blogs, Simulated Diamond vs. Moissanite: A Side-by-Side Comparison for in-depth information.

Natural Moissanite is Rarer than 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. Natural diamonds have more of a widespread occurrence.

Excellent Heat Resistance

Moissanite exhibits exceptional heat resistance, withstanding high temperatures without experiencing any significant crystal structure damage. This heat resistance makes moissanite a durable choice for various jewelry applications, including jewelry repairs (resizing, soldering, re-pronging, etc, with a jeweler's torch), or everyday wear. It is said that moissanite can withstand the high temperature of a house fire, making it perfect for wearing during activities in which it may be exposed to harsh elements, whether accidental or intentional. Learn more about moissanite facts here!

Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons? 

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. This includes a diamond-like appearance, affordability, ethical origins, endless versatility in fine jewelry design and common jewelry settings, in addition, excellent heat resistance. Moissanite is not a cheap knock-off of a diamond. It is a high-quality man-made counterpart to natural moissanite. 

Conclusion

Here is a summary of key points mentioned in this article, considering moissanite pros and cons:

Pros of Moissanite:

• Brilliant: Looks like a diamond at first glance, displaying incredible brilliance, fire, and luxury.
• Affordability: Considerably less costly than a natural diamond when all quality factors are equal. Perfect for those who don’t want to compromise on a luxury or carat size yet seek something distinctively different. 
• Durability: High durability, almost as scratch-resistant as a diamond. Moissanite rates 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale out of 10. Diamond rates a 10 out of 10.
• Ethical and environmental considerations: Lab-grown origins, sustainable, and socially conscious. Not mined or sourced from the earth (synthetic version).

Cons of Moissanite:

• Different optical properties: A gemologist or jewelry professional can tell them apart. Moissanite is more brilliant than a diamond, giving it a rainbow effect many may not find as appealing as the cool, icy-white scintillation of a diamond. 
• Not a natural diamond: Does not contain the same optical and chemical properties as a diamond.
• Lower resale value: Can be resold but doesn't have the same demand as natural diamonds. This may lead to lower resale value or lower insurance appraisal because most moissanite on the market is synthetic.