I’ve been engaged for 4 months, showed my ring to dozens of people, and that nightmare scenario that has played out in my mind many times has never happened. Not even once.
My fiancé and I chose a moissanite stone for my engagement ring and it is among the best decisions we have ever made.
Why I chose a diamond alternative for my engagement ring?
Two years into dating I knew my fiancé was the one. Like many girls, I started dreaming about what type of engagement ring I wanted.
I played around on sites that allow you to custom design your engagement ring.
I liked jeweler’s Facebook pages in order to enter contests to win expensive engagement rings. (Facebook awkwardly started displaying that I liked those pages to my friends, who then messaged me about it. Thanks, Facebook!)
Given my success with travel rewards and my optimism about life hacking, I was convinced that there was a way to hack the engagement ring as well.
I. What is moissanite?
Moissanite, or natural silicon carbide, was discovered over a century ago when Nobel prize-winning French chemist, Dr. Henri Moisson found tiny particles of the substance at the site of a massive meteorite strike in Arizona.
The stone was named moissanite in his honor. Years later, scientists created the gemstone that we know as moissanite today.
II. What does moissanite look like?
Although moissanite may look like a diamond, its higher rate of refraction and dispersion make it much sparklier than a diamond. It actually bends light more than twice as much.
The brilliance and fire make moissanite stones stand out compared to other gemstones.
III. How does moissanite compare to a diamond?
First, Moissanite is much less expensive than a diamond. A 1ct moissanite goes for $300 retail whereas a 1ct diamond could run anywhere from $4,000 to $25,000 depending on cut, color, and clarity.
Secondly, moissanite is more refractive than a diamond as mentioned above, which gives it more fire and sparkle.
Third, moissanite is not as hard as a diamond (about 9 to 10 on the mohr scale) but the difference is negligible. I’ve banged mine against hard surfaces many times and it’s fine.
Like diamonds, moissanites can range from colorless to some color and you pay more as you get closer to colorless – although the cost for a colorless moissanite is much less than the highest grade of diamond comparatively.
What is a moissanite stone if not the best very of both worlds: decidedly premium quality and genuine affordability. With more than twice the fire of a diamond at a fraction of the cost, durable moissanite gemstone combines luxury and accessibility.
According to the International Gemstone Society, by spending less than $1,000, you can receive a moissanite stone the size of a one-carat diamond for three times less than the standard cost—and all without compromising on color or clarity. In fact, our lab-created diamond simulants cost up to 90% less than mined diamonds while featuring sparkling brilliance, long-lasting durability, and unique premium cuts. A stunning gemstone at a stunningly low price point? It’s no wonder that so many modern couples choose to commemorate their love with moissanite jewelry and engagement rings.
Pro: Ethical Origins
Every aspect of a moissanite stone shines, including its origins. Ethically sourced, lab-grown moissanite gemstone is renowned for its conflict-free nature and environmentally friendly processes, removed from unethical mining practices and engineered by scientists with sustainable practices in mind. Look and feel your best in diamond alternatives crafted with conscientious care and the utmost attention to clarity, color and cut. With eco-friendly simulants that dazzle just like diamonds—but don’t compromise your comfort or arrive with hidden costs—you can sparkle with confidence and enjoy beautiful peace of mind.
Pro: Irresistibly Sparkly
If you’re looking to turn heads and win hearts, it’s hard to find a more eye-catching or radiant stone than moissanite. This eco-friendly diamond alternative may even compete with the cut, clarity, and brilliance of comparable mined diamonds measured on the standard diamond carat size chart. But unlike mined diamonds which emit colorless flashes when exposed to light, silicon carbide is double-refractive, creating a multi-hued rainbow of shimmer with every turn of the stone or encounter with light. What does this mean for your premium Nexus Diamond™ jewelry? More fire, more brilliance and more sparkle in your go-to pendant, engagement ring or custom design.
Pro: Seriously Durable
Moissanite ranks a 9.25 out of 10 on the industry-standard Mohs Scale of Hardness, just a touch under the ranking of mined diamonds. The serious durability of moissanite makes it a perfect choice for the center stone in your fine jewelry pieces. Given their top-notch brilliance and incredible tensile strength, our lab-grown diamond simulants deliver elegance and dazzle, without the worries about breaks, chips and cracks. Keep in mind, however, that certain gemstone cuts and shapes may require more delicate handling than others. Pear cuts and other elegant shapes may benefit from special settings that can help protect against everyday stress and damage. Speak with one of our experts about your unique needs.
Pro: Visibly Flawless
Lab-grown moissanite will certainly make an appealing option if your gemstone’s clarity is a top priority. Our moissanite diamond alternatives must achieve a clarity grade of VS or higher to be sold on the market. In other words, when you choose moissanite, you’re guaranteed a gorgeous stone with no visible flaws, perfect in appearance to the naked eye. And, when it comes to this gemstone, good things do last forever. This sparkly stone keeps its brilliance over time, so your fine jewelry can live on as a stunning heirloom piece that dazzles for generations to come.
Con: Slightly Different Sparkle Than Diamonds
While lab-grown moissanite offers greater brilliance than mined diamonds, differences in composition between the two gemstones result in slightly distinct sparkle patterns. Moissanite’s superior clarity—free of the inclusions and color variations in its mined counterparts—comes from a shift in light refraction properties. Moissanite is doubly refractive, which means that it sparkles much more—and much more colorfully—than the single refractive diamond.
While many delight in the dramatic blaze of this lab-grown dazzler, moissanite’s rainbow shimmer is distinctive—it does not perfectly match the white sparkle of real diamonds. The difference can be extremely subtle, especially with smaller stones, but experts with a trained eye can identify a diamond vs moissanite center stone based on sparkle alone.
Con: Hints of Warm Undertones
Colorless moissanite makes a fantastic alternative for those looking to simulate the versatility of the diamond. To attain its prized colorless quality, each gem undergoes a whitening process during its development. However, the ultimate degree of moissanite’s colorlessness may vary slightly from stone to stone. Some gems closely compare to near-colorless diamonds, while others may be slightly warmer in color with hints of yellow and green.
If you’re concerned about the hue of your gemstone, our experts can help you find your perfect diamond simulant. Each of our carefully crafted moissanite stones earns D, E, or F grades on the color scale of D to Z, with D being colorless.
Con: Less Access to Repairs, Resizing, and Resetting
While moissanite is one of the most promising additions to the world of fine jewelry, its innovative nature may make it more challenging to find jewelers that specialize in your stone in the event that you’re interested in resizing or resetting—at least compared to the many jewelers who work with mined diamonds.
Additionally, certain critics of moissanite argue that the stone does not retain its value over time. But this critique is not unique to moissanite; the same has been said of mined diamonds and other diamond alternatives within the retail space. It’s even possible that—given its durable quality and forever brilliance—moissanite boasts unparalleled longevity. If you have questions about caring for your moissanite jewelry through the years, our experts are happy to share insights and resources.
When picking engagement rings, consider the cut of the center stone. True, every cut is unique and reflects the wearer’s personality, but oval cut and emerald cut moissanite looks particularly beautiful on almost all hand shapes and sizes.
Similar to a round diamond, an oval cut moissanite is round but slightly elongated. It is a beautiful fusion of two diamonds with a flanked center and is most commonly sought in three-stone rings. When cut to perfection, the stone’s brilliance shines right through.
Its ideal curvature makes it timeless and enhances the ring’s overall appeal. Oval cut moissanite rings are ideal for short or small hands, giving the illusion of slender fingers.
Also known as a step-cut diamond, an emerald cut moissanite comes with fewer facets (25 to be exact) than a round cut moissanite. The emerald cut is usually in a square or rectangular shape and has tapered corners. Since an emerald cut has fewer facets, the moissanite has a limited surface to reflect light it.
However, this does not make emerald cut engagement rings less desirable. It is most popular among those looking for something unique and enchanting. Moreover, they are one of the most popular heirlooms in moissanite engagement ring history.
If your significant other is all about glamour and elegance, an emerald cut ring is a style for her! Thanks to its flat surface, lean facets, and extended sides, the stone has more potential to flaunt its clarity. Although it may be limited in terms of brilliance, it surely makes up for it in elegance!
Should You Choose an Oval or Emerald Cut Ring?
Deciding on an oval versus emerald cut engagement ring involves knowing the traits that determine their overall performance as the center stone on a ring.
Here are some guidelines to help you know whether to choose an oval or emerald cut.
You should choose an oval cut if:
You want a moissanite that has many qualities in common with round cuts but costs less per carat
You’re interested in an alternative to the most popular cuts but don’t want to sacrifice brilliance
Its overall shape is appealing to you, and you want a stone that effectively hides blemishes.
You should consider an emerald cut if:
You aren’t interested in moissanite with strong light performance
You want rectangular moissanite with large facets
By comparing oval and emerald cuts, and pairing them with multiple styles of settings, you can discover the perfect ring for you.
Have you decided which cut of engagement ring to choose by the end of the article? If you have decided and need to buy a ring, we can give you a great suggestion. MollyjewelryUS has a wide range of sizes for you to choose from. Our designers will also provide you with great service and solve all your problems along the way. You are more than welcome to shop with us!
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