What is the difference between diamond vs moissanite?

If you are looking for engagement rings, you may have noticed that diamond is the most used gemstone in this type of piece. Although it is not the only option to be considered, when choosing this very special piece of jewellery, the diamond is very desired because it is associated with the promise of eternal love.

Diamond has unique characteristics! So it is exceptional and valuable in the world of jewellery. However, there are more affordable substitutes on the aftermarket that try to simulate the shine and colour of this gem.

The synthetic gemstones that are closest aesthetically to diamond are cubic zirconia and moissanite. However, they cannot perfectly mimic the characteristics of this valuable gem. Understand below the difference between these three stones.

Diamond

Diamond is the most desired gemstone for jewelry making, appreciated for its beauty and durability. This gem is composed of a single chemical element, carbon. It is formed under enormous pressure and temperature, in the deepest layers of the Earth.

Due to its chemical structure and the conditions in which it is formed , diamond is considered the hardest mineral on the planet, with a hardness of 10 mohs . This indicates that the diamond is very scratch resistant. 

Diamond is also quite heat resistant: it can only melt when exposed to a temperature of 5,500 °C, which means that diamonds would only disappear from the planet if the earth came into contact with the sun.

Diamond is also famous for its remarkable optical properties. It has a high dispersion index, 0.044 and a refractive index of 2.417-2.419. These two characteristics are responsible for the diamond's high shine and beautiful bursts of light.

When you see a diamond sparkle, you see the gem's ability to bend and refract light. When light hits the inside of the diamond, it bounces off and is refracted by the table, that is, the top of the diamond, directly into our eyes.

Because it is a natural gemstone, diamond qualities are variable. Better quality diamonds have fewer impurities, have a cut that enhances the shine of the stone and are almost colorless, in some cases, completely colorless. The better the quality of the diamond, the higher its value.

So that it was possible to assess the value of a diamond, the GIA – Gemological Institute of America – created the 4 C's as a method to classify the qualities of the diamond. Diamonds are classified according to four characteristics: Color – Color , Carat – Weight , Clarity – Purity and Cut – Cut .

Moissanite

Moissanite is a natural gem that came from other galaxies, but can be artificially synthesized here on Earth. It was discovered by Henri Moissan, a French scientist, later awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. In 1893, he found a mineral very similar to diamond, but composed of silicon carbide, in a crater created by a meteorite in Arizona.

Moissanite Crystals Natural from Mount Carmel (Israel) – Photo: Aurélien Delaunay/GIA

The quantity found by Moissan was so limited that it was impossible to sell the gem. Therefore, most of the moissanites currently on the market are synthetic, that is, made in the laboratory. It took many years of trying before science was able to reproduce a satisfactory imitation.

While moissanite is a more affordable alternative than diamonds, there are major differences to consider, such as composition and brilliance.

The gem has a hardness of 9.25 mohs, being just below the diamond, which occupies the top of the hardness scale, with 10 mohs.

Moissanite's luster is known to produce an intense colored glow, which is liked by some but rejected by others as looking too artificial. Thus, while diamond has an intense and white burst of light, moissanite refracts less light of this color, resulting in a peculiar color. This effect is similar to the “disco ball” effect, which occurs due to the high dispersion index. We offer Moissanite TNT hard as diamond and it will pass the diamond tester tools but be visible for jewellers.