Diamond jewelry has an unparalleled charm and is perfect for making any woman look gorgeous. However, investing in elegant diamond jewelry can lead to a crater-sized hole in your wallet. To make it lighter on your bank balance, you can now find affordable alternatives like lab grown diamond and moissanite Jewelry.
But if you have to choose between moissanite ring and lab grown diamond ring, it can be a challenging task for you. Explore this article to learn more about the two types of stones and make the right choice between the two.
Moissanite
Moissanite, or space diamond, was discovered in 1893 by Henry Moissan. As he was examining rock samples from a meteor, he found some crystals which were initially mistaken as diamonds. But in 1904, it was determined that the crystals had silicon carbide. If they were diamond crystals, people would have found carbon samples. That’s when moissanite came into inception and was named after the man who discovered it.
The rarity of silicon carbide in nature makes moissanite gemstones synthetic and lab grown. Naturally-occurring moissanite can only be found in meteor craters. Apart from that, moissanite might be found in diamonds as inclusions.
Lab Grown Diamond
Lab grown diamonds are often mistaken as fake diamonds. But they are real because they have the same chemical properties and structure as naturally-occurring diamonds. The only difference between naturally occurring and lab-grown diamonds is that the latter are mass-produced in laboratories.
Lab grown diamonds don’t have to be mined from under the earth’s surface. Lab grown diamonds are produced with the help of a special machine that can imitate the natural diamond production process in a few weeks.
The temperatures are artificially increased to produce lab grown diamonds. Moreover, the same amount of pressure found in the mantle of the Earth is used to produce lab grown diamonds. You won’t find any difference between naturally occurring and lab grown diamonds.
But an artificially controlled and accelerated condition needs to be created for producing lab grown diamonds. Mining natural diamonds is more challenging than producing them in the lab. That’s why you will find a significant price difference between natural and lab grown diamonds.
Lab grown diamonds are eco-friendly and ethical, unlike natural diamonds. The mining process can raise air and water pollution levels. Additionally, mining is also associated with labor exploitation in terms of unethical working conditions. The production of lab grown diamonds in a controlled environment is not unethical, cruel, or damaging to the environment in any manner.
Comparing Moissanite Vs. Lab Grown Diamonds
Lets us brush over some differences between lab grown diamond and moissanite on the basis of the following factors:
- Sparkle
The sparkle of any gemstone is more accurately referred to as its fire, brilliance, and scintillation. Moissanite comes with greater fire and sparkle than diamonds or most other precious stones. This means that it shines far more than a diamond. Moissanite is doubly refractive and is sliced differently to enhance its extensive radiance. However, the added radiance does not imply that it is equally resilient or precious as a diamond.
- Price
Moissanite ranks as one of the most cost-effective diamond substitutes in the market today. It costs one-tenth the price of a mined diamond. Moissanite prices rely on its size and color grading. Superior premium moissanite is priced higher than premium moissanite.
Lab-grown diamonds are also cheaper than mined diamonds. But if you compare the price of lab grown diamonds and moissanite, the former will be more expensive. Therefore, moissanite is a better choice when you are running tight on budget.
- Color Quality
Moissanite and lab-grown diamonds are both available in near-colorless and colorless tones. Colorless diamonds are graded D, E, and F, while near colorless and light yellow diamonds are classified G, H, I, and J. The price of a colorless diamond is higher than a near-colorless one.
Colorless moissanite is whiter and clearer than the grades of D, E, and F diamonds, But the near-colorless moissanite diamonds come with a warmer tone than G, H, and I diamonds. You will come across moissanite gems in shades of yellow, cyan, gray, and green.
- Clarity
Differentiating between lab grown diamonds and moissanite in terms of clarity is almost impossible unless you aren’t a jeweler with sharp eyes. Diamonds usually have flaws because of how they come into origin under high pressure and soaring temperatures. The flaw of your diamonds will impact their brilliance.
While choosing diamonds, you should look for ones with no visible flaw to the naked eye. But in the case of moissanite, you don’t have to worry about its clarity. Moissanite stones are eye-clean with only a handful of microscopic flaws.
- Durability
How many times have you wondered, “is lab grown diamond better than moissanite?” If so, you have probably been worried about the durability of the two gems.
In terms of durability, lab grown diamonds will have a clear edge over moissanite. You will find lab grown diamonds to score 10 on the Mohs scale. It is this eternal nature of lab grown diamonds that makes them even more appealing.
Moissanite comes right next to diamonds from the perspective of durability. The score of moissanite on the Mohs scale ranges between 9.25 to 9.50. Therefore, moissanite is less likely to get cloudy or scratched. So, you can wear your moissanite jewelry regularly.
Lab Grown Diamond Vs. Moissanite: Which Is Better?
You will have to choose between lab grown and moissanite diamonds according to your preferences. If you want the brilliance of a diamond at an affordable price, moissanite is your perfect choice. But a lab grown diamond is a better choice when you are something ethical and environment-friendly. Explore the collection at Rosec Jewels today and make your pick.