Moissanite is fast becoming a leading option for engagement rings as tastes shift towards a preference for gemstones being more sustainable, and affordable. Chemically, moissanite is known as silicon carbide. It was first thought to be diamonds by French scientist Henri Moissan, which should say something about their beauty compared to the pricey stones, making them a wonderful cost-effective alternative. Here are all the things you should know before buying a moissanite engagement ring.

What Is Moissanite?

Moissanite is a mineral composed of silicon carbide. Often referred to as the gemstone from the stars, it was discovered in 1893 inside of a meteorite in Canyon Diablo, Arizona, by Nobel Prize-winning chemist Henri Moissan. Initially mistakenly identifying his discovery as diamonds, it wasn’t until 1904 that Moissan determined the crystals were, in fact, silicon carbide. This naturally occurring mineral form of what we now call moissanite was named in honor of Moissan later in his life.

In its natural form, moissanite remains very rare. It wasn’t until 1958 that geologists found moissanite outside of meteorites, discovering it in the Earth’s upper mantle near Wyoming.

Today, moissanite is exclusively grown in laboratories as an alternative to diamonds. Created in a controlled environment with advanced technology, it is easily traceable and requires no mining. This means moissanite has a smaller carbon footprint and lessened environmental impact than a naturally mined gem.

Increasingly popular as an alternative to diamonds, moissanite is now widely used in jewelry, especially as the center stone of engagement rings.

Is a Moissanite a Diamond?

Moissanite is fast becoming a leading option for engagement rings as tastes shift towards a preference for gemstones being more sustainable, and affordable. Chemically, moissanite is known as silicon carbide. It was first thought to be diamonds by French scientist Henri Moissan, which should say something about their beauty compared to the pricey stones, making them a wonderful cost-effective alternative. Here are all the things you should know before buying a moissanite engagement ring.

Moissanite vs. Diamond vs. Lab Diamond

Durability
Gemstones are measured on the Mohs scale, which addresses a gem's hardness.

Moissanite

Moissanites are at 9.25 on the Mohs scale, making them suitable for everyday wear.

Diamond

Diamonds, the hardest known naturally occurring mineral, are a 10 on the Mohs scale, making them the ideal option for engagement rings.

Lab Diamond

Lab diamonds are a 10 on the Mohs scale, making them the ideal option for engagement rings.

Brilliance
Brilliance refers to the appearance of light reflected from the gemstone's interior.

Moissanite

Moissanites are slightly more brilliant than diamonds, though they feature more than twice the amount of fire. If a moissanite is larger than 1 carat, the difference in fire can be very noticeable as it has a refractive index of 2.64 to 2.69.

Diamond

Natural diamonds are slightly less brilliant than moissanite and feature two times less fire, though they still exhibit dispersion and scintillation. The refractive index of diamonds ranges from 2.417 to 2.419.

Lab Diamond

Lab diamonds are slightly less brilliant than moissanite and feature two times less fire, though they still exhibit dispersion and scintillation. The refractive index of diamonds ranges from 2.417 to 2.419.

Color
Color is the presence or absence of color visible within a gemstone.

Moissanite

While most moissanites can now be grown as colorless or near colorless, they are also created in hues of teal, grey, green, yellow, and black.

Diamond

Natural diamonds occur in the colorless range, but they also occur in many colors, including pink, blue, and yellow from trace elements like nitrogen and boron.

Lab Diamond

The rarest lab diamonds are those in the colorless range, but they are also created in many colors. Lab-grown colored diamonds are more accessible than natural colored diamonds and can often be found in more vivid, fancier colors.

Price
Price references how much you will pay for a gemstone.

Moissanite

Moissanite is dramatically lower in price than diamonds of the same carat weight. Their pricing is based on size, shape, and whether the stone is colorless or near colorless.

Diamond

Natural diamonds are the most expensive. As they are mined from the Earth and take billions of years to form, they are much rarer than both moissanite and lab diamonds. In addition to their rarity, diamonds are priced based on their 4 C's and shape.

Lab Diamond

Lab diamonds cost less than their natural counterparts due to their origin but cost more than moissanites. As with natural diamonds, lab diamonds are priced based on their 4 C's and shape.

Sourcing
Sourcing refers to the origin of the gemstone and how it was produced.

Moissanite

Moissanite is grown in controlled laboratories by professionals. Once formed, they’re cut and polished.

Diamond

Natural diamonds form deep in the Earth. Then, they are mined, cut, and polished.

Lab Diamond

Lab diamonds are grown in controlled laboratories by professionals. Once formed, they’re cut and polished.

How to Tell a Moissanite From a Diamond

If you are not trained in the differences between diamond and moissanite, telling the difference can be difficult. The best way to tell the difference is to line up two similarly sized gemstones, one moissanite, and one diamond, and compare them next to one another.

Moissanite vs. Diamond Side-by-Side

The distinct sparkle of a diamond is a unique combination of reflected light, the colors that refract through it, and its scintillation. While moissanite exhibits light reflection, color refraction, and scintillation, it also features more than two times the amount of 'fire' than diamonds, meaning it shows more intense flashes of rainbow light than diamonds. This 'disco ball' effect, which is more prominent in moissanite with larger carat weights, is the best way to quickly distinguish between moissanite and diamond.

To officially confirm the difference between a moissanite and a diamond, take it to a trained professional. By examining the ‘doubling’ of opposing facet junctions with a loupe, they can validate if your stone is a moissanite or a diamond.

Most Popular Moissanite Rings

Explore our most popular settings to pair with a moissanite.

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Tips on Selecting a Moissanite

While shopping for a moissanite is not unlike shopping for any other gemstone, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Unlike diamonds that are graded by independent institutions on cut, color, clarity, and carat, moissanites are reviewed only for cut, color, and clarity. Then, at Brilliant Earth, they’re categorized by their color and rated as Premium or Super Premium. A Premium moissanite is similar to a G-H color diamond, while a Super Premium moissanite is in the D-E-F range. As the technology to create a moissanite is so advanced, there is very little variation in their quality.

Lastly, it’s most important to consider if moissanite is the right gemstone for you. To come to a conclusion, think about its difference from diamonds (its fire, scintillation, price, and durability) to determine if it’s your ideal fit.