At first glance, moissanite and diamonds look and seem hugely similar, and in many ways, they are. But upon taking a closer inspection, certain dissimilarities will come to light, the greatest of which are the cost of the stone and the light refraction qualities. Although moissanite is a far more cost-effective option that diamonds, it should by no means be dismissed as an inferior option. Far from being a fake diamond or worse, a knockoff, moissanite is an independently valuable stone which happens to make a solid substitute for a diamond based on their similarities. Here’s why you should consider buying one.
Why the cut you choose matters
Moissanite is in the middle of a revolution! There is a growing movement away from the use of diamonds, as people are savvying up about not only cost per item (which can be outrageous) but also about the larger ethical impact of the diamond mining industry. There are several hefty considerations around environmental destruction, civil unrest and land issues, exploitation of workers and more – if ethics are an active consideration for you, moving to moissanite just makes sense.
As with diamonds, the way the stone is cut has a large impact on how it appears, and many people opt for a classic cut like the brilliant round cut, as this is where tried and trusted cutting techniques can be applied to make the stone come to life and express its maximum fire. The right cut allows the stone to harness its double refractive qualities and let out the largest amount of light possible – and as it is, moissanite is capable of giving off twice the amount of light than a diamond does! It is important to consider that each cut results in a different visual effect. The structure and strength of a moissanite is more or less on par with that of a diamond, regardless of the cut.
Can I get it in different colours?
Although you should not expect to see vibrant colours, moissanite does range across a certain spectrum of tints, from brown to yellow and green, and finally, white or colourless, which is the most desirable (and most expensive) type. The beauty of a moissanite is that it is almost universally compatible with any type of band, so whether you prefer silver, yellow gold, white gold, rose gold or even platinum doesn’t matter – you can rest assured that your moissanite ring will display to its full brilliance no matter what base you choose.
A lifetime companion in your moissanite
Although many people struggle to let go of the traditional elements that are associated with diamonds, the bravery to make the leap into the world of moissanite can be rewarding. This intriguing stone can comfortably hold its own in comparison to diamonds, with a score of 9.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. When you consider that diamonds are a 10, it becomes clear that the exchange is a sensible one, when it comes to appearance and performance.