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Diamond Education Diamond vs. Moissanite

YOUR FOREVER STONE

An engagement ring is more than just a ring, it’s a symbol of your love and commitment. This is why you want a beautiful, durable, resilient stone that will last as long as your love…Forever.

At HPerry Jewelers, our job is to help you find your forever stone. A stone that you’ll be proud of today, tomorrow, 10 years from now, 40 years from now. A gem that your children will be proud of, and their children, and hopefully their children. What other type of heirloom can be worn every single day and still be passed down through the generations?

With the trends constantly changing and endless options available in jewelry stores, how can you choose what is best for you? Don’t worry, we’re here to help.

WHAT IS A DIAMOND?

Diamonds are forever. You’ve heard that diamonds are the the hardest known natural material in the world, which means nothing else can scratch them. Only a diamond can scratch a diamond. They are also very tough, stable, and durable–so they’re the best gemstone for daily wear. This doesn’t mean a diamond can’t break, it just means it’s harder to do so. Because of this, a diamond can be passed down for generations. There are plenty of other gemstones that have survived generations of wear, but out of all the different choices, diamond is the best option for an heirloom.

WHAT IS A MOISSANITE?

To be clear, moissanite is not a type of diamond at all. Some people are under the impression that moissanite is a synthetic diamond, but this is simply not true. For more information on synthetic diamonds, read our blog post What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?

Moissanite is synthetic, just not a synthetic diamond. Natural moissanite is a naturally occurring mineral that was originally discovered in the US in 1893. However, all gem-quality moissanite on the market is lab created. It can be compared to sapphire and ruby in hardness, as it is a 9.25 on the Mohs scale. This is a lower hardness than diamond, which is a 10 on the Mohs scale.

To see our selection of loose moissanite, visit Our Showcase.

MOISSANITE AS A DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE
Do diamond and moissanite really look alike? To most people, probably yes. The average shopper, however, will occasionally catch a glimpse of “moissanite” and ask “Why does that diamond look a little ‘off’?'” For most trained professionals, the difference is easy to distinguish based on appearance and modern diamond testers.

As a diamond simulant, it’s a better alternative to others. Moissanite is highly refractive (extra sparkly) and eye-clean. It’s more brilliant, harder, and tougher than other diamond alternatives such as cubic zirconia, white sapphire, and white topaz.

Some people prefer moissanite because of the environmental and political controversy of diamond mining. We touch on this briefly in our blog post, Top 5 Diamond Myths.

We’ve developed this chart to help our customers better understand the distinctions between moissanite, lab created diamond, and mined diamond.

Moissanite Lab Grown Diamond Mined Diamond
Lower hardness (9.25)

Less expensive, so also less valuable. Difficult to resell, very little (if any) trade-in value towards a new purchase.

Traceable origin

Synthetic, not mined

Same hardness as natural diamond (10)

More affordable than mined diamonds of equal carat and quality

Traceable origin

Come with a Diamond Grading Laboratory Report (if purchased from HPerry Jewelers)

Hardness of 10, the highest on the Mohs scale.

 

Purchase of below-ground diamonds supports people all over the world. Without the employment of the diamond mining industry, many people in third world countries would not have jobs. Mining companies also support these communities by building hospitals, bridges, and other infrastructure.

Eligible for trade-in toward a future purchase

Comes with a Diamond Grading Laboratory Report (if purchased from HPerry Jewelers)

HOW TO CHOOSE WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU

Ask yourself this: What is your budget? A 6.5mm round moissanite might cost around $600-$800 new, whereas a 6.5mm round diamond (a 1ct diamond) will cost considerably more.

If budget is not an issue, consider the longevity and value of a diamond. Moissanite is affordable, but diamond is valuable. We recommend looking at them both in person first, as well.

In fact, if you see a stone on Our Showcase that you would like to see in person, we’ll be happy to make it available for you.

Our jewelry professionals would love to have a conversation with you about diamonds and diamond alternatives. Feel free to stop by the store anytime to ask whatever questions you may have.

Jordan Rayne
GIA Diamonds Graduate, GIA AJP
Designer and Consultant for HPerry Jewelers since 2013



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