Moissanite Diamond
Thanks to the commercialization of the diamond and wedding industries, the diamond has become a “symbol” of love and marriage. This puts an unfortunate amount of unnecessary stress and pressure on couples who may be under budget restrictions. However with the growing awareness of conflict diamonds, many people are turning away from diamonds in favor of human friendly stones. At www.DiamondAlternative.com - we help you find those!
Silicon carbide is the mineral used in the production of the synthetic diamond more widely known as Moissanite. After being misidentified as a diamond in 1998, the Moissanite became a popular alternative to the diamond. In comparison to it’s sometimes gaudy cubic zirconia, the Moissanite is considered one of the top man made alternatives to a real diamond. It is virtually undetectable to the naked eye, and even some well trained jewelers have trouble identifying the differences between a moissanite and a real diamond.
The moissanite price point is very desirable, with a cost at roughly an eight of the price of a natural diamond. However if you’re considering a moissanite, keep in mind that because of it’s high quality, it will be more expensive than other lab created diamonds like the Cubic Zirconia. Visually, the moissanite is so similar to the diamond – that once again, that even those with a trained eye will be fooled. But it is worth noting that with larger carat sizes the color does change to a slightly yellowish tint. Moissanite stones are the equivalent to the H-J grades in the white Diamond Color scale which further adds to it’s believability. Known for their hardness, natural diamonds measure a 10.0 on Mohs scale. Moissanite stones measure a 9.5, harder than most natural gemstones and other man made diamonds, like the Diamonique for example.
Moissanite also has a higher index of refraction (brilliance) and a greater dispersion (fire) than the diamond. Depending on your preference, this can be seen as either a pro or a con. Due to its greater dispersion, the moissanite is able to maintain its fire even when it gets dirty. Surprisingly, some people regard that trait as a sign of being fake or cheap looking. But once again, that’s really a personal preference.
If you are thinking about purchasing a Moissanite stone engagement ring, it is important to note that the stone holds no long term value like the diamond. Do not allow that to take away from it’s beauty and sentimental value. For couples looking to stay within a certain budget, the moissanite allows for the elegance, beauty, and grace of a diamond but at a fraction of the cost.
If you are looking to expand your current jewelry collection but have the valid concern of blood diamonds, once again – moissanite is an excellent option for you as well.
