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Enjoying Beautiful Jewelry

The Basic Difference Between Moissanite & Diamonds Gemstones

18 September 2019

Edward Adams

Moissanite has become a popular alternative to diamonds, especially over the last few decades. Moissanite is a naturally occurring gemstone, but it can also be manufactured in a lab. A moissanite stone looks really similar to a diamond, as it is clear, shiny, and beautiful just like a diamond. However, there are some important differences between a moissanite stone and a diamond stone.

Hardness

Both moissanite and diamonds are really hard stones. Diamonds are the hardest stones that one can purchase. On the Mohs scale of hardness, a diamond ranks at a 10. Moissanite is also a really hard stone, although not as hard as diamonds. Moissanite ranks at 9.5 on the Mohs scale, which makes it a really hard stone very comparable to a diamond. By contrast, Topaz only ranks as an 8 and Quartz as a 7.  

Diamonds are a little harder, but moissanite is still a really sturdy stone. 

Color

When you look at a colorless diamond, you are not going to see any other colors in the stone. When you look at a colorless moissanite stone, you will see either hints of grey or yellow in the stone. The color in a moissanite stone is less apparent when using a smaller stone; the grey and yellow hints are usually more apparent with a larger stone. 

Brilliance

Brilliance, when talking about gemstones, is how much that particular gemstone reflects light. The ability for a gemstone to reflect light is seen as a positive. The way that each gemstone reflects light is different. 

With a moissanite stone, when a single ray of light goes through the stone, the light is bent, and two rays of light are created from the first ray of light. This creates more of a rainbow effect when a moissanite stone is hit with light. 

With a diamond, when a single ray of light hits the diamond, only a single ray of light is reflected back. A diamond is not going to create the same rainbow effect when hit by light like a moissanite stone will. However, when hit by light, a diamond does have a certain level of radiance and beauty as well. 

Price

One of the biggest differences between a moissanite gemstone and a diamond gemstone comes down to the price. A natural diamond that was mined is going to cost more than a moissanite gemstone of the same size. A lab-made diamond will cost less than a natural diamond, but more than a moissanite gemstone of the same size.  

Both moissanite and diamonds are beautiful clear gemstones. Moissanite gemstones are not as hard as diamonds and have a little yellow or gray color to them if you look closely. Moissanite gemstones split light whereas diamonds do not. Moissanite gemstones also are more affordable than both naturally mined and lab-made diamonds.

For more information about moissanite rings, contact a local jeweler.

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