Though there are several diamond alternatives on the market, none have dazzled quite like moissanite.
What is moissanite?
Moissanite is a rare, naturally occurring mineral. At the elemental level, it is a silicon carbide compound (SiC).
Where does moissanite come from?
In 1893, French chemist Dr. Henri Moissan unearthed a mysterious mineral, originally mistaken for diamond, in the crater of a fallen meteorite in Arizona. The discovered stone was called “moissanite” in his honor. Only later did scientists realize that the crystal so optically similar to a diamond was made of something else entirely: silicon carbide.
Though it is possible the first moissanite was a remnant of astral fragments, moissanite on the market is now exclusively man-made, as the mineral is too rare to be mined in nature. Moissanites are created in a lab by scientists trained in a specialized thermal growing process. Because it is created in a controlled environment, the gemstone is developed to be brilliant and pure, practically indecipherable from natural minerals in beauty and quality. The man-made origin also results in a 100% ethical, conflict-free piece of jewelry.
Moissanite vs. Diamond: Appearance
Can moissanite be distinguished from diamonds by the naked eye? Rarely. Though diamonds and moissanite gemstones are made of entirely different chemical elements, two similar-sized stones look identical to the untrained eye.
An excellent quality diamond is colourless. Moissanite can be created in an entire spectrum of colours, but diamond-like colourlessness is possible. Colourless moissanites are “eye clean,” meaning they match a colourless diamond on the GIA grading system.
Many buyers appreciate moissanite’s higher brilliance rating. Compared to diamonds, moissanites have a higher refractive index, known as ‘fire’—the wearer is apt to notice brilliant flashes of rainbow color when moving the stone under the light. Moissanite also lacks the inclusions and defects of natural stones such as diamonds. Thus, moissanites tend to sparkle more than diamonds, emphasizing the disco-ball effect under direct lights.
Moissanite vs Diamond: Quality & Durability
Diamond is the hardest stone of all (a 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness), but moissanite is the second hardest (9.25 on the same scale). Thus, moissanite is more durable than other diamond alternatives such as white sapphire and topaz. Moissanites are strong enough to last for generations, and they rival diamonds in their resistance to scratches. Moissanites perfected in the lab are created to be suitable for all pieces, from everyday wear to bridal sets.
Moissanite vs. Diamond: Affordability
Because diamonds have long been marketed as the wedding center stone of choice, a diamond is priced significantly higher than most stones. Scarcity and a tightly regulated market also cause prices to climb. Though diamonds will never go out of style, the tide of trends has turned to alternative gemstones. Moissanite has a lower, more flexible price-point which allows its buyers to receive beauty and quality at a more desirable price-point.
Moissanite vs. Diamond: Ethical impact
At Lucy & Mui, we believe in ethical sourcing. Each of our jewelry pieces comes with a zero-tolerance stance toward conflict diamonds. As part of the push for eliminating conflict diamonds from the market completely, we also encourage customers to look at diamond alternatives.
Quality, ethical diamonds can be a costly investment. Moissanite, on the other hand, has fully traceable origins—straight back to the lab where it was created. So though diamonds and moissanites from Lucy & Mui will be free of negative ethical impact, you can be 100% certain that a moissanite stone was never tainted by or adjacent to conflict mining.
Moissanite vs. Diamond: Environmental impact
Yet another advantage to moissanite laboratory origins is the limited carbon footprint. Moissanites do not come with the environmental costs associated with mined gemstones, such as land erosion, deforestation, and pollution.
At Lucy & Mui, we work with Charles & Colvard Forever One Moissanite. Charles & Colvard is the original producer of moissanite, and Forever One is the company’s most premium brand. The complex process of creating a single Forever One Moissanite gemstone takes at least two months from start to finish. The gems fall within the truly flawless range (IF-VS), with incredible clarity attained through a patented process. Each Forever One gem passes strict quality and purity testing before we marry it with your jewelry piece.
Forever One moissanites are available in the full spectrum of shapes and sizes. Let us know what you’re interested in purchasing for your custom jewelry pieces, and we will do our best to provide you with options to suit your preferences and price-point.