Diamond vs Moissanite

Brilliance and Fire

You’ll notice both brilliance (white flashes) and fire (red flashes) when looking at a diamond (coloured seconds). Moissanite exhibits both qualities but has a higher fire than diamond. As a result, moissanite has more colourful light flashes than diamond.

However, the diamond cut has a role in this. Diamonds with ancient or modern imperfections will exhibit more fire at certain angles than most modern diamonds, making it difficult to distinguish between them.

It’s difficult to distinguish between moissanite and diamonds based on brilliance and fire, but it’s easier to notice at larger sizes. Even so, you won’t be able to discern the difference just on appearance unless you have prior knowledge in the jewellery industry.

Colour

Moissanite can now be found in the same colour spectrum as white diamonds, which wasn’t always the case.

The “traditional” color of moissanite is yellowish or brownish, and it’s often compared to diamonds in the J to M colour range. This collection complements yellow gold or rose gold settings and vintage styles.

On the other hand, moissanite comes in colours comparable to the “Near Colorless” G to I range and the “Colorless” D through F range. This provides moissanite buyers with many possibilities for emulating their preferred diamond looks and styles.

Moissanite, however, can change colour depending on lighting and may not always appear colourless, with some stones appearing more yellow or yellow-green. Colour-sensitive people may prefer moissanite to diamond or white sapphire.

Clarity

Moissanites do not have the big clarity flaws that diamonds are created in laboratories. As a result, moissanite will always be spotless, whereas diamonds may have obvious flaws.

Finding an eye-clean diamond in the correct size can be tough for those on a tight budget. It entails meticulously inspecting a large number of diamonds, which can be time-consuming and necessitates the assistance of a professional.

Hardness

Diamond is the hardest material on the Mohs scale, with often hardness, and a diamond is the only object that can scratch another diamond. Moissanite is the second-hardest gemstone substance, with a hardness of 9.25. It’s unlikely that your moissanite would scratch unless you store it near diamond jewellery.

Toughness

Determine whether moissanite or diamond is the more durable gem material. Moissanite sellers may suggest that moissanite is harder, whereas diamond sellers may advocate the contrary.

Moissanite lacks a cleavage plane, whereas diamond has one. (This is a plane within a diamond crystal that can readily split.) Moissanite has an edge in terms of durability because of this. This, however, does not indicate how hard moissanite must be pounded until it chips or shatters.

The following pressure tolerance measurements in millions of pounds per square inch (PSI) for diamond, moissanite, and cubic zirconia (CZ), a well-known diamond simulant, cannot be verified by the IGS. They may, however, provide a point of reference:

  • Diamond: 14.6 PSI
  • Moissanite: 7.6 PSI
  • CZ: 2.4 PSI

If these calculations are correct, diamond requires twice the pressure to break as moissanite, and moissanite requires three times the pressure to break as CZ. However, it’s unclear whether the diamond’s measurement is an average of force exerted in all directions or if it was recorded along its cleavage plane, which would be less effective. (Like moissanite, CZ doesn’t have a cleavage plane.)

In most circumstances, both diamond and moissanite are unlikely to break or shatter, but it is always possible depending on the cut. (Princess cuts, for example, may chip more easily than rounds.) Durability isn’t a major consideration when deciding between these gems.

Cost

When it comes to picking an engagement ring, price is nearly always a big consideration. When comparing the pricing of moissanite vs diamond, moissanite comes out on top. Compare the sizes of moissanite available for the following budgets to diamonds of various colour grades.

These are costs for round diamonds with the maximum carat weight in the budget for an eye-clean SI2, excellent-cut diamond from James Allen, for the sake of simplicity. These diamond values indicate the very bare minimum of flawless quality. Moissanite sizes are based on Brilliant Earth’s Super Premium moissanite, which has a colour grade of D-E-F.

Moissanite saves a lot of money, as you can notice. You can acquire a stone the size of a one-carat diamond for less than $1,000. You’d pay at least $3,000 for a diamond of this size, with substantial colour and quality sacrifices. It would be massive, almost 1 cm across if you spent that much on moissanite!