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People always say, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend", but lately women have been looking at diamond alternatives as an option for their wedding and engagement jewelry.  There are so many options on the market, and one of the best is Moissanite.  But what is moissanite?  It is a stone that looks like a diamond but at a more affordable price.  It looks beautiful in engagement rings, wedding rings and studs.  Moissanite sparkles and shines brilliantly, and is sure to catch eyes.

Before making such a big choice, it is best to sit down with your love and talk about it.  Some people are fine with an alternative stone over a diamond, but others see a natural diamond as being of the utmost importance. There are many reasons to go one way or another, and the most important factor is that the person you are sharing your love with is happy with the the ring they will be wearing for the rest of their lives.  So, what should you know about moissanite so you can make an educated decision?  Read on and find out.

Where did moissanite come from?

According to The Diamond Pro, Moissanite was discovered in 1893 by a chemist in France named Henri Moissan. While examining rock samples from a meteor crater impact site in Arizona, Henri thought he found diamonds, but upon further inspection many years later he realized he actually found silicon carbide. The silicon carbide was named Moissanite in honor of Henri Moissan towards the end of his life. Moissanite started to be synthesized in the 1950's since the mineral was very rare and can only be naturally found at meteor impact sites and a few places around the world. Now you can get all kinds of jewelry set with moissanite stones which looks almost indistinguishable from natural diamonds. There are only a few differences between the two and in the end the choice is really yours. Here are some factors that should help with that decision.

What Is The Difference Between Moissanite And A Natural Diamond?

Brilliance

First and foremost, moissanite has a beautiful brilliance to it. The brilliance of a stone is signified by the amount of light refracted from one facet to another and then sent through the top of the diamond, or in other words, how it sparkles. A moissanite has more of a rainbow sparkle as oppose to a diamond which has both a white sparkle and rainbow sparkle to it. The amazing rainbow sparkle of a moissanite is the main reason someone would be able to tell that your stone is not a diamond but they will still be mesmerized by the disco ball effect of the moissanite. Your moissanite ring will be more brilliant than a natural diamond any day.

Durability

But, is it as durable as a natural diamond? The answer is, almost. Moissanite is a 9.25 on the Mohs Hardness scale and the only thing harder than moissanite is a diamond which rates at a 10. That means that moissanite will not get scratched up if you live an active lifestyle or break if you are hard on your hands. There will be no worries about how it can hold up to everyday life so you can concentrate about more important things.

Color

The color of your stone is important, so, how does moissanite hold up to the beautiful clarity of a natural diamond? Moissanite has the amazing capacity to be completely colorless to almost colorless just like a natural diamond! Though there are slight differences in the two stones moissanite's color is as beautiful and crystal clear as a natural diamond.

Clarity

Clarity is possibly one of the most important factors when choosing a stone, how does moissanite stand up to natural diamonds when it comes to the physical defects of the stone? Not what you were thinking I am sure. The truth is that moissanite will only be sold at a grade of VS or above, diamonds on the other hand can be sold with a lower grade and cost more money. The long and the short of it is that you will never find a flaw with your naked eyes in a moissanite stone but you can purchase a natural diamond with visual defects. Why not just buy a higher grade diamond? You can of course, but when on a budget you might be limited on the grade of the natural diamond. Moissanite can ensure that you stay under budget and still get everything you want. Which brings me to my favorite difference in the two stones.

Price

The price difference between a natural diamond and a moissanite stone is quite substantial. For a one carat natural diamond you will pay around $5,500, but for one carat of moissanite you are looking at a price tag closer to $600. What! That is a huge difference! Sometimes you need to think more practical, not everyone has thousands to spend on an engagement ring. Life happens and money needs to go to something more practical. With moissanite, you can still have the ring of your dreams and pay for everything else as well. As this is really a couple by couple basis, make sure to check in with your partner and ensure that they are fine with an alternative stone, some people prefer the symbolism of the natural diamond and find it very important to have a natural diamond regardless of price.

Here are the numbers for easy comparison to help you make your decision

What Else Should I Take Into Consideration?

Ethical & Environmental Concerns

Something else people tend to consider when buying a wedding or engagement ring is where the stone came from. With diamonds it can be hard or nearly impossible to know if it came from an ethical source. Without a certificate for your diamond you might be left worrying if your new favorite piece of jewelry came from the labor of a person working in terrible working conditions with unfair practices. With moissanite however; there is no second guessing its origin. All moissanite stones are humane and ethically created. You should always get the certification for your natural diamonds to ensure its ethics, or you can just not worry about it at all with a moissanite stone.

Family Heirlooms

Sometimes it is important to pass items like your wedding dress or your engagement ring down to your children or other family members. Generally a family heirloom engagement ring will be made of natural diamonds and cherished for generations. Can you do this with moissanite though? Sure you can, though generally natural diamonds are more valuable and therefore more important to the family line. Moissanite tends to be more of a sentimental attachment without the monetary value. The choice is yours and your partners when all is said and done so think about it carefully before committing to a particular option.