Moissanite Vs Diamond - A Comprehensive Guide
At TMC Fine Jewellers, we believe your forever piece shouldn’t cost the earth - literally and figuratively. As trailblazers in the lab-grown industry, we are committed to offering only the highest quality, ethical and attainable gemstones. This guide is designed to help you understand the nuanced difference between diamond and moissanite, as two distinct gemstones.
Stone Origins
Moissanites are recognised as the 'gemstone from the stars', named after French chemist Henri Moissan who discovered the stone in a meteorite crater in 1893 and mistook it for a diamond. Naturally occurring Moissanite is incredibly rare. Scientists have since innovated and developed a process to create Silicon Carbide (SiC) crystals which can be cut into the world's most brilliant gemstone.
On the contrary, mined diamonds are formed naturally over billions of years from a combination of extreme temperatures and high pressure, where carbon atoms bond tightly together under the earth's surface. At temperatures higher than 1150 C and pressures 45,000 times greater than at sea level, crystals formed, resulting in the hardest natural mineral on Earth: diamond (GIA 4Cs, 2019). The formation of mined diamonds is a rare process that takes place deep in the earth's mantle.
Chemical Makeup
A moissanite stone is composed of silicon carbide (SiC), while a diamond is composed of carbon (C).
Refractive Index (Brilliance)
Brilliance is the term generally used to describe the white light return, which is the foundation of a stone’s brightness and sparkle.
With expert growth and gem-cutting technologies at the core of our practices, our moissanite is grown and cut to the exacting standards set by TMC Fine Jewellers to create the most diamond-like alternative, in terms of quality and appearance. A moissanites brilliance is classified as 2.65-2.69. A diamond's brilliance is classified at 2.42.
Fire
Fire is simply the coloured or rainbow sparkle that you can see when the stone is exposed to light. The higher fire dispersion of a moissanite is one of the ways it can be distinguished between a diamond.
Depending on the gemstones faceting, some moissanite stones amplify white light for a bright, clear sparkle, while others enhance the stone’s signature fiery rainbow flashes. The fire dispersion of a moissanite stone is 0.104, and the fire dispersion of a diamond is 0.044.
Durability (Mohs Scale)
Moissanite is a premium, high-quality gemstone that will not scratch, fade, or lose its brilliance over time. It is composed of an exceptionally durable and impermeable compound, making it the perfect choice for a ring designed to last a lifetime.
Unlike other diamond alternatives like cubic zirconia or crystal, which can dull and wear down over time, Moissanite offers exceptional longevity. With a hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale, it is second only to diamonds (rated 10) and significantly harder than cubic zirconia (8) or crystal (7). This durability ensures that Moissanite withstands daily wear, for a lifetime of love.
| Gemstone | Mohs Scale of Hardness |
|---|---|
| Crystal (Glass) | 7 |
| Cubic Zirconia | 8 |
| Moissanite | 9.25 |
| Diamond | 10 |
Colour
All The Moissanite Company Moissanite gemstones we produce and utilise are D colour, equivalent to the GIA's standard of a colourless diamond. We also work with a variety of coloured moissanites and our Signature Champagne moissanite.
Diamonds are found in a range of colours, but the most coveted are those in the colourless ‘DEF’ range, renowned for their bright white appearance.
Clarity
Clarity refers to the tiny imperfections, or inclusions, found within the structure of a gemstone.
Since a lab-grown gemstone such as moissanite is created with advanced technology mimicking the natural growth process of its mined counterpart, it allows better mitigation of inclusions in a controlled environment.
Our moissanite is graded VVS1 for clarity, meaning ‘very, very slightly included.’ These inclusions are not visible to the naked eye.
The ideal clarity for diamonds is within the same range of VVS1-VVS2. However, due to the way diamonds are naturally formed and mined, having few to no inclusions in the diamond means the price of the diamond increases respectively.
Pricing
Cost is often a significant factor when deciding between mined diamonds and moissanite. Simply put, mined diamonds are more expensive than moissanite, due to the labour-intensive mining process and rarity of larger carat size. On the contrary, lab-grown gemstones, such as moissanite, have a more efficient production cost, which translates directly to a more affordable product.
Our moissanite gemstones range between $1,200.00 and $5,000.00 and are significantly more affordable compared to their mined counterparts, allowing you to indulge in your dream ring design and a larger carat size, without exceeding a reasonable budget.
| Carat Weight | 0.5 | 0.75 | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 |
| Moissanite Average Cost | $1,560.00 | $1,899.00 | $2,170.00 | $2,470.00 | $2,810.00 | $2,980.00 | $3,140.00 |
| Diamond Average Cost | $2,515.00 | $4,250.00 | $13,025.00 | $26,270.00 | $57,845.00 | $90,350.00 | $122,8500.00 |
Sourcing
At TMC, we utilise moissanite and cultured diamonds because they are the more sustainable gemstone option. Choosing a lab-grown gemstone saves over 65 kgs of CO2, 57 kgs of air pollution and 227 tons of earth, and doesn't require the destruction of vital ecosystems as a direct result from mining.
Whilst there are still emissions involved due to the energy required to grow moissanite in a laboratory setting, these emissions can be accurately measured by governing councils and offset. Regardless, it is undeniable that these emissions are incomparable to the irreversible damage mining has on our ecosystems and the degradation of land. As technology becomes more efficient at growing lab grown diamonds, in due course, advancements will be made to create these beautiful gemstones more effectively and sustainably.
Moissanite vs Diamond: Side by Side
When placed side by side, moissanite and lab-grown diamonds each show distinctive qualities. The key difference between moissanite and diamond is that moissanite offers greater fire and brilliance due to its higher refractive index. Moissanite is inherently more attainable, consciously sourced, and incredibly durable.
Is Moissanite Real?
Moissanite is its very own unique gemstone and should never be considered a 'fake diamond', or a Moissanite diamond. Moissanite boasts a breathtakingly unique sparkle, the most optically similar to that of a diamond. There are so many unique benefits to choosing this precious stone for your heirloom piece.
True beauty is built on integrity. AT TMC Fine Jewellers, we believe luxury should never come at the cost of the world around us. By championing lab-grown diamonds and moissanite, we honour the balance of timeless elegance and ethical innovation. Every piece we create carries the promise of a better choice - for you, and for the future.
Discover our Signature Range and bring your dream moissanite or lab-grown diamond heirloom piece to life. Or be guided through a one-on-one consultation with us, in-boutique or online.
