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Moissanite vs Diamonds

Get to know the subtle similarities and differences between these two popular center-stone options.

The Similarities

Color:

Moissanites come in the same color categories of diamonds. D-E-F colorless moissanites are the top grade and easily the most popular. If you want something with a more warmth and color you can select a near colorless G-H-I color range moissanite.

Hardness:

Moissanite is a perfectly suitable center stone for everyday wear. The Mohs Scale of hardness measures the hardness or softness of different minerals on a scale of 1 through 10. Diamonds are the "hardest" of center stone options, topping out at 10 on the Mohs Scale. Moissanite come in right around 9.5 which still makes it a very hard material.

Shape:

For standardize shapes like round, square cushion, elongated radiant, emerald cut, asscher and princess, a moissanite and diamond will look quite similar in overall appearance. Other moissanites will like ovals and pear shapes, from Charles Colvard, are wider than their diamond counterparts. However, for oval, you can also opt for a custom cut elongated Harro gem to make it more look realistic to a diamond. The same goes with pear shapes and elongated cushion cuts.

Ring Design:

Both moissanite and diamond look equally as beautiful in our custom ring designs. As you will notice from our large collection, both center-stones are used frequently in similar ring designs and the outcome is always stunning.

The Differences:

Cost:

Moissanite will cost you a fraction of the price of a diamond. A simple moissanite ring can be around $2000 whereas a comparable diamond ring for the same size can be around $6000. Even if you get an intricate ring design with a 3 carat moissanite center, it may cost you $6500, while a comparable diamond ring can easily cost you $30,000 or more!

Fire & Sparkle:

The main difference visually between a diamond and a moissanite is that moissanites are about 30% more refractive than a diamond. In simple terms this means that they have more sparkle and the biggest giveaway is that a moissanite will emit more spectral colors (fire). Watch this video comparing diamond to moissanite in various shapes

Cutting Style:

The inner faceting of the moissanite will appear different than the diamond when viewed up close under magnification. In addition, moissanites are cut deeper than diamonds.

Pave Stones:

We only use diamond melee for our pave ring designs and will not work with smaller moissanite stones. The extra durability of diamonds makes them a better candidate to withstand the force needed to set them into a ring and daily wear and tear that the band of your ring will incur.