Moissanite is fast becoming a leading option for engagement rings as tastes shift towards a preference for gemstones being more sustainable, and affordable. Chemically, moissanite is known as silicon carbide. It was first thought to be diamonds by French scientist Henri Moissan, which should say something about their beauty compared to the pricey stones, making them a wonderful cost-effective alternative. Here are all the things you should know before buying a moissanite engagement ring.
The 4 C’s of Moissanite
The 4 C’s are used to determine the price and quality of a gemstone - usually diamonds - but the same can be applied to moissanite too. The 4 C’s are colour, cut, clarity and carat weight – luckily in the case of moissanite at Cullen Jewellery, you can rely on the quality being top-notch.
Colour: The colour scale of gemstones refers to the lack of colour in a stone - the less colour, the higher the price. Moissanite is generally in a DEF colour range, with D being the best possible grade.
Cut: The cut [shape] a gemstone is finished with can determine the level of sparkle. Generally, this can be done according to your personal aesthetic though if you want to be strategic and achieve the best [and most] possible sparkle, there are a few things to consider when choosing the cut of your moissanite ring. The facets of a cut are what makes it sparkle - the more facets, the more sparkle. Facets are the cut edges that make up the curves and edges of a shape, and these reflect light and sparkle. The most sparkly cut is a round brilliant cut as it has the most facets, which can be demonstrated if you compare this with an emerald cut which, though beautiful, won’t be as ‘sparkly.’ Our extra sparkly Crushed Ice cut is cut with more irregular facets, for light to bounce around inside the stone, resulting in the sort of sparkle you might see in, well, crushed ice!
Clarity: Clarity refers to how clear a gemstone is. Internal ‘marks’ are known as inclusions, whereas any exterior marks are known as blemishes. The scale goes from FL [flawless] to I1, I2, and I3 [included]. At Cullen Jewellery, our Radiant Beauty moissanite stones have a clarity grading of VVSI-2 [very very slightly included] which is also known as “eye clean”. This means that, to the naked eye, these will look as good as flawless diamonds, without the astronomically high price tag.
Carat: Moissanite is available inthe same range of carat weights as moissanite. The affordability of moissanite means those who like the look of big diamonds, but not necessarily the price tag, can achieve a similar look for less.
The Price is Right!
Moissanite price varies according to the 4 C’s, but it is still much more affordable than a comparable diamond and so great if you’re working with a tight budget. Engagement rings are a huge commitment, life-long some may say, and so if you have a particular vision in mind, innovations like moissanite and lab-grown diamonds are making the fine jewellery industry more accessible.
To put it into numbers, a VVSI-2 7.5mm (1.5ct) Round cut moissanite would cost $900 AUD, while a diamond of comparable size and quality would cost over $9000 AUD.
Choosing the Perfect Setting
A ring ‘setting’ describes how a stone is mounted onto a ring, and this can be done in more ways than you realise. If you like the look of a centre stone that jumps out, a “high set” ring will be perfect, as the stone is perched on top of the band and looks great for a glamorous look. For the opposite, go for a “low set” engagement ring.
Another aspect to think about is the metal type you’re going for. Yellow gold engagement rings are currently all the rage as the quiet luxury aesthetic still remains popular amongst the fashionistas of the world. If you like the look of a platinum engagement ring, white gold is a less costly alternative; however, over time the polish can wear off to reveal the yellow gold underneath, making platinum a harder-wearing metal type.
The Aftercare
Moissanite is a hard stone at 9.25 on the MOHs scale [a scale of mineral hardness] whilst a mined diamond is 10 and so is almost as durable as mined diamonds and therefore doesn’t require too much maintenance. That’s not to say you shouldn’t give your ring some TLC from time to time.
To clean your moissanite engagement ring, fill a shallow bowl with soapy water – dish soap is perfect. Soak your ring for around 15 minutes, and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to loosen any dirt. You can do this as often as you like, and we also recommend having your ring professionally cleaned by a jeweller annually. Most local jewellers will be able to do this with specialist tools which will get your ring looking as good as new.
View our Moisssanite stones here