— by Cullen Jewellery — Reading time 4 minutes
Moissanite vs Mined and Lab-Grown Diamonds: Who Comes Out on Top?
As lab-grown diamond engagement rings surge in popularity, as has the knowledge of other lab-grown stones – like moissanite. The difference between these stones is subtle, but compared to mined diamonds, the price difference is big . But other than that, why should you be buying moissanite rings? Or should you be steering clear from moissanite altogether? We’ve got the answers to all your questions.
Is moissanite as good as a mined diamond?
Moissanite are grown just like lab-grown diamonds, and are also based around a natural stone – chemically known as silicon carbide. The name comes from French scientist Henri Moissan who first discovered the stone and thought it to be a diamond, which tells us something about the beauty of this stone.
Moissanite also measures around 9.25-9.5 on the Mohs hardness scale (which measures the hardness of a stone). This - compared to lab-grown diamonds and mined diamonds rating of 10 - illustrates that the stone is incredibly durable for daily wear too. Thanks to it being a carbon silicate, the stone also repels dirt and dust, so it’ll be perfect if you’re looking for a low maintenance engagement ring.
Moissanite also sparkles more than diamonds. Moissanite has a higher refractive index than diamonds, which means when light enters the stone, it’ll bend more. When light enters a moissanite, it’ll sparkle in a rainbow-like formation. Diamonds on the other hand omit a blue-grey sparkle, which is still as beautiful and all depends on which you prefer.
So, what’s the catch?
Honestly, there is no catch! Where you must be careful is that even though moissanite is grown in a controlled setting (just like lab-grown diamonds), some jewellers sell low-quality lab-grown stones which may yellow over time. At Cullen Jewellery, our Radiant Beauty moissanite stones have a clarity of VVSI-2 (very very slightly included). This means that you’ll always have a guaranteed high quality purchase and experience with us.
Can a jeweller tell between moissanite and diamond?
Unlike lab-grown diamonds, a trained eye can tell the difference between a mined diamond and moissanite just by looking at it. When it comes to colour, a colourless moissanite and diamond are slightly different colours. A diamond will have no trace of colour, while a moissanite has a subtle touch of grey or yellow. That said, it shouldn’t put you off the beauty of moissanite stones as the slight colour is almost impossible to see, but an expert will be able to tell.
Similarly, a jeweller or gemstone expert will be able to tell the difference between a moissanite and a diamond by the difference in the sparkle. A moissanite sparkles with a rainbow kaleidoscope effect, while a mined diamond has a bluey-grey sparkle. The bigger the moissanite ring, the more obvious that rainbow sparkle will be.
How much is a mined diamond vs moissanite?
The savings between mined diamonds and moissanite is huge, and if you’re looking for a cost-effective stone while being sustainable, it’s certainly the best option, along with a lab-grown diamond ring. To paint the picture, a VVS1-2 1 carat round cut moissanite costs around $595 AUD, while a comparable mined diamond would cost around $8900 AUD, and a comparable lab-grown diamond would cost $3000 AUD. If you’re looking for a high-carat ring but can’t commit to the prices (and murky ethics of mined diamonds ), a moissanite engagement ring is a perfect choice.
For those who like rings that pack a punch, a 4.85 mined diamond costs a staggering $393,000 AUD, whereas a similar specification moissanite stone is roughly $3290 AUD.
Lab-grown stones are perfect for the rising trends of personalised rings. Gone are the days of cookie-cutter engagement rings, even when it comes to lab-grown moissanite rings. At Cullen Jewellery, we have moissanite stones in almost every shape - even the most intricate, like a romantic heart cut , and the classic emerald cut . If you’d like to talk to us about moissanite engagement rings in further detail – get in touch here .