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Have you heard of moissanite? If the answer to that question is ‘what is moissanite?’, you need to read on!
This post explains what moissanite is, and why it can be a great alternative to diamonds when it comes to statement jewellery.
What is moissanite?
Moissanite is a gemstone. It was first discovered by the scientist Henri Moissan in Arizona, close to the impact site of a meteorite. The Silicon Carbide that makes up a moissanite was then believed to be a mineral from outer space. However, the mineral exists naturally here on Earth.
Moissanites look very similar to diamonds, but the pattern of their faceting is different to diamonds, and can create flashes of rainbow colours in bright light.
Moissanite is one of the hardest substances in the world, scoring 9.25 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness (diamonds score 10). A moissanite can scratch a diamond if both gems are stored together.
Natural moissanite is extremely rare, so the vast majority is made in a laboratory.
Moissanite vs. diamond
Diamonds may be the ultimate choice for a statement ring, but there are several factors to consider before choosing diamonds.
The first one is cost. While a diamond is desirable, it is not necessarily an affordable option for everyone.
Another factor to consider is ethics. The beauty of diamonds can be marred by the violence, conflicts and corruption involved in their sourcing.
Benefits of moissanite
Moissanite is a great alternative to diamonds for a number of reasons.
For starters, moissanites are significantly less costly than diamonds – so if budget is a big factor they’re well worth considering.
It’s worth noting that while moissanite is popularly considered to be a diamond replica, it actually isn’t. Moissanite is a precious stone with it’s own distinct properties, and certain similarities to diamonds. That said, it is definitely in a class of its own when it comes to being more affordable in terms of diamond engagement ring financing as it is produced synthetically.
Choosing moissanite is also a good way to address the ethical concerns surrounding diamonds. As we’ve already mentioned, moissanite is usually synthesized due to its relative rarity in nature. As a result, it doesn’t raise concerns in terms of conflict zone, corruption, and exploitation.
Finally, moissanite offers you a beautiful gem which is even more sparkly than a diamond, owing to its double refractive properties. This means you can obtain more brilliance and fire, for relatively lower cost, and a hardness that comes close to that of a diamond.
How to choose your moissanite
As with diamonds, moissanites have varying shapes and colours. They are graded solely on colour, with the more premium stones classifying as colourless. The value of a moissanite is directly dependent on the clarity of the crystal.
The colour of the crystal can also be magnified depending on the way the stone is cut. For this reason, jewellers implement precision when cutting the gemstone to get optimum fire, which most people know as radiance.
It’s perfectly possible to pair a moissanite with accent diamonds in a piece of jewellery. This is a clever way to keep costs down without sacrificing wow factor!
Would you consider moissanite as an alternative to diamonds?
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