Why Moissanites are the Best Diamond Alternative

When we think about expensive rings, the first thing that comes to most people's minds is a golden band with a bright, shiny diamond gem. Of course, a diamond ring is beautiful, and anyone who owns one is a fortunate person. However, not everyone can afford to purchase a diamond-encrusted engagement ring, even if they believe that it is only suitable to get one to mark their special moment. Diamonds are expensive gemstones. It is no wonder they do not fit everyone's budget. 

I personally like diamonds myself; however, I do not have that kind of money to purchase a real one. Well, maybe I do, but I do not want to waste my money on a diamond. This is the reason why I am looking for a diamond alternative. I have my ear pierced on my left ear when I was still in high school. Recently, I am interested in wearing an earring piece again. I wanted to have an earring that is very close to a natural diamond. I am not talking about zircon since it is easy to differentiate from the naked eye. This is the reason why I recently bought myself a moissanite stud earring. I like moissanite because this gem is considered a potential alternative to a natural diamond. If you are looking for a diamond gem, but don't have the kind of money to purchase one, then this article is right for you. I am going to explain what moissanites are and why they are the best diamond alternative.

What is Moissanite?

Moissanite is a naturally occurring mineral discovered in 1893 by a French scientist Dr. Henri Moissan in Meteor Crater, Arizona. He discovered microscopic particles of the gem that would eventually bear his name in Arizona, in a crater created by a meteorite that fell to Earth. He initially thought that he had discovered diamonds but later determined that the crystals were composed of silicon carbide.

 

Natural moissanite is incredibly rare, so moissanite available today is laboratory-created. After many years of trial and error, the particles Moissan discovered were successfully synthesized to produce what is now one of the world's most scintillating gemstones.

 

Moissanite is engineered to give the illusion of similarity to diamonds but is compositionally and visually quite different from a natural diamond. The durability, brilliance, and color of the two gems are quite distinct.

Moissanite is Sparkly

It is almost impossible to tell the difference between a diamond and moissanite stone to the average person. Both are bright and clear stones with the ability to sparkle due to their refractive properties. While a diamond will provide a beautiful sparkle with a refractive index of 2.42, moissanite is more refractive with 2.65 on the index. Both stones have beautiful fire and scintillation when expertly cut. But what differentiates diamond easily from moissanite is the color of light that it refracts. Moissanite creates a rainbow spectrum of light under natural light, making it easy to identify as not being a diamond. This effect is more pronounced on larger moissanite stones. Therefore, if you want your moissanite to look like a diamond, get a smaller stone cut to reduce the amount of rainbow color light produced.

 

If you are worried about somebody making a nasty comment or judging you somehow because you have moissanite instead of diamond, do not be. If you do not tell them, it is implausible that they will ever know the difference. I brought the moissanite earring stud to a diamond store after it arrives at my house. I was amazed when comparing my moissanite stud to a natural diamond side-to-side. I can hardly tell the difference.

Budget-Friendly!

Everyone knows that if you want a diamond ring, it will make a big dent in your bank account. Diamond is an expensive stone, but newly engaged couples are still willing to spend their hard-earned money on such a tiny piece of one. Maybe it is the media hype, or maybe it is because diamonds are genuinely beautiful, but a one-carat diamond ring can cost about $5000. This eye-watering price does not even include the ring! There comes the point when you have to ask yourself, is it worth it? If your answer was no, consider buying a moissanite ring instead. With a one-carat ring only costing around $100-200, this is a much more affordable alternative. 

 

When compared to diamonds, moissanites are much more friendly to your budget. If you want the look of a larger stone but do not have the budget for it, then moissanite is an excellent option for getting that maxed-out bling to look without maxing out your budget. 

 

I bought a pair of 0.50ct moissanite diamond studs for Rp900,000 ($USD 65). A natural diamond can cost me about Rp60,000,000 ($USD 4,200) for the same size as my purchase. I do not want to spend that kind of money on a real diamond, but at the same time, I don't want a poor quality earring stud such as zircon. Moissanite stones are great gemstones for a diamond alternative. When you use a diamond tester on moissanite, it will pass as a diamond stone! Moreover, moissanite looks amazing. It is challenging to tell the difference with a naked eye. 

 

With the money saved in purchasing moissanite, I can have it invested in the stock market instead. I saved at least $4000 for purchasing moissanite instead of a natural diamond. That money could grow a lot if I invested it carefully. $4000 invested in the stock market that produces a return of 15% CAGR for 30 years ahead can produce $264,847.09. 

Sustainability & Ethical Considerations. 

There is a well-known dark side of diamonds. Some diamond stones sold result from "blood diamonds," where warlords force children and innocent civilians to mine for these precious stones. They are then sold to fund the weapons and rebel soldiers fighting against their government and committing human rights violations. Apart from this ethical issue, mining diamonds also destroys many natural habitats through deforestation and mining.

 

On the other hand, moissanite stones are often created in labs (although some are naturally occurring). Lab-created moissanite is a common practice and is much more ethical and environmentally friendly. Buying a moissanite stone means that your conscience can remain clean.

Wrapping It Up

As you can see, there are many benefits to purchase a moissanite stone instead of a real diamond. It is budget-friendly and can save you much money from purchasing a natural diamond. Unlike cheap alternatives like zircon, moissanite looks fantastic. It is challenging to tell the difference when you compare it with the naked eye.

 

Personally, I am delighted with the moissanite earring stud that I purchased. I saved a lot of money and have a product that looks incredible. I do not regret one bit purchasing a moissanite stud for my left ear.

If you are still not convinced about purchasing moissanite, I recommend purchasing a lab-grown diamond instead. A lab-grown diamond is another best option but costs a little bit more than moissanite. I will write an article about it so readers can understand more about it. So stay tuned!