Is a moissanite carat the same as a diamond?

When we buy jewellery, and especially when we want to invest as much money as possible in it, we must also know what we are spending that money on. Many people have complete trust in jewellery sellers, to the extent that they are sometimes really naive when choosing whether to buy a diamond, lab-grown diamond, cubic zirconia, or modern moissanite stones.

Today we will dwell on the comparison between diamonds and moissanite stones, which have recently become more and more popular among buyers.

Of course, the dilemma is whether it is a quality stone, or whether it is still something that is cheap and can be easily damaged. Therefore, we will emphasise at the very beginning that the value of moissanite is also measured in carats. From this, you might get the impression that it is almost the same as a diamond, but we must emphasise that the carat of moissanite is about 15% lighter than the carat of a diamond (whether it is mined in nature or obtained in a laboratory).

How did moissanite become a popular choice among jewellery lovers?

Moissanite has the characteristics of a diamond, yet won’t empty your wallet. In fact, it is the price that is often decisive for the choice, because if, for example, one carat of a naturally certified diamond costs about 5000 dollars, then one carat of moissanite will not even cost 1000 dollars. Of course, the price can vary from processing to quality and appearance. But if we put two identically treated stones, one diamond and one moissanite, the price difference is too obvious, and we all know that not everyone can afford to buy a diamond these days.

Of course, moissanite also has a high hardness, almost comparable to that of a diamond. On the Mohs scale on which a diamond is marked with a hardness of 10, moissanite has a hardness of 9.25, which is in the rank of ruby, sapphire, and emerald.

Interesting things related to moissanite

We must have interested you to learn more about this stone, which is becoming more and more popular. The trends have actually been around for several years now, and the facts related to this stone may really surprise you.

Moissanite is a laboratory-created gemstone, very similar in appearance to diamond. In fact, the biggest difference is in the price. When it comes to price, the differences are huge in favour of moissanite. We previously described that the price of a moissanite ring can be up to 5 times (and even more) lower than the same model, but with a diamond.

The creation of moissanite also meets the highest environmental standards, unlike other gemstones that create much higher carbon dioxide emissions. This is especially important, knowing that industry often pollutes the air we breathe, and toxic substances remain in water and soil.

Also, Moissanite represents a strong bond between two lovers, their good and challenging moments. That’s why it’s one of the most common choices for an engagement ring, especially when shopping on a tight budget.

Moissanite vs diamond: Carat weight

One of the most interesting aspects is that diamond reflects white light, while the moissanite’s reflection resembles a rainbow. As already mentioned, one carat of moissanite and one carat of diamond are not the same. Moissanite is 15-20% lighter than diamond (if we compare pieces with the same volume and processing). This would mean that a one-carat moissanite would be significantly larger than a one-carat diamond.

This is a really interesting aspect in choosing jewellery for you, which means that you can get a really beautiful and larger stone, and at a lower price.

The trend of moissanite engagement rings

Moissanite is conquering the world because of its beautiful appearance, affordable price, and of course, its similarity to diamond. When an engagement ring is mentioned, we think of something precious, shiny, impressive, extremely valuable, and an indestructible gift from nature. It’s a good thing that exactly moissanite can “give” every girl a ring like this, and the guy doesn’t have to spend too much money for that whole wonderful experience.

Moissanite does not scratch, does not lose its lustre, has similar characteristics to a diamond, and thus retains the symbolism of the engagement ring itself – a promise to begin an eternity together, as a couple and a family.

Moissanite is actually silicon carbide, which can also be found in nature. However, natural moissanite is a real rarity, and it is much easier to grow in a laboratory, compared to lab-grown diamonds.

We must also mention another significant association and symbolism – moissanite is said by many to have originated from the stars, and by its appearance and physical characteristics, we have decided to believe that this is indeed the case.

Final words

According to the facts we have stated, we can make several important conclusions related to diamonds and moissanite. First of all, we must clarify that the carat as a unit of measurement is universal, and the differences are in the weight of the stone itself. So, if you have identically cut moissanite and a diamond, the moissanite will have fewer carats than the diamond. And if, on the other hand, you have one carat of each of the two precious stones, then the moissanite will be larger compared to the diamond.

A second important aspect is that the diffraction of light is different, because diamond generally lets a light beam through, and moissanite breaks it down into its fundamental colour spectrum – and that’s why it looks like a kaleidoscope. Diamonds can also come in different colours, while moissanite is mostly clear, but can have a yellow or grey sheen.

And most importantly, the price of moissanite is several times lower than that of diamonds. That is why it is often the first choice for an engagement ring, as well as for jewellery that looks great. Moissanite can be found in nature but is very rare, so what is commercially available is mostly lab-made. And that would be all you need to know about.