At some point when shopping for an engagement ring, one may come across moissanite and wonder if people know if the ring is not a diamond. That is a valid question since stones like moissanite or lab-grown diamonds are taking off as excellent alternatives to traditional gemstones like classic solitaire diamonds.
Despite their popularity, however, there are definite differences that can reveal whether a sparkler is a moissanite instead of a natural diamond. But in many cases, only a gemologist or expert’s discerning eye may be able to spot the dissimilarities.
There are also ways one can set moissanite to maximize its brilliance and make it resemble a classic solitaire diamond from Rare Carat or one of their exceptional Halo Engagement Rings Rare Carat designs as closely as possible.
When shopping for moissanite engagement rings, however, it is best to go through a trusted retailer like Rare Carat, who guarantees quality stones that can easily pass as diamonds. With these expert tips and their competitive pricing, you can find stunning moissanite rings at RareCarat.com that exudes luxury few will question.
What is Moissanite?
Before examining how visible moissanite may be next to diamond, it helps to understand what moissanite is in the first place.
Moissanite is a rare mineral that was first discovered in 1893 by Nobel Prize winner Henri Moissan. Occurring naturally from meteor impacts, moissanite is incredibly rare to find in nature. Thus, almost all moissanite jewelry utilizes lab-created moissanite gemstones.
These manufactured moissanites have the same exceptional hardness, brilliance, and fire as the natural material, which is rated 9.25 on the Mohs scale. With their affordability and ethical sourcing, it is no wonder moissanites are gaining traction for fine jewelry.
When cut properly, moissanite can give off exceptional radiance, just like a diamond. In fact, moissanite has a higher refractive rating than even diamond, lending incredible flashes of color. With near colorless grades and flawless clarities, quality moissanite can certainly pass as a diamond in an engagement ring or other fine jewelry if set correctly.
Differences Between Moissanite and Diamond
While moissanite resembles diamond with its scintillating flashes, there are subtle differences an expert or professional jeweler may detect. Some of these dissimilarities include:
Hardness-As noted earlier, moissanite comes very close to a diamond’s hardness at a rating of 9.25 on the Mohs scale. But a diamond still edges it out at 10. This means diamonds have a slight advantage in resisting wear or engraving over time.
Heft-Diamond is denser than moissanite, so there can be a noticeable difference in weight between two stones of the same size. The discerning eye may be able to tell a moissanite is lighter than expected.
Brilliance-A well-cut moissanite actually outperforms diamond in terms of brilliance. While diamond radiates light back outward through its crown facets, moissanites tend to exhibit more fire and colorful flashes, especially in sunlight.
There are also more technical tests a professional jeweler could conduct to confirm a moissanite from a diamond, like thermal conductivity. But for the average observer, spotting the differences can be incredibly difficult depending just on visual assessment.
Enhancing a Moissanite’s Diamond-Like Appeal
If one desires their moissanite ring to look like a diamond showstopper, there are certain setting techniques to maximize stone appearance:
Opt for colorless-the best grade for resembling diamond. Near colorless grades like G-H can still pass well as diamond to untrained eyes.
Pick ideal or excellent cuts-with proper symmetry and angles; moissanite can achieve exceptional brilliance. The cut quality plays a huge role.
Select a simple, classic solitaire setting-a with basic four-prong or six-prong mounting framed around a round or square brilliant moissanite helps it sparkle like no one’s business, exuding that Tiffany-style elegance.
Accent with smaller diamonds-pairing moissanite center stones with diamond accents can further sell the luxury.
Go for platinum or white; these white metals best complement moissanite while looking like traditional diamond engagement ring settings. Yellow gold pairings are also beautiful if one prefers warmer metal hues.
Are Moissanites an Ethical & Affordable Alternative?
For many couples today, ethics and affordability have entered the conversation around bridal sets. The good news is quality moissanites like those from Rare Carat achieve exceptional sparkle and hardness ratings to rival diamonds, but at a fraction of the price. Made affordably in labs, moissanites rate well among the most ethical gemstone choices available, too.
For comparison, a 1-carat diamond of good quality could run anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000 at standard retailers. Within Rare Carat’s marketplace, connecting customers to trusted vendors, the same size and cut quality moissanite can cost under $1,000.
At those competitive savings, one may afford to go a size or two bigger to really wow onlookers. Or, moissanite paves the way to invest those diamond sale savings into the honeymoon fund instead!
On top of cost savings, moissanite earns high marks as an ethical alternative from consumer watchdog sites like Ethical Consumer. The research publication highlights moissanite, along with lab diamonds and cubic zirconia, as sound choices to mitigate concerns like environmental impacts, labor rights issues, or support of conflict. As manufactured gemstones, moissanite sidesteps many ethical considerations plaguing the complex diamond pipeline.
Exuding Luxury With Moissanite Rings from Rare Carat
For those seeking big savings paired with striking beauty in their engagement ring, now you can decide if moissanite fits the bill.
With ideal cuts and white metal settings provided by Rare Carat’s jewelry partners, one can select an eye-clean moissanite solitaire that radiates brilliance like the real deal. Paired with their exceptional service, expertise, tens of thousands of reviews, and competitive pricing,
Rare Carat gives buyers confidence during such an important jewelry purchase online. Feel free checking their Design Gallery collections or get custom ring design quotes to find the perfect fit in lustrous alternatives like moissanite or lab diamonds. Thanks to these sparkling technologies and Rare Carat’s offerings, couples gain the means to celebrate their union affordably and beautifully for a lifetime.