If the time has come to propose, can there be any greater excitement – or trepidation? Tradition tells us that the way to a successful marriage is a proposal with a diamond ring, and preferably a large stone – but is this belief still valid? The current cost of living combined with the outlandish prices of diamonds have made the diamond as the first choice for an engagement ring a bit tougher to attain, while people grapple with questions about whether they care enough to spend enough, even when they can’t, and about entering married life in the clutches of debt for the sake of a ring.

Enter the Moissanite

When you compare a diamond to a moissanite side by side, you might be alarmed at the visual similarity. However, not only do they look alike, they also perform alike, when it comes to aspects like durability, hardness and appearance. The Mohs scale of hardness rates moissanite at 9.5, with only a slight lead from diamonds, which score a 10.

The greatest difference between moissanite and diamonds is however the surprising revelation that moissanite outsparkles diamonds! Its double refractive properties mean that any light that enters the stone is split in half, double the optical qualities of the light that exits it. This gives moissanite a particularly radiant appearance. In comparison, diamonds are only single refractive.

Unprocessed moissanite carries a green or grey tint, and as with diamonds, the clearer the stone’s colour, the more desirable the stone. Charles and Colvard, the only company in the United States which is licenced to distribute and sell moissanite, patented the Forever Brilliant® gemstone line, which makes sourcing and buying a clear stone a lot easier than it would have been otherwise.

Where does moissanite come from?

In the 1800s, a French scientist by the name of Henri Moissan discovered a large silicon carbide deposit near the site of a meteorite impact crater. Because moissanite is processed out of silicon carbide, this discovery led to the mistaken belief that moissanite comes from the stars. This is however not correct, as the compound is easily available right here on earth. As it is quite scarce to find in nature but very easy to produce in a laboratory, the latter is used to produce as many lab-grown moissanites as the market requires.

The ethical route

Because these fascinating gems are lab-created, they are free from the ethical concerns that come with the mining and distribution of diamonds. They are also much more affordable, as the lab creation process of Moissanite engagement rings is much cheaper than an extensive mining operation. The stone that you choose as your preference comes down to a matter of personal taste.

In conclusion

Despite the distinct differences between the two, moissanite and diamonds are not the same thing. However, they are not supposed to be – each of the two is an independent gem in its own right. If you have a large enough budget to spend on a diamond, and that is what you want, of course, you should. But if you want a competitive jewel at a far better price, you can opt for moissanite with a clear conscience!

**This is a collaborative post.