Moissanite vs Diamond: A Detailed Comparison

Moissanite is a modern, conscious alternative to diamonds—offering superior sparkle, ethical sourcing, and exceptional value. Whatever fine jewelry piece you choose, moissanite delivers luxury and longevity without compromise.

Origin and Composition 

  • Diamonds are naturally occurring carbon crystals formed under extreme heat and pressure deep within the Earth. They can also be lab-grown with identical physical properties.
  • Moissanite is a lab-created gemstone composed of silicon carbide. Originally discovered in a meteor crater, natural moissanite is extremely rare—so all moissanite on the market is lab-grown.

Brilliance & Fire

  • Moissanite has a higher refractive index (2.65–2.69) than diamonds (2.42), giving it more brilliance and fire (colored light dispersion). This means moissanite sparkles more intensely and has a slightly more rainbow-like appearance, especially in bright light.
  • Diamonds, while brilliant, exhibit more white light sparkle and less dispersion.

Hardness & Durability

  • Diamonds top the Mohs scale at 10, making them the hardest known natural material.
  • Moissanite ranks at 9.25, making it the second hardest gemstone used in jewelry. It's extremely durable and suitable for daily wear.

Clarity & Color

  • Moissanite is typically created with high clarity and near-colorless or colorless grades.
  • Diamonds vary widely in clarity and color, and high-grade diamonds are significantly more expensive.

Environmental & Ethical Impact

  • Moissanite is lab-grown, meaning it has minimal environmental impact, requires no mining, and is conflict-free by nature.
  • Diamonds can be either mined or lab-grown. Natural diamond mining has long been associated with environmental degradation and ethical concerns.

Price & Value

  • Moissanite offers exceptional value—typically costing 80–90% less than diamonds of similar size and appearance. This allows consumers to purchase a larger, higher-quality stone for less.
  • Diamonds command significantly higher prices due to market demand, natural rarity (for mined diamonds), and branding.

Customization & Accessibility

  • Because moissanite is lab-grown, it’s readily available in various shapes, sizes, and styles, making it an ideal choice for custom fine jewelry.
  • Diamonds are also available in custom cuts, but price and availability can limit options for many buyers.

 

Key Benefits of Moissanite Over Diamonds

  • More brilliance and fire: Eye-catching sparkle with a rainbow effect.
  • Greater affordability: Luxurious look without the premium price tag.
  • Ethical and sustainable: Conflict-free and eco-conscious by design.
  • Highly durable: Second only to diamonds in hardness.
  • Consistently high quality: Lab growth ensures excellent clarity and color.