Demystifying the rumors about lab grown diamonds and moissanite.
If you have started doing your research on engagement rings, diamonds, and setting options, it's likely you’ve stumbled across the numerous options that are purchased in the place of a natural diamond engagement ring.
As the “faux” diamond options get better and customers become more educated about the process and availability, non-natural diamonds have become more and more popular and will continue to be amazing alternatives to a traditional diamond ring.
People commonly put all non-natural diamonds into the bucket of “synthetic diamonds.” This couldn’t be further from the truth! There are multiple options that are not naturally formed in the Earth’s crust. The two most common and often described interchangeably are lab grown diamonds and moissanite gemstones. The two are vastly different minerals with different characteristics.
If you are still considering a lab grown diamond vs. a moissanite, we’re here to break down the differences between the two most common options for non-natural diamonds.
Lab Grown Diamonds: A lab grown diamond is made in a specialized laboratory but has no chemical difference next to a natural diamond- both being purely made of carbon. Therefore, lab grown diamonds have the same look, hardness, and sparkle as a naturally mined diamond.
Moissnite: Moissanite has a completely different chemical makeup. Moissanite is made of silica and carbon. This typically makes it more sparkly and less hard. Natural moissanite does exist but it is usually found in the form of tiny crystals. For its use in jewelry, it is also made in a lab.
To give you a better idea of what to expect when comparing these two stones, here are a few characteristics to consider:
Refraction refers to how a gemstone breaks and bends light apart. Moissanite is considered doubly refractive, similar to sapphires, tourmaline, and zircon. This means that the way moissanite treats light allows its facets to appear doubled, and more ultimately more sparkly! It also catches more color than a lab grown diamond, giving it a distinct “firework-like” brightness.
Lab Grown Diamonds can be created in every color. You typically see them colorless in engagement rings and other fine jewelry, but they also come in almost any color in the rainbow. You will only see moissanite as colorless or near-colorless. In a more focused view, moissanite will appear slightly yellowish in color. Color correction for these gemstones has been a focus for technological advances in this industry for many years.
Diamonds are known to be the hardest substance on Earth - a 10/10 on the Mohs scale! Moissanite is a bit softer but still notably hard in comparison to other gemstones. Moissanite is rated a 9.25/10 on the hardness scale. Unless you plan on storing your moissanite with other diamond jewelry, it is not likely that it will get scratched.
What you probably really want to know is how much lab grown diamonds are in comparison to moissanite. Because lab diamonds are closer to the traditional natural diamond, they typically cost more than moissanite. They are, however, considerably less expensive than natural diamonds because of their availability and human-powered process.
The most important point to make is that you and your partner should love what you choose- whether it's a natural diamond, lab grown diamond, or something completely different! Always focus on making your choice on what really makes you and your partner excited and it will definitely be the right choice!
Yadav Diamonds & Jewelry offers a wide selection of lab grown and natural diamonds. If you still find yourself stuck choosing among the options, let the Yadav team assist you! We can further explain the pros and cons of all diamond options.
Reach out to our experts or schedule an appointment in our showroom.
