Diamond & Moissanite FAQ
Diamonds and moissanites are both made of the same element - carbon - and have a similar crystal structure. It is this elemental similarity that allows moissanite to test positive for a diamond on a traditional diamond tester. There are some slight differences in their atomic arrangement, which give them different physical properties. Moissanites are made of silicon carbide, which has a different elemental structure than pure carbon. This difference in structure results in different physical properties, such as a slightly lower hardness for moissanite compared to diamond.
Brilliance and Fire:
Moissanites generally exhibit more fire and brilliance than diamonds. Fire refers to the rainbow-colored flashes that are visible in a gemstone when light is refracted, while brilliance refers to the amount of white light that reflects back to the eye. Moissanites have a higher refractive index than diamonds, which means they disperse light more effectively, resulting in more fire. They also have a different crystal structure, which can cause them to reflect more light, resulting in greater brilliance.
Hardness:
Diamonds are the hardest known mineral, scoring a 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Moissanites are also very hard, scoring a 9.25. While Moissanites are very durable and suitable for everyday wear, they are slightly more prone to scratching than diamonds.
Color:
Diamonds come in a range of colors, from colorless to yellow or brown. Moissanites, on the other hand, are typically near-colorless or faintly yellow. However, lab-created moissanites can also be produced in a variety of colors, including green, blue, and pink.
Price:
Moissanites are drastically less expensive than diamonds of similar size and quality. While the cost of a diamond can vary widely depending on factors like color, clarity, and cut, moissanites are generally more affordable due to their lab-created nature and the fact that they are more abundant than diamonds.