Are you considering a Moissanite Engagement Ring over the traditional diamond ring? Well you are not alone in this consideration. There are many reasons why moissanite engagement rings are an excellent alternative to a diamond, or any other gemstone.
I myself chose a moissanite engagement ring for the following 4 reasons.
1. Moissanite engagement rings are an eco friendly and conflict free stone
Many consumers are becoming increasingly concerned with how the products they consume are made and if it is ethical and environmentally friendly. Any stone that is not man made and is mined from the earth cannot be considered sustainable. This includes diamonds. Also, such mining often occurs in countries where it's workers are exploited and forced to work in poor working conditions for low wages. This is a huge reason for me as to why I choose to not support the diamond industry.
Because Moissanite stones are lab-grown, this means that they are conflict free as well as requiring zero mining. Therefore the carbon footprint of a Moissanite stone is very minimal.
2. Moissanites are gemstones from the stars
Moissanite stones were first discovered in 1893 by a French chemist, Henri Moissan (see where the name comes from?!). He was examining minerals from a meteor crate in Arizona and at first he mistook the sparkly gemstone for diamonds. He later identified the stone to be silicon carbide and this was the birth of the name Moissanite. This is why the gemstone is known as the "gemstone of the stars", which to me sounds quite romantic!
At first the gemstone was rare as it was quite scarce, but now the stone is abundantly made in jewellery laboratories.
3. Moissanites are more sparkly than diamonds!
When comparing the sparkles of a cubic zirconia vs diamond vs moissanite sparkle, moissanites are actually the most sparkly! This is because they have a higher refractive index. This means that it has the ability to break up light into more spectral colors, which gives it that extra sparkle when it's exposed to light. They also have a higher level of dispersion, meaning the total amount of fire or flashes of color comes out stronger in moissanite than in other stones. This is what makes them appear much brighter and shinier than their diamond counterparts. Therefore, if you want your ring to stand out from the crowd and make heads turn, moissanite is the perfect option!
Cubic Zirconia vs Moissanite Sparkle
But what about the sparkle (or commonly known as the brilliance), of a moissanite vs cubic zirconia? Cubic Zirconia's have been the go to diamond alternative for a long time, and that is for a good reason. Similar to the Moissanite, the cubic zirconia is a lab made stone, making it a sustainable and ethical alternative to a diamond.
A cubic zirconia is as brilliant as diamond. However, the downside to cubic zirconias is that as the carat sizes increases, the brilliance fades. Therefore, the stone becomes less sparkly. Comparatively, this is not the case with moissanites due to their higher refractive index.
Moissanite vs Diamond Color
Both Moissanite's and diamonds of the highest grades are colorless stones. Grade D of a moissanite stone is colorless and almost white, similar to the Grade D or E of a diamond. However, under a bright light, diamonds give of a white light compared to the moissanite, which gives more of a rainbow reflection.
Moissanite vs Diamond Color (My experience with my moissanite)
Despite this, my experience with my moissanite stone is that the rainbow effect is only slightly visible in indoor settings. You would have to be looking really hard and be a jeweller or moissanite / diamond expert to be able to tell the difference. Similarly, under white light or when I'm standing outside directly under the sun, my moissanite gives of a 100% colorless brilliance to the naked eye. Below is a video of my moissanite ring where you can see it is hard to catch any rainbow light
4. Lastly, the cost! You really can't look past the Moissanite price VS diamond
The cost difference between moissanite and diamond engagement rings is substantial. Moissanite stones are generally much more affordable than diamonds and can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. On average, a one carat moissanite gemstone costs around $400-500, while a one carat diamond will cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000. A moissanite engagement ring is a very affordable alternative to a diamond that still looks stunning and has all the same light-reflecting properties of a diamond!
Why do we want diamonds anyway?
For me I really couldn't look past this one. I truly asked myself, why do I want a diamond ring and what is it that I like about diamonds? The answer for me was purely that I liked the look of a diamond and more specifically, the bright sparkle of a diamond! Diamonds are often seen as a sign of commitment and love, even though moissanite stones can offer the same level of sparkle at a fraction of the cost. When we start to dig deeper as to why diamond rings are the traditional option for engagement rings, it all comes down to clever marketing strategy.
The real reason we want diamonds
The concept of diamonds symbolising love was a clever marketing campaign that begun in the 1940s. Prior to the 1930s, engagement rings were rarely diamonds. Infact, engagement rings were commonly given with more exotic gems such as rubies and sapphires. During this time, De Beers, a South African company owned 40% of the global supply of diamonds. Subsequently, they were able to control the supply and cost of a diamond. You have probably heard of the slogan "A Diamond is Forever" before. However, what you may not know is that this was invented by De Beers!
Anyway, as a result, many people feel obliged to purchase and expensive diamond ring when getting engaged. Even thought they could be choosing more affordable alternatives like a moissanite engagement ring. I decided that I wasn't going to be one of those people. Therefore, I chose the moissanite engagement ring.
Moissanite Vs Diamond Vs Cubic Zirconia. My Overall Summary
I have included cubic zirconias in the summary table, but for me cubic zirconias get completely ruled out because of their lack of brilliance as the carat sizes increases. Therefore, I will briefly summarise the moissanite vs diamond only.
Ethicalness, Conflict Free, and Sustainability
There are a lot of unethical labour practices in the diamond industry, more commonly known today as "blood diamonds". Whilst many companies will claim that their gems are conflict free, it is difficult to truly know if a diamond is truly ethical and conflict free.
Contrarily, moissanites are only ever made in the laboratory making them 100% ethical and conflict free. Diamond mining is also detrimental to the environment (as is any mining) and therefore is not a sustainable option. I personally want this piece of mind when wearing my jewellery.
Color Grade
Simialr to diamonds, the highest sought after color grade for a moissanite is D, which is a truly colorless stone. However, moissanites have a refractive rainbow effect that diamonds don't have. Although this also means that the brilliance of a moissanite is great thana diamond.
Hardness
Although diamonds are harder on the Moh's scale than Moissanites, unless you are planning to cut rocks, the hardness of a moissanite is more than enough for jewellery!
Brilliance
Moissanites have a higher refractive index than diamonds, which means they are more brilliant or in laymen terms, more sprakly! I love this about moissanites! The video below is my moissanite. You can see it is super sparkly with some rainbow refraction.
Cost
Moissanites are a fraction of the cost of a diamond. For example, my moissanite engagement ring cost $1,300 USD. The exact same ring as a diamond would cost $35,000 USD! All for a less sparkly, non sustainable, and potentially unethical diamond? No thanks
Moissanite Engagement Ring Cuts, Design, & Styles
Now that you have decided whether the moissanite engagement ring is for your or not,(I hope it is for the sake of our planet and your wallet!), lets discuss the different cuts, options, and designs to choose from.
A Moissanite Oval Ring
The simple and classic oval ring is definitely the brides choice of 2022/2023! This is actually what I asked Matt to get me but he went for the moissanite 3 stone ring instead, which I really love too!
A Moissanite 3 Stone Ring
My moissanite ring is a 2 carrat oval ring with 2 pear shaped moissanite stones either side. Another photo of my ring below (excuse the background, this was taken straight after my manicure!)
A Moissanite 3 Carat Ring
A 3 carat marquise engagement ring might be for you!
A Moissanite Princess Cut Ring
Princess cut moissanite rings are so gorgeous! I believe that these are a timeless choice for a ring. I love it so much I've included 2 examples for you, including a video
Moissanite Rose Gold Rings
A moissanite rose gold ring might be the right one for you instead.
Vintage Moissanite Engagement Rings
Vintage moissanite rings are an excellent alternative to diamond rings. A vintage diamond ring is almost certainly not an ethically sourced diamond. Whereas a moissanite vintage ring is 100% guaranteed ethically sourced.
Moissanite Ring Emerald Cut
A moissanite emerald cut is a bold ring choice for a classy lady!
I hope that you have enjoyed my explanation, personal opinion, and compilation of my favourite moissanite engagement rings. Maybe you can share this post with your boyfriend for a hint!
If you like to make ethical and sustainable choices when it comes to fashion, why not check out some more of my blog posts here:
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