Colour
Colour refers to the natural colour or lack of colour visible within a gemstone.
While Moissanite are labelled as “colourless”, the gems can still project a beautiful rainbow like hue in certain lights. Here again, the larger the moissanite, the more noticeable the colour.
A colourless diamond, whether natural or lab created, has a natural body colour that (depending on grade) contains no traces of yellow, brown, or grey, resulting in a dazzling, bright white appearance.
Brilliance
Brilliance refers to the appearance of light reflected from the interior of the gem.
Moissanite exhibits a different kind of brilliance than diamonds do, as their faceting pattern is different. The fiery, rainbow flashes emitted by Moissanites are beloved by those who feel that moissanite’s heightened brilliance can create a “disco ball” effect, especially in sunlight. Moissanite has a refractive index from 2.65 – 2.69, which is higher than a natural diamond.
This different type of brilliance is what makes it possible to distinguish a Moissanite from a diamond.
Diamonds reflect light in three different ways. The white light reflected back is referred to as brilliance, while the rainbow of colours refracted through the diamond is referred to as dispersion. The surface sparkle of a diamond, known as scintillation, is a third type of diamond light return. The combination of these three gives diamonds their famous sparkle.
Durability
Gemstones are measured on the MOHs Scale of Hardness, which assesses a gem’s ability to withstand surface scratching.
On the MOHs scale, Moissanite gemstones are a 9.25 on the MOHs Scale of Hardness, so they are suitable for daily wear.
Diamonds are the hardest known mineral and receive a 10 on the MOHs Scale of Hardness. Because of this exceptional score, diamonds are very durable and ideal for daily wear.
Price
Due to moissanite’s lighter weight per carat, Moissanite are dramatically lower in pricing than
diamonds of the same carat weight but smaller size. Moissanite gems typically vary in price based on size and clarity.
Natural diamonds and lab created diamond prices vary based on shape, carat, cut, colour,
and clarity. Though lab created diamonds could be more affordable than natural diamonds.
Sourcing
Since natural Moissanite is rare, most Moissanite are lab created, they are an appealing option for those seeking an eco-conscious gemstone as they require no mining.
Since natural diamonds exchange hands many times after their discovery, the risk remains that a mined diamond may still be associated with conflict. You can avoid this risk of conflict by going for a lab created diamond.