Basically, you can throw your moissanite in the trash and lose MUCH less money than if you sold your diamond ring.
Moissanite is a real gemstone and is often made in a lab. Moissanite s not a diamond, but the two are nearly identical, and only experienced jewelers are able to differentiate between the two. Therefore, moissanite stones are a viable and increasingly popular alternative to diamonds.
I’m just saying this to point out a problem, but there’s really no reason why you couldn’t sell your moissanite at a similar (and most likely even lower) discount compared to the discount you should be offering.
For example, moissanite can be sold for 10-15% of the price of a diamond of similar clarity, color, cut and size. Since moissanite is produced in a laboratory, the average clarity level is higher than that of natural diamonds. Because moissanites are man-made, unlike natural diamonds, it is very rare to see moissanites commercially available with a purity below the VS level. Most of the moissanite sold today is created in the laboratory under controlled conditions that minimize internal imperfections, which is why this stone is usually more pure than most diamonds.
Although few inclusions does not necessarily mean that the stone is Moissanite, if its price is abnormally low, it may at least indicate that you are not looking at a real diamond. You may be surprised how many “diamonds” in a jewelry store near you are laboratory-made diamonds or imitations, such as moissanite.
The Advantage of Synthetic Moissanite
Moissanite is a lab-grown gem that rivals the fire and brilliance of diamonds. It works well both alone and in creative environments like halo and three stones. Moissanite is a unique gemstone and, like diamond, it is very rare in nature. Again, moissanite is a natural stone, but it is much less common than diamonds.
Moissanite is intended to create the illusion of similarity to diamonds, but compositionally and visually, it is very different from a real diamond. Although moissanite and diamond look roughly the same from a distance, the two stones differ significantly in several dimensions, such as brilliance, fire, durability, and value. Moissanite is often used as a diamond substitute in jewelry and many people cannot easily tell the difference between the two. While moissanite and natural diamonds may look almost the same, they are two very different gemstones.
Moissanite is often compared to diamonds and therefore is often viewed as a “fake” or “diamond-like” diamond rather than a gemstone in and of itself. Moissanite is often sold as a cheaper alternative to diamond, but it is a cheaper option given the price and availability of real laboratory diamonds. In practice, moissanite has a much more colorful luster (“fire”) than diamond, at 9.25 on the hardness scale (diamond is 10), and moissanite is a carbon silicate (while diamond is pure carbon). Natural diamonds are limited by the size and shape in which they are grown on Earth.
Hence, choosing moissanite as the center stone of your engagement ring gives you a lot of flexibility. Today, moissanite is an alternative to a laboratory-grown diamond that is expertly designed to look like a diamond. Unlike lab-grown diamond, moissanite and its many crystalline polymorphs occur naturally, so moissanite is a diamond imitation.
A Primer on Imitation Diamonds
Moissanite and other imitation diamonds are produced with the same geometric cut as real diamonds. Moissanite is composed of silicon and carbon, while diamond is composed of carbon. Natural Moissanite is comparable to GIA-certified K-color diamonds.
Made from mineral silicon carbide, moissanite is commonly used as an alternative to diamond in jewelry because of its lustrous appearance, durability, and lower cost. While diamonds are created by pressing coal and minerals into the ground for hundreds of years, in fact, moissanite comes from stars. For this reason, the moissanite used in jewelry is created in the laboratory, unlike diamonds that are found in nature.
The gemstone usually exhibits flawless clarity and is nearly colorless; Most moissanite stones are in the D-F color grade and have a gray tint rather than yellow (as is the case with diamonds). In fact, moissanite jewelry will retain a cleaner look on the diamond. Dirt and oils reduce the brilliance of a diamond faster than moissanite.
While no gemstone can match the hardness of diamond, moissanite is incredibly close to it. Although diamond has a 10 on the MOH hardness scale, moissanite is 9.25. On the Mohs scale of hardness, moissanite is rated 9.5 out of 10, surpassing any gemstone used in jewelry except the diamond itself.
Moissanites Are Nearly Identical to Natural Diamonds
Moissanites are almost as hard as laboratory-grown diamonds, and are rated 9.25 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Moissanite is very similar to real diamonds, making them a great alternative. Moissanite has a higher refractive index, which helps it to exhibit a luster that is different from that grown in the laboratory.
Moissanite is brighter and more shining than diamonds of the same clarity, color and cut. This means that Moissanite has different light emitting methods, different hardness, and different chemical composition. The colorless moissanite looks like an E-color diamond, while the nearly colorless moissanite looks more like an H-color diamond.
The diamond tester is used to determine whether a stone is a real diamond by measuring how heat passes through the stone, but since the thermal conductivity of moissanite is close to that of diamond, this is an unsafe bet. Moissanite testers work on the same principle as diamond testers, but they use conductivity to identify gems based on their electrical properties. These testers are designed to distinguish between two pearls.
For a better idea of how moissanite rings perform in real life conditions, search the internet for Moissanite vs. Diamond reviews. Moissanite is an inexpensive alternative to synthetic or mined diamonds – and you need to be a jeweler to understand the difference. Moissanite looks great in any frame and goes well with any other gemstone, including diamonds. It is versatile and easy to play, so finding the play you like is easy.
They’re Basically the Same
Plus, it’s durable, looks like a diamond, and you get all the same features when it comes to cutting, setting and metal. Overall, moissanite is only a small fraction of a diamond’s value, and this is due to supply and demand, as diamonds are still quite popular in the United States for engagement rings. While the price of a diamond varies according to cut, clarity, carat and other individual characteristics, moissanite stones usually have the same price and gradually change depending on the size and shape of the stone.
It is made of silicon carbide and is almost as hard as real diamond (Moissanite is 9.5 Mohs and diamonds are 10). Moissanite is also quite colorless and very similar to the real one. Moissanite is closer to diamond in strength and luster.
Moissanite was not conceived or packaged to resemble diamonds – it is a real stone with its own qualities, characteristics and history. But moissanite is not a fake diamond and should not be treated as such. While moissanite and diamonds are unmistakably different, moissanite is an option for those looking for a gem at a lower price point.
