Moissanite has been rising up as a worthy opponent in the race for engagements and anniversaries, with the singular distinction that moissanite gives you far more bang for your buck, without being a cheap knockoff. Keen to find out what makes moissanite a competitive jewel and not a replica? Keep reading!
Moissanite as part of the ideal engagement ring
Modern jewels that can be manufactured in a lab have the edge on the traditional diamond, in the sense that they can be produced without involving any of the traditional questionable ethics surrounding diamonds. In addition, lab production is much cheaper than mining for jewels, and is a far better way to safeguard the workers against poor practice and exploitation.
Whether you opt for a traditionally mined diamond, a replica, or a moissanite is your choice, but they great thing is that you can adapt your decision based on personal preference.
Moissanite was discovered by a French chemist, Henri Moissan, who found Silicon Carbide (SiC) deposits near the location of a meteorite impact site in the 1800s.
What makes moissanite, moissanite?
In the laboratory production process, moissanite is grown to large crystals by scientists, after which they are cut down to smaller stones and processed as moissanite. In the United States, only one company, namely Charles and Colvard, hold the rights to manufacturing and distributing moissanite. If you buy a piece that is sold as moissanite, but it has no traceable hallmark, chances are almost 100% that you will have bought have a fake jewel.
Moissanite is remarkably similar to diamonds when it comes to appearance and performance. While a diamond comes in at 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, moissanite comes in at an extremely competitive 9.5 – thought to make it the second toughest material in existence.
This means that a moissanite diamond ring can give you a lifespan comparable to that of a regular diamond. Scratches, nicks, and chips are not part of your vocabulary when it comes to moissanites. It cannot be damaged by the rigours of a jeweller working on the stone, unlike rubies, emeralds, and cubic zirconia.
A moissanite gemstone radiates several times more fire than their equivalent in diamonds. This is largely attributable to the double-refraction properties of the stone. This is the main reason why moissanites give off more light and come across as more sparkly.
Make the move!
Moissanite gives you a great reason to spoil your loved one with something sparkly, without breaking the bank. Long gone are the days of saving up several months’ worth of salary – with moissanite, you have no excuse not to get the stone and the girl!