In the world of precious gemstones, no gem can rival the diamond’s reign as the queen of the gems. Nonetheless, in the recent past, people have turned to other options like moissanite and lab grown diamonds. A common query “Is moissanite a lab grown diamond?” often arises among people. In this article, you will learn about the distinction between the two gemstones to choose the one that is right for you.

What is Moissanite?

When discussing about: “Is moissanite a lab grown diamond?”, then moissanite is a silicon carbide mineral found in nature and was first found in 1893 by French chemist Henri Moissan. As it is rather difficult to find natural moissanite, today’s jewellery often contains moissanite created in laboratories. This gemstone is rapidly becoming popular as a diamond substitute because of its ability to sparkle and is very durable.

Key Characteristics of Moissanite:

1. Brilliance: Moissanite has a higher refractive index than diamonds, which means that it has more fire and brilliance.
2. Hardness: After diamonds, moissanite is a very hard gemstone with a rating of 9.25 on the Moh scale.
3. Color: Although it is close to colourlessness, some of the moissanite may have slight yellow or grey shades when the size increases.
4. Cost: Since it is neither a natural diamond nor lab created diamond, it is much cheaper compared to the two.

What is a grown Diamond?

Man-made diamonds also referred to as synthetic or cultured diamonds are produced in laboratories. These diamonds are chemically identical to natural diamonds which are mined from the earth and have the same crystalline structure and physical characteristics.

Key Characteristics of Lab-Grown Diamonds:

1. Composition: Essentially, lab-created diamonds are composed of carbon, which is the same as natural diamonds.
2. Hardness: They are given a 10 on the Mohs scale which is the highest scale for any gemstone based on their hardness.
3. Brilliance: As for the light performance, lab grown diamonds are the same as natural diamonds.
4. Cost: Although they are still cheaper than moissanite, lab grown diamonds are 30-40% cheaper than natural diamonds.

Comparison Between Moissanite and Lab Grown Diamonds

To understand the query about: “Is moissanite a lab grown diamond?”, let's look at the differences between moissanite and lab grown diamonds in detail as follows:

Chemical Composition

The main difference between moissanite and lab grown diamonds is their chemical composition. Lab-grown diamonds are made of carbon while moissanite is made of silicon carbide. This fundamental difference influences many of their other characteristics.

Brilliance and Fire

Both the stones are famous for their sparkle though moissanite has more fire (colour reflection) than a diamond. This is because the yellow glass has a higher refractive index and more dispersion as compared to the red glass. Some find that moissanite has a greater sparkle than diamonds while some prefer diamonds.

Hardness and Durability

It is for this reason that both moissanite and lab grown diamonds are very hard-wearing and can be worn daily. Nonetheless, diamonds (natural and cultured) are a little more durable than moissanite, with a Mohs hardness of 10 as compared to the latter’s 9.25. From a practical standpoint, this difference is not very significant for use in jewellery.

Colour and Clarity

Lab-created diamonds are available in all colours and all the clarity ranges that natural diamonds are available in. While moissanite is often near-colourless or colourless, it is generally not considered as colourless as diamonds. The larger moissanite stones may have a slight shade of yellow or grey depending on the lighting of the jewelry.

Price Point

This is another major advantage of both moissanite and lab grown diamonds over natural diamonds in that they are less expensive. Nevertheless, moissanite is typically cheaper than lab-created diamonds which is why it can be considered as a good purchase for those who are not ready to spend much money.

Considerations When Choosing Moissanite or Lab-Grown Diamonds

When deciding between moissanite and lab grown diamonds, consider the following factors:

1. Budget: In terms of the cost, moissanite is considered to be very reasonable for its price.
2. Aesthetics: You will also have to decide whether you want moissanite that has an enhanced fire or the traditional fire of a diamond.
3. Symbolism: A few people still want the real diamond, even if it is cultured.
4. Size: Moissanite will give the consumer more size for the money than a lab diamond can give.
5. Durability: Both of them can be worn every day, though diamonds are harder than rubies.

If you are interested in fine-manufactured and elegant moissanite jewellery, then Panpanxi is the perfect choice. Our selection offers beautiful moissanite engagement rings, earrings, and other jewellery items that are made with special care for the people.