• blog
  • trip gallery
  • about
  • contact
Menu

Mack Packing

I'm McKinzie Pack. I travel, often with just a backpack.
  • blog
  • trip gallery
  • about
  • contact
×

Recent Travels & Hobbit House Adventures

My moissanite wedding set; photo taken by our awesome wedding photographer, Jayna Rosentreter.

My moissanite wedding set; photo taken by our awesome wedding photographer, Jayna Rosentreter.

Diamonds vs Moissanite Side-By-Side

Mack Packing November 12, 2017

The links in the post below may be affiliate links.

If you are interested in a transparent gemstone alternative to diamonds, moissanite is, in my opinion, the best option. Below, I fill you in on all the sparkly details for why I chose a moissanite ring over a diamond ring.

What Is Moissanite?: A Quick History

Moissanite is a silicon carbide that was first discovered as a mineral attached to a meteorite by French chemist Henri Moissan in 1893. Moissanite is incredibly rare in nature, so nearly all of it is synthesized in laboratories. 

What I Knew I Wanted in a Gemstone:

  1. Conflict-Free

  2. Durability

  3. Affordability

  4. Clear/Colorless Appearance

  5. Brilliance

Taken by my seriously outdated Samsung Galaxy S5 phone's camera, and still beautiful.

Taken by my seriously outdated Samsung Galaxy S5 phone's camera, and still beautiful.

Conflict-Free Alternative to Diamonds

I understand that not all diamonds are blood diamonds that involve abuse in the process of mining, transporting, or cutting and polishing. I just wanted to be 100% sure that the stone I was going to have on my hand every day as a symbol and reminder of love, wasn't aiding members of militarized revolutionaries in Western or Central Africa, or that children were forced to help get them. Moissanite is crafted in labs, so you can be sure that no warlords are benefitting from its creation and no children are harmed.

Moissanite vs. Diamond Durability

An engagement ring is worn daily, so I knew I wanted and needed it to be durable. The Mohs Scale of Minerals ranks minerals on how hard and scratch resistant they are on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the highest rating). Moissanite scores a 9.25 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamonds, which score a 10. Both of these score very well for durability; you really shouldn't be able to damage or scratch these stones throughout the day.

Cost of Moissanite vs. Diamonds & Their Color Differences

I am going to roll the cost and gemstone color of these two options together, since they go hand-in-hand.

Diamonds can be found in numerous colors, like blue, pink and yellow, which are all highly prized and rare. However, white diamonds are less valuable when they include colorization. Diamonds are classified—and consequently priced—by their color and their clarity. The most popularly purchased color classification of white diamonds are H or I, which are essentially nearly colorless diamonds. The most popular clarity for engagement rings is VS2, this clarity grade means that under 10x magnification, imperfections and inclusions are "Very Slightly Included". 

Similar to diamonds, moissanite is a white (or really, clear/transparent) colorless stone, and like diamonds, the more color that the stone contains, the less valuable it is deemed. Unlike diamonds, moissanite can be manufactured to be totally colorless—something that is nearly impossible rare in the diamond world at an affordable price. If you were to compare a same sized colorless moissanite to a popular I-colored, VS2 diamond, the cost of this diamond would be approximately 4 times more expensive than the colorless moissanite. If you were to compare a more similarly colored moissanite to its diamond equivalent of the same carat, the diamond would be approximately 6 times more expensive. Meaning moissanite is far more affordable, and you can purchase a much larger carat for a lot less money.

moissanite-ring

Brilliance AKA Sparkle 

Diamonds and moissanite are both great at reflecting and refracting white light, meaning they are very shiny, sparkly stones—but moissanite is better at this than diamonds. In fact, that glimmer is more pronounced in moissanite because it scatters light that enters it (called refraction) better than a diamond. On the Refraction Index (RI), moissanite scores a 2.65-2.69, whereas diamonds score a 2.42.

This is the reason that if you ask individuals (who aren't gemologists) to tell the difference between a moissanite ring and a diamond ring, the vast majority will think the moissanite is the diamond because they incorrectly assume the sparkliest ring is a diamond ring!

All in all, there were just too many pros for moissanite in my book when compared to diamonds. I am beyond thrilled with my moissanite engagement ring and all its conflict-free, glimmery glory.

In Wedding Tags moissanite vs diamond, diamond ring vs moissanite ring, comparing diamonds and moissanite, What is moissanite, pros of moissanite, Moissanite vs. Diamond Durability, cost of moissanite vs diamond, comparing moissanite and diamonds
← Are Thank You Cards a Thing of The Past?Our Colorado Mountainside Elopement →
Hi! I'm McKinzie Pack. I scribble about my life a bit— but mostly I share tips from our travels on the cheap and adventures of our Hobbit house!

Hi! I'm McKinzie Pack. I scribble about my life a bit— but mostly I share tips from our travels on the cheap and adventures of our Hobbit house!

Search Posts

  • Weekend Trips
  • Hobbit House
  • Trip Itinerary
  • Colorado
  • Food
  • Wedding
  • Cats
  • Holidays
  • Home Improvement
  • Theme Park
  • Travel
Little 8-10 month old kitty followed us to the car in a parking lot last night. I gave this orange tabby (uncommon for female cats!) flea and tick meds, got her shots all taken care of this morning, and she's super sweet, cuddly and not at all skittish of anything! She needs a home and is ready to go, she's happy and healthy, albeit underweight. 🐈
🌺💮🌸
Before & after 😍🏚️↪️🏡
#2018bestnine Shows our house the day we bought it, a couple pics of me reminiscing on our 2017 elopement, the center photo was taken on our 1-year anniversary, our dining room once we got all moved in, the umbrellas in old San Juan and a couple selfies. A year of making a home together. Looking forward to 2019!
Christmas is a week away! 💙
Christmas trees and cat trees. 🎄🐈🎄
Old San Juan 🇵🇷 #coreypuertoringonit
Old San Juan is full of history and art ☂️

Featured Posts

Featured
Jan 20, 2019
Just Plane Bored: How To Stay Occupied on Long Flights
Jan 20, 2019
Jan 20, 2019
Jan 1, 2019
New Year's Day Foods & Their Symbolism
Jan 1, 2019
Jan 1, 2019
Dec 8, 2018
5 Ways to Avoid Porch Pirates & Package Thieves
Dec 8, 2018
Dec 8, 2018
Apr 29, 2018
NYC Bucket List for a Quick Trip to New York
Apr 29, 2018
Apr 29, 2018
Nov 12, 2017
Diamonds vs Moissanite Side-By-Side
Nov 12, 2017
Nov 12, 2017
Oct 19, 2017
ULTIMATE COLORADO ROAD TRIP WITH 1-WEEK ITINERARY
Oct 19, 2017
Oct 19, 2017
Oct 10, 2017
Tips For Going to Harry Potter World on a Weasley Budget
Oct 10, 2017
Oct 10, 2017
Jul 10, 2017
TAPEWORMS IN CATS: WHAT THESE WORMS LOOK LIKE & WHAT TO DO
Jul 10, 2017
Jul 10, 2017
Jun 11, 2017
ANASTASIA MUSIC BOX & NECKLACE - NYC BROADWAY TRIP
Jun 11, 2017
Jun 11, 2017