Moissanite vs Diamond: The Differences, the Price, and Whether Anyone Can Tell

If you are torn between a diamond ring and a moissanite ring, you are not alone. In recent years moissanite has become one of the most sought-after stones in the world, especially for engagement rings and solitaire jewelry. So what is the real difference, and will anyone notice? Here is everything you need to know.

The difference in short

• Material: diamond is pure carbon. Moissanite is silicon carbide, a completely different material.
• Hardness: diamond rates 10 on the Mohs scale and moissanite 9.25. Both are suitable for everyday wear.
• Brilliance: moissanite has a higher refractive index (about 2.65 versus 2.42 for diamond), so it sparkles intensely.
• Fire: the rainbow flashes inside the stone are more than twice as strong in moissanite as in diamond.
• Price: moissanite costs a small fraction of a diamond of the same size.

Can you see the difference?

At a normal glance, most people find it very hard to tell. The most noticeable difference is actually extra sparkle: in strong sunlight moissanite throws more flashes of color, and some people love exactly that. In larger stones, a close look through a loupe can reveal slight doubling of the facet lines, because moissanite splits light in two directions. A correct cut minimizes this effect.

Simple diamond testers that measure thermal conductivity may even identify moissanite as diamond. To tell them apart for certain, jewelers use a tester that also checks electrical conductivity.

Color and clarity

Quality moissanite today comes in color grades D to F, meaning colorless and clear to the eye. Because it is created in a lab under controlled conditions, it is easy to get a clean stone with no visible inclusions, something that costs a great deal in a natural diamond.

What about the price?

This is where the gap is dramatic. A good-quality one-carat diamond ring usually costs many thousands of shekels, while a moissanite ring of similar size sells for hundreds. For example: our 925 sterling silver solitaire ring with a one-carat moissanite.

Note: moissanite is lighter than diamond, so a “carat” of moissanite usually refers to the diamond-equivalent size. A round “one-carat” moissanite measures about 6.5 mm across, exactly like a one-carat diamond.

Who is moissanite for?

• Anyone who wants a large, brilliant engagement ring or solitaire without a diamond budget.
• Anyone who cares that the stone was created in a lab rather than mined.
• Anyone looking for an everyday piece that will not scratch easily.

When is a diamond the better choice?

If traditional value or the word “diamond” itself matters to you, a diamond is the choice. It is worth knowing that diamonds also usually resell for less than their purchase price.

Frequently asked questions

Does moissanite lose its sparkle over time?

No. The sparkle comes from the structure of the stone itself, not from a coating, so it does not fade. An occasional clean with lukewarm water and mild soap is all it needs.

Is moissanite a lab-grown diamond?

No. A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond, carbon created in a lab. Moissanite is a completely different gemstone with properties of its own.

How do I know I received real moissanite?

MUSK moissanite jewelry comes with a GRA certificate. We wrote a full guide to the GRA certificate and how to verify it.

Want to see it up close? Visit our moissanite collection.