Diamonds may be forever, but so is the damage they have inflicted on the earth by depleting the environment, causing conflict zones, and a hard history of underpaid and exploited miners who are forces to work under far less than ideal conditions. In short – diamonds are inextricable linked to host of controversial ethical questions. What to do when you don’t want to support this kind of connection, but still desire a sparkly and beautiful but affordable engagement ring?
The benefits of Moissanite are hard to argue against. Dicovered at the site of a meteorite impact in the 1800s, it is essentially processed silicon carbide, 100% lab created, 100% environmentally friendly and 100% ethical. Although it does occur naturally under the right environmental circumstances, it is quite rare to find, so for this reason, the stones are generated artificially by scientists.
Doesn’t it look dull?
The short answer to this question is a resounding no. Let’s go through the reasons why.
Compared to each other side by side, one of the two can be seen to give off a far greater brilliance. You might be surprised to find out that this is not the diamond! While diamonds have single refractive qualities, moissanite stones are double refractive. This means that, rather than refracting the light that enters the stone directly back, moissanite splits the light units into two, creating greater brilliance than what is the case with diamonds.
When it comes to how the stone is cut, there are many similarities to how diamonds are cut, and moissanite benefits greatly from the classic cuts that bring out the best in a diamond. Similarly to diamonds, the weight of a moissanite is also measured by the carat, and its size is measured in millimetres.
Other benefits to bear in mind
Other than the indisputable ethical and environmental benefits, another huge factor is the price difference between moissanites and diamonds. Compared to the other, moissanites are in a price class of their own – MUCH less than diamonds! This means that you will not have to enter married life out of pocket, make any moves that affect your long-term savings, or put yourself into debt. Moissanites give you all the aesthetic value, without compromising on quality, or stressing that you are buying a cheap knock-off. Moissanite is a worthy gemstone in its own right, and should be respected as such.
How to pick your moissanite ring
When in doubt, treat Moissanite as you would have treated a diamond. You will still need to pay close attention to its cut and quality, in relation to the band you choose. The right cut goes a long way in maximising the overall brilliance of the stone. Moissanite is universally compatible with most metals, from yellow gold to rose gold, silver and even titanium.
Moissanite could be the answer you didn’t know you were looking for when it comes to value, appearance, ethics and taste. An excellent gemstone in its own right, there is nothing inferior or “second fiddle” about it in the least!
