Step into the world of moissanite, a captivating gemstone that shines like a diamond but comes at a fraction of the cost. Originally discovered by French chemist Henri Moissan in a meteorite, this rare and mysterious stone has made its way into laboratories where dealers make an affordable, brilliant alternative to diamond. Discover the reasons why moissanite is a hidden gem that should not be underestimated.
So, what is moissanite? Well, moissanite is a gemstone that closely resembles a diamond in appearance and hardness. It ranks 9.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, just below diamond. Therefore, it is one of the hardest minerals in the world. It has a crystalline structure formed from silicon carbide. Most importantly, it has a lab-grown variety that is as good as the naturally existing option. The popularity of moissanite is rising as an alternative to diamond due to its similar appearance and hardness.
Benefits of Moissanite Compared to Diamonds
Moissanite has numerous advantages over diamonds, making it a popular choice for those seeking beautiful gemstones for their jewelry. Some of the key benefits include:
● High Quality and Brilliance
Moissanite is a high-quality gemstone with exceptional brilliance. Its optical properties are nearly identical to those of diamond, allowing for similar refraction and reflection of light. Therefore, the gem has a stunning luster. For that reason, moissanite is an ideal choice for jewelry that requires a beautiful sparkle.
● Affordability
Lab-grown moissanite is significantly more affordable than diamond but offers the same quality and appearance. This makes it the perfect choice for anyone seeking a high-quality gemstone without the high cost of diamonds. Therefore, you could still get a great jewelry experience with moissanite if you are working on a tight budget.
● Sustainability
Moissanite is a durable gemstone with a hardness of 9.5 on the Mohs scale, making it resistant to scratches and damage. For that reason, it is a great choice for everyday jewelry. Since it is lab-grown, there is guarantee for its supply in the market.
● Conflict-Free Gemstone
Moissanite is also conflict-free. This means that there are no human rights abuses or conflicts associated with its mining and trading, making it an ethical choice for jewelry unlike natural diamond.
Why Moissanite is underrated?
Despite its increasing popularity, moissanite remains relatively unknown to the public. This is due to the following reasons.
1. Misconceptions about Moissanite
There are misconceptions about moissanite that need that has prevented its full rise and acknowledgement in the gemstone industry. They include:
● Confusion of Moissanite with other gemstones. Gemstones like zirconia or white sapphire are often confused with moissanite due to its relative newness to the market. Therefore, people tend to shy away from it. However, it superior to all of them.
● Considering Moissanite as a cheap imitation of Diamonds. People see moissanite as a cheap imitation of diamonds. This is not true since moissanite is a unique natural gemstone with its own properties and benefits.
2. Overshadowing by the Diamond Industry
Moissanite's underrated status is because of the diamond industry, which wields significant influence on the jewelry market. As a result, many people overlook moissanite as a serious diamond alternative. This is unfortunate because moissanite offers numerous advantages over diamonds, including similar hardness and optical properties.
Most importantly, moissanite offers quality at better price than that of diamond. Therefore, it is time to recognize moissanite as a brilliant option for anyone who desires a beautiful gemstone without breaking the bank.
Moissanite as an Alternative to Diamonds
Even with moissanite's many advantages over diamonds, some people still do not consider it a serious alternative to diamonds. This is likely due to the influence of the diamond industry on the jewelry market. However, moissanite is a high-quality gemstone with almost identical and at times better optical properties to diamonds. This makes it an excellent alternative for those who want a beautiful gemstone but do not want to pay high prices for diamonds.
Final Thoughts
Moissanite is an underrated gemstone that deserves more recognition. It is a durable, ethical, and affordable choice for jewelry gem often misunderstood in the industry. Moissanite is a unique gemstone with its own properties and is an excellent alternative to diamonds. If you are looking for a fine-looking and long-lasting choice for jewelry, moissanite is certainly worth considering.
