When Henry Moissan first discovered sparkling crystals in a meteorite crater, little did he know that he had stumbled upon a gemstone born from the stars? Cut to nearly a century later, these gemstones, named moissanite after Moissan, have become all the rage and one of the most popular diamond alternatives - and for good reason.
After all, who doesn’t want a piece of the universe to signify their eternal love for their partner? If you want to traverse the barriers of traditional diamond engagement rings, here’s why a brilliant, sparkling moissanite engagement ring is your best choice.
Moissanite: Origins
Naturally-Occurring Moissanite Is Made Up Of Silicon Carbide.
A naturally-occurring mineral called silicon carbide, moissanite is a precious gemstone that comes from space. It was first discovered in 1893 by Henry Moissan when he was investigating the remnants of a meteorite crater in Arizona.
Moissan initially thought the sparkly crystals were diamonds because they bore a striking resemblance to the hardest substance on Earth. However, in 1904, on closer inspection, he discovered the crystals were composed of silicon carbide and not carbon. The rare gemstone was named moissanite in his honor.
Naturally-occurring moissanite, both moissanite colored and colorless, is so rare that even if moissanite stone deposits in Russia and Wyoming were scoured, it wouldn’t be enough to embellish a pair of earrings. The good news is that after nearly a century of research, testing, and errors, scientists were able to create lab-grown moissanite from silicon carbide. Ethical and sustainable, moissanite engagement rings reign supreme among diamond alternatives.
Types Of Moissanite Gems
Unlike diamonds, moissanite cannot be evaluated based on the 4Cs - Cut, Clarity, Carat, and Color, since all of them have the same brilliance, fire, and hardness. Instead, Moissanite gemstones are typically divided into three categories based on their color grade as listed below.
1. Forever One Colorless
Forever One moissanite gemstones are considered premium, colorless stones. They are comparable to a diamond of grade D, E, or F, by GIA standards. These white or colorless stones look remarkably similar to diamonds and look amazing in yellow gold or white gold engagement ring settings.
Although Forever One moissanite gemstones are colorless, a rose gold setting can impart a subtle warm glow and appearance to the stone. This moissanite type is the most expensive one among all three grades.
2. Forever One Near Colorless
As the name suggests, near-colorless moissanite gemstones with a GIA grade of G, H, and I, belong to this category. While in most situations it appears white like colorless moissanite when viewed from certain angles it has a slight yellowish tint.
It is still considered a premium grade of moissanite, and looks fabulous in an oval cut, with a white gold or platinum setting. A pave moissanite engagement ring can also beautifully complement the yellow hue of near-colorless gemstones.
3. Forever Brilliant
The least expensive moissanite gemstone is forever brilliant and is graded in the I-J color grade. The gemstone appears quite yellowish and has a warmer tone. The beauty of these gemstones is accentuated in rose gold or yellow gold settings with a diamond pave.
Apart from these three categories, the color moissanite is also gaining popularity among brides and grooms-to-be. Available in mesmerizing colors like cyan blue, green, purple, gray, and black, engagement rings fancy color moissanite is created through a special heating process that brings out vibrant, gorgeous colors on the surface of moissanite. The color treatment is permanent. Blue color moissanite will look like an ethereal ring that resembles a glowing star on your hand!
Why Choose A Moissanite Engagement Ring?
If the amazing origin story and diverse color grades of moissanite didn’t convince you to buy a moissanite engagement ring, then these benefits of the stone will certainly convince you!
1. Mining-Free
As mentioned above, naturally-occurring moissanite is ultra-rare and is not enough to create a gorgeous piece of jewelry. Thanks to the efforts of scientists and researchers, the first lab-grown moissanite was created from silicon carbide crystals via a safely guarded thermal growing process, in the 1980s.
The lab-grown moissanite is then expertly cut to bring out the moissanite’s extraordinary brilliance and fire. Each gemstone created is carefully analyzed to ensure that it is of the highest quality and free from defects.
Since moissanite is grown in a controlled environment, it is considered to be eco-friendly, as precious resources are not exploited to mine the stone, online natural diamonds. At the same time, moissanite is also an ethical choice and conflict-free as opposed to blood diamonds where labor is exploited in war-torn regions in Africa.
2. Durability
The durability of all gemstones is measured by the Mohs Scale of Hardness, which gauges a gemstone’s longevity based on its ability to withstand scratches on its surface. Diamonds are the hardest known mineral to man, and it scores a 10 on the Mohs scale.
A diamond’s exceptional hardiness makes it ideal for everyday use, which is why they say a ‘diamond is forever. Moissanite is a close second to diamond when it comes to durability since it has a score of 9.25-9.5 on the Mohs scale. This makes moissanite a durable option for an engagement ring stone that can be worn daily, as it doesn’t scratch easily.
3. Brilliance
The aspect that truly sets moissanite apart, is its brilliance, that is, its ability to reflect white light. It’s a good measure of much sparkle and fire a gemstone has. Moissanite disperses light extremely well; in fact, it has a higher refractive index as compared to diamond, which makes it look more shiny and sparkly.
Moissanite has more than twice the dispersion value of a diamond, and hence, it has a greater fire or display of spectral colors. This creates a fiery, rainbow-like effect that is visible when the stone is rotated and its different facets catch the light.
Twist Cushion-Cut Moissanite Engagement Ring That Highlights Its Brilliance
4. Price
The biggest benefit that works in favor of moissanite is its value for money. Since moissanite is made in the lab and is easier to make as compared to a lab-grown diamond, the moissanite ring price is about one-tenth the cost of a natural diamond of the same size and quality.
In short, it won’t burn a hole in your pocket and when paired with its durability, it is certainly a catch! Moissanite is so reasonably priced, that high-quality larger moissanite usually costs less than a low-quality small diamond.
5. Color
While moissanite stones are labeled colorless, just like natural diamonds, both of these gemstones can have some color to them. Engagement rings fancy color moissanite include colors like cyan, blue, yellow, green, and black.
Also, the larger the moissanite the more visible its color is because of its refractive index. Moissanite rings colored don’t have a typically bright white appearance like diamonds but are known for their rainbow flashes, unique colors, and disco ball-like charm.
Final Words
If you have got your heart set on buying a gorgeous moissanite engagement ring, then there are a few things to keep in mind while going shopping for one. Ensure that you find an eye-clean stone, and look for moissanite that has a brilliant sparkle, fire, and polish.
Purchase your ring from a trusted online retailer like DiamondRensu, where you can choose from a spectacular range of moissanite rings color and colorless. Available in stylish and graceful designs, you’ll be delighted to show off your sparkler whether a ring or a pair of earrings!
