Real Diamond or Moissanite: Which is For You?

With brides become more budget conscious, ethically conscious and environmentally aware, many couples are turning away from diamonds in search of cheaper, eco-friendly alternatives. Enter moissanite, a substance that looks as good as diamond and is becoming an ever more popular choice for engagement ring gemstones. But which one is best for you?

Choose Diamond If…

You’re traditional. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, after all. If you have dreams of a fairy tale wedding, a big diamond ring and a dashing husband, well then, choose a diamond. It’s a no brainer! Just remember to be mindful of your diamond choice; try to ensure your gem is conflict free and of ethical origin.

You’re into jewellery. Or antiques. If you like fine jewels and know everything there is to know about the 4Cs, iconic engagement rings and historical jewellery, then you can be forgiven for wanting the real deal. If that’s the case, then it’s a matter of all or nothing (and we know you’ll choose all over nothing!)

You have money to burn. Diamonds ain’t cheap, as anyone who’s ever been engagement ring shopping will tell you. If your budget allows and your goal is a quality gem, then there’s no better choice than a real diamond. Still though, do your research and make sure you’re getting value for your hard earned cash.

Choose Moissanite If…

You’re eco-conscious. Most of the moissanite used for engagement rings and jewellery is lab grown. This doesn’t mean that it’s ‘fake’ – it has the exact same chemical make-up and appearance as ‘real’ moissanite, but without the environmental impact. So if you care about the planet, moissanite is an excellent choice.

You’re on a budget. Moissanite offers almost the same hardness as diamond (9.25 vs. 10 on the Mohs scale) and just as much sparkle. To the untrained eye, it looks exactly the same as diamond. BUT – it’s a fraction of the cost. If you have a strict budget to stick to but you want something that wows, moissanite is the way to go.

You like star gazing. Moissanite rarely occurs naturally on earth – in fact, no naturally occurring moissanite was discovered until the 1958-1959. So how did it end up here? From meteorites that fell to earth. That’s right – moissanite is space rock! If you love star gazing, astronomy, geology or anything space-related, moissanite makes for a seriously cool engagement ring.

Check out our complete guide to Moissanite here.