Beautiful, long-lasting and extremely durable, moissanite is a gemstone that is rapidly rising in popularity. With the same lifetime guarantee as a diamond to maintain its fire and brilliance but at the fraction of the cost, it is no wonder why so many couples are choosing moissanite for their engagement ring stone. But how much is a moissanite stone actually worth? Read on to find out!
As a lab created stone, moissanite costs a fraction of the price of a diamond with the same properties. Despite the attractive price tag, it’s understandable if you’re hesitant to rush into purchasing a moissanite engagement ring – it almost sounds too good to be true! If you’re wondering whether moissanite is worth buying, I’d highly recommend checking out our recent article here. Otherwise, let’s jump into how much this stunning diamond alternative actually costs!
Moissanite is a beautiful, extra sparkly stone that is swiftly gaining recognition in Australia for its incredible similarities to a diamond. With a 9.25-9.5 hardness rating on the Moh’s hardness scale, moissanite is the second-hardest gemstone in existence, second only to a diamond. This means a moissanite stone is incredibly stable, highly resistant to scratches and able to survive a lifetime of daily wear without ever losing its sparkle. Increasing the allure of this beautiful gemstone is its ethical origins and affordable price tag.
How much a moissanite costs is dependent upon a number of factors. Similar to diamond pricing, moissanite is priced according to its size, colour, cut and clarity grading.
Like with a diamond colour grading system, the less colour a moissanite displays, the higher the grade and the more expensive the stone. At Cullen Jewellery, we exclusively supply colourless moissanite, graded as “DEF”.
Like with diamonds, moissanite stones can vary in the amount of colour that they exhibit. Some may display yellow, grey or green tones while high-quality moissanite will be near-colourless and beautifully clear. Every moissanite stone is evaluated and graded according to the following grading scale:
The cut of a moissanite stone refers to how the proportion, polish and symmetry is balanced to optimise the stone’s light performance. When moissanite is cut to a specific shape, there is an ideal way to do it in order to maximise the stone’s ability to reflect and refract light. Rated from Fair, Good, Very Good to Ideal, all of our moissanite has an Ideal cut.
Clarity relates to how clear a gemstone is and measures how many surface blemishes or internal inclusions are present. As a lab created stone, the clarity of moissanite can be carefully controlled to ensure the highest quality gemstone is created. Moissanite clarity is graded according to the following scale:
Since moissanite weighs a little less than a diamond of the same size, moissanite is measured in millimeters rather than carat weight. When compared to a diamond of the same size, moissanite may measure differently in weight but it will measure close to or the same in diameter.
Okay, so now you know what the pricing is actually based on, let’s look at how much a moissanite stone actually costs – and how it compares to a both a natural and lab created diamond of approximately the same quality and size!
Carat SizeNatural Diamond (AUD)
Round, DEF-colour,
Ideal cut, VVS1-VVS2 clarity
Lab Grown Diamond (AUD)
Round, DEF-colour,
Ideal cut, VVS1-VVS2 clarity
Lab created Moissanite (AUD)
Round, DEF-colour,
Ideal cut, VVS1-VVS2 clarity
As you can see, depending on the stone’s carat size and distinct specifications, you can expect to make significant savings by purchasing a moissanite over a natural diamond. Though more expensive than moissanite, lab created diamonds are a perfect alternative if you’d still like to have a diamond ring but can’t afford the extravagant pricing of natural diamonds. If you’re interested in purchasing a lab created diamond, feel free to get in touch with us today!
Although an engagement ring is often set with a diamond, there are other options that can make a ring more affordable and just as beautiful. One of my favorite options is moissanite. Moissanite, originally discovered in 1893 in a meteor crater, is a very rare gem. Therefore, moissanite, as we know it today, is almost exclusively lab-grown. Let’s compare Diamonds vs Moissanite for color, hardness, brilliance, and price:
No. Moissanite and diamond are two different gemstones! While they look similar, there are ways to tell them apart. The biggest differences between moissanite vs diamond are amount of sparkle, cost, and reflection.
Moissanite is actually more brilliant than a diamond! Brilliance, which refers to a stone’s ability to reflect white light, is a good measure for how much a gemstone will ‘sparkle’. Moissanite’s brilliance is higher than diamond’s due to its higher “refractive index” (Diamond’s is 2.42, whereas Moissanite’s is 2.65). This is a technical term for how much a gemstone bends light. Moissanite bends light a lot, meaning light bounces around more, giving it max sparkle! In addition, moissanite has a higher dispersion than a diamond, too. So, in addition to your moissanite giving off more white sparkle, it will actually reflect more colored sparkle (“fire”), too. In fact, your moissanite will look like a firework next to a diamond.
Bonus! Because moissanite contains some silicon, it is also less likely to attract grease or dirt than a diamond. That means a moissanite will sparkle more in between cleanings, too.
No! Moissanite stays super sparkly for its whole life. Because of its superior hardness and great refractive index, Moissanite stands the test of time. Unlike a CZ (a less beautiful diamond simulant), you never have to worry about Moissanite becoming dull, losing its brilliance, or getting foggy. It will be beautiful and bright forever!
Yes, if you look closely. Moissanite’s extra bling and extra reflection can separate it from diamond. While diamonds have equal amounts of white and rainbow sparkle, Moissanite’s rainbow sparkle exceeds its white brilliance. Moissanite’s unique double refraction can also separate it from diamond, if you know what to look for:
Diamond is singly refractive, whereas Moissanite is doubly refractive. This means that if you look through the side of a Moissanite, you may see double! In Forever One, this feature is not noticeable unless you know to look for it, and look very closely. Other doubly refractive gems include sapphire, alexandrite, and tanzanite.
Both moissanite and diamond can be colorless or near-colorless. The amount of color a moissanite has depends upon the type of moissanite. Classic moissanite, the first moissanite that man created, is a greenish-yellow hue. It’s not very pretty, and Do Amore does not sell it. In fact, many feel that classic moissanite’s color is similar to a GIA-certified K-color diamond (quite yellow). On the other hand, Forever One Moissanite can be colorless or near colorless! Forever One Colorless has the color of a GIA-certified E-color diamond. Forever One Near Colorless has the color of a GIA-certified I-color diamond. Both of these gems are gorgeous, come in a variety of sizes, and make perfect engagement stones.
No. Forever Brilliant was near colorless, Forever One can be colorless! Have you been looking around and seeing “Forever Brilliant” Moissanite mentioned? Wondering what is Forever Brilliant Moissanite is? Forever Brilliant was Charles & Colvard’s first attempt at a colorless-looking Moissanite. However, because the technology wasn’t as great back then, it turned out near colorless. As a result, when Charles & Colvard developed Colorless Moissanite (what everyone really wanted to begin with), they called it Forever One.
Colorless Forever One Moissanite is widely thought to be more beautiful than near colorless Forever Brilliant was. So, we highly recommend choosing a crisp and icy Forever One colorless for your engagement ring! However, if you’re looking for the warmth of a near colorless, Do Amore can special order a Forever One Near Colorless for you, too!
Hot Tip: Classic & Near-colorless moissanite is still sold by numerous jewelers. So, to make sure you don’t get stuck with a yellow-green classic moissanite or only a near-colorless stone, demand Forever One Colorless!
VIEW OUR FOREVER ONE MOISSANITE COLLECTION>
Forever One Colorless Hearts & Arrows looks most like a diamond as it’s cut to show even white and rainbow sparkle! Non Hearts & Arrows Moissanite will show more rainbow sparkle than white. Hearts & Arrows Moissanite is only faceted in round and cushion shapes, currently. Other shapes that look more similar to diamond include emerald and asscher, as these shapes do not truly “sparkle”, and instead have more of a sheen.
Moissanite is a very hard gem, but not quite as hard as diamond. The harder a material, the more difficult it is to scratch. And, on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, moissanite is rated as a 9.25. This is a great score, and higher than any gemstone used in jewelry besides diamonds! Diamonds, which are the hardest known mineral, score a 10.
Can I wear Moissanite ring everyday?
Yes! Moissanite’s great hardness makes it an ideal ring to wear everyday! At a 9.25 hardness, it stands up to wear and tear extremely well, making it a great engagement ring choice. Also, Moissanite’s mineral makeup means that it resists oil and dirt better than a diamond.
Does Moissanite break easily?
Moissanite resists chipping and breaking better than diamond. Diamond, when struck against something hard, can sheer off in the direction of its crystal growth (this is called “cleaving”). Moissanite, on the other hand, does not break in its crystal direction, as its cleavage in “indistinct”. This means that while a Moissanite can still be chipped, it is less prone to large breaks than diamond is.
Can moissanite get scratched?
Yes, but only by the rare things harder than it, like diamonds and certain abrasive cleaners. However, that’s about all that can scratch a moissanite! Most other gems and surfaces, such as sapphire or granite, are softer than Moissanite and cannot cause scratches. Because Moissanite is a 9.25 on the hardness scale, and diamond is a 10, diamond can scratch moissanite.
Overall, moissanite is a fraction of the cost of a diamond. Also, while a diamond’s price varies based on cut, clarity, and other individual characteristics, moissanite varies only with type and size. Below is a table comparing our pricing for a GIA-certified round diamond (with I-color and VS2 clarity), a classic moissanite stone (not colorless), a near-colorless moissanite stone, and Forever One colorless moissanite stone.
Carat SizeGIA Certified Diamond (Round, I-color, VS2)Classic MoissaniteNear Colorless MoissaniteForever One Colorless Moissanite.5$1,100+$89$243$2691.0$4,000+$269$539$5991.5$10,000+$449$945$1,049
For those who want a big blingy look for a reasonable price, yes! Many of our customers choose Moissanite over diamond when they want a great ring look, but also want to buy a house. Moissanite is a great option for couples on a budget, those looking for a man-made option for sustainable reasons, or those who simply do not feel the need to spend a lot on a ring. We have thousands of very happy moissanite customers!
While moissanite does not replicate the look of a diamond exactly, it is a beautiful, durable, white stone! So, it’s a viable option for those not wanting to purchase a diamond. Colored stones, like sapphires (which also come in white!), are beautiful options as well. As a result, there are many ways we can help couples create a stunning ring without paying for the higher cost of a diamond.
To pair an engagement ring with a moissanite, find your favorite engagement ring here, then choose “Pair with Moissanite.”
Of course! Do Amore is proud to be knowledgeable in conflict-free diamonds, moissanite, and other stone options so please feel free to contact us with any questions. Feel free to ask for me personally (my name is Krish)!