What Stones are Comparable to a Diamond? Moissanites or white sapphires are most comparable to a diamond. While there are visible differences, these gems will look the closest to a diamond while offering a more affordable price.
In the last few years, moissanite has become one of the most popular diamond alternatives, and it's not hard to see why. Not only does moissanite strongly resemble a diamond, but they come in at a fraction of the price of the latter, and they are almost as durable.
Emerald. Rarer than diamonds, emeralds are also more expensive than the same quality diamond. Their colouring ranges from green to blue-green, and the darker the colour, the more expensive they are.
Moissanite has unparalleled sparkle! It has a higher refractive index than diamond, resulting in greater brilliance than diamond. Moissanite also has greater dispersion (fire) than a diamond, so you will notice more rainbow flashes of light.
Diamond replacements include moissanite, cubic zirconia, garnet, lab-grown diamonds, and more. These faux diamonds are used in jewelry pieces for their similarities: They are just as clear as diamonds, and in some cases, such as moissanite, they shine even brighter.
Moissanite is undoubtedly the best diamond alternative on the market. If you love the look of a diamond engagement ring but can't afford the whopping price tag or don't want the ethical dilemma of buying a mined diamond, moissanite is the perfect stone for you. Read on to find out why!
Of all the white gemstone alternatives, moissanite looks and behaves the most like diamond. When viewed side by side, diamond and moissanite are typically indistinguishable.
Scientists have found a mineral stronger than diamond. They say lonsdaleite could be used to fortify industrial tools like drill bits and saw blades - AND teach us about the evolution of earth.
Simulated diamonds are also known as diamond simulants and include things like cubic zirconia (CZ), moissanite, and YAG. They can also include some natural clear gemstones like white sapphire, white zircon or even clear quartz.
Engagement Rings Are a Depreciating Asset
Like a car, a diamond is a depreciating asset since it loses a large portion of its value the second you buy it. Think about gold and silver. The market for them is very liquid and fungible since you can store coins, sell them at any time or even trade them later on.
Moissanite Arguably the best faux diamond in existence, moissanite comprises silicon carbide, which means it is almost of the same hardness as a natural diamond. It also has reasonable colorlessness, although the glow is far more colorful than what you would see in a real diamond.
Cubic Zirconia
Because of its low cost, durability, and close visual likeness to diamond, CZ is widely considered as one of the best faux diamonds. Since its market entry in 1976 CZ quickly dominated the diamond simulant market and it remains the most gemologically and economically important simulant.
“A moissanite gem is approximately one-tenth the cost of a mined diamond of equal size and quality,” O'Connell says. “The value of moissanite is greater with larger carat weights.” More specifically, if you want a large-carat white gemstone, but don't have the money for a large diamond, moissanite is the way to go.
And could it be passed off as a diamond? To the majority of people in your life, yes. If they don't know what they're looking for, moissanite can most certainly pass as a diamond if that is your intention.
Moissanite will not lose its sparkle as time passes. The clarity and color of the stone won't change through the years. Dirt and grime are the only common elements that may inhibit a ring's sparkle until it is cleaned. Damaging the surface of moissanite can inhibit sparkle, as it would for any gemstone.
1 carat moissanite cost
As a guide, you can expect to pay around $5000 for a nearly colorless 1-carat diamond, but completely colorless moissanite will cost you significantly less at around $600.
The bezel setting comprises of a rim of metal which secures the diamond by its circumference. Since it follows the outline of the stone, the shape of the center stone is enhanced and appears larger than it is.
Moissanite is considered the most realistic fake diamond. The colorless, naturally occurring (but more often lab-made) mineral boasts an impressive hardness almost to the level of real diamonds. Cubic zirconia is another good option, but it's not as crystal-clear or as hard as moissanite.
A round diamond requires a larger rough diamond to cut it from than any other shape does. The goal when cutting a diamond is to keep the amount of waste as minimal as possible. Round cut diamonds result in more waste than other shapes. This factor makes them more valuable per carat than fancy shaped diamonds.
White Zircon
Not to be confused with synthetic cubic zirconia, zircon is a natural mineral. With its excellent brilliance and dispersion, it has a long history as a diamond simulant. In terms of appearance, zircon comes closer to diamond than any other mined gemstone.
Comparing the hardness of the two gems, CZ is less than half as durable as moissanite. Hardness also measures how likely a stone is to scratch or break down under chemical or temperature changes. Because CZs have a lower rating, they have less resistance to these extremes.