Are Lab-Grown Diamonds and Moissanite the Same?

Lab-grown diamonds and moissanite are two completely different stones, having very chemical composition and hardness ratings. Despite their difference, Lab-grown diamonds and moissanite look similar to the nacked eye, and a x10 loupe is still necessary to tell the difference between a lab-grown diamond and moissanite.

You may be familiar with moissanite and lab-grown diamonds if you’re looking for an alternative to natural gemstones and diamonds. They are both tempting, cost-effective solutions for those looking for stones that do not require mining.

The rocks are subject to many misconceptions, so we are here to clarify them. To begin with, you must understand that moissanite is a stone on its own, not a diamond imitation, as many think.

Lab created diamonds are chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds, except that they are manufactured utilizing highly specialized technology, equipment, and responsibly sourced raw materials.

In this article, you’ll discover the differences between these two beautiful stones to decide which one is the best fit for you.

Let’s get into it!

What is a lab-grown diamond?

The term “Lab Diamond,” also known as “Lab-Grown Diamond” or “Man-Made Diamond,” refers to a diamond gemstone created in a laboratory instead of occurring in nature.

Lab-grown diamonds are physically, chemically, and aesthetically identical to natural diamonds since they are made from a natural diamond seed. In truth, there is no chemical difference between a lab-grown diamond and a natural, mined diamond: they are both pure carbon.

The only difference is that they are made in specialized facilities utilizing complicated procedures like CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) or High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). So, if you’re considering manufacturing a diamond at home, we are afraid that might not be possible.

To grade and certify lab-grown diamonds, the same method as for mined diamonds is used. They are cut and polished with the same equipment and rules. Tests are the only way to determine whether a diamond is lab-grown.

Lab-grown diamonds have the same composition as natural mined diamonds and rank 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Additionally, their appearance and brilliance are the same as a mined diamond.

Lab-grown diamonds are also more environmentally-sustainable. In comparison to mined diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are less harmful to the environment.

Mining One carat of diamonds disturbs around 100 square feet of land and generates nearly 6,000 pounds of mineral waste. On the other hand, lab-grown diamonds disturb 0.07 square feet of earth and produce approximately 1 pound of mineral waste.

What is Moissanite?

Moissanite occurs from mineral silicon carbide being exposed to pressure and heat. It has the chemical formula SiC (Silicon and carbon atoms). Natural Moissanite is an extremely rare gemstone, discovered by the French chemist Henri Moissan in 1893. Natural Moissanite has only been found in upper mantle rock and meteorites, the reason why it is sometimes called the gemstone of the stars. Moissanite stones today are made in labs. After many years of trial and error, the French chemist Moissan discovered how to successfully produce what is now one of the world’s most scintillating gemstones.

The naturally occurring process is replicated in a lab by using a mix of heat and pressure to create the spectacular gemstone. Moissanite, unlike lab diamonds, has a distinct chemical composition. Moissanite is both silica and carbon, whereas diamond is only carbon.

Unfortunately, silicon carbide is quite difficult to come by. In reality, it has only been discovered in a few places, such as meteorites, the Green River Formation in Wyoming, and occasionally as inclusions within diamonds.

With a Mohs hardness value of 9.25, moissanite is almost as hard as laboratory-grown diamonds. This makes them extremely durable and suited for daily use. Moissanite has a greater refractive index, which makes it the most scintillating gemstone ever discovered.

It’s usually more intense and comes in flaming, rainbow-colored flashes. This effect is more evident in direct sunlight and on larger stones.

Since silicon carbide is a rare mineral, all products derived from it are synthetically generated. Moissanite and lab-grown diamonds are both man-made, but they have distinct chemical compositions and characteristics when inspected in person.

What are the differences between moissanite vs lab-grown diamonds?

While the appearance of lab-grown diamonds and moissanite may be similar, they differ in brightness, durability, color, and price. A Moissanite and a diamond differ in a few other ways, too, as outlined below.

Brightness

The brilliance of moissanite is one of its most obvious characteristics. If you can believe it, moissanite sparkles more than diamonds and is more colorful than diamonds!

A lab-grown diamond, on the other hand, reflects light in more sophisticated ways, such as brilliance, dispersion, and scintillation, which gives the stone its famed glitter.

Moissanite radiates roughly twice as much colorful brilliance as a diamond. This is referred to by gemologists as “dispersion” because moissanite has a dispersion of 0.104, whereas diamond has a 0.044 dispersion.

Moissanite will therefore look like fireworks when compared to a diamond. Their shine is like an explosion of vibrant rainbow colors.

Color

Lab-grown diamonds are available in every color. It is thus possible for them to be “colorless”, “near-colorless”, or any of the rainbow colors, including blue, red, or purple! Alternatively, moissanite is exclusively found in colorless, near-colorless, and yellowish-green varieties.

Similar to natural diamonds, lab-produced diamonds can also vary in hue. They are rated using the same internationally accepted criteria used to grade real diamonds (D–Z, colorless to light yellow or brown).

Moissanites are not evaluated on the diamond color grading system. However, they frequently fall within the same color range. Moissanite gems in fine jewelry can be colorless, near-colorless, or have subtle grayish or slight-yellowish hues.

Traditional moissanite has a yellowish tint and has been used in jewelry for several decades. It has also been possible to create colored moissanite by covering it in blue and green. Thanks to technological advancements, we now have fresh, colorless moissanite.

Refraction

The term “refraction” refers to how a gem bends and separates light. Furthermore, the refraction of light differs between lab diamonds and moissanite. If you’re a gem geek, you’ll know that diamond is singly refractive, whereas moissanite is doubly refractive.

For the rest of us, it is essential to remember that because of the way moissanite treats light, if you look at it from a specific angle, all the facets will appear doubled. Sapphire, tourmaline, and zircon are other gems that exhibit double refraction.

Hardness

The Mohs Scale for Hardness is generally used to measure the resistance of gemstones to surface scratching. Moissanite gemstones have a Mohs scale score of 9.25, while lab-grown diamonds have a value of 10.

Due to their outstanding ratings, each stone can be used in engagement rings and fine jewelry daily. You don’t have to worry about destroying the precious stone’s surface because it is highly resilient, thanks to its hardness.

Moissanite, like diamonds, is regarded as a “forever” stone. If you take care of it, it can last a lifetime or more. You would need to scratch the stone pretty much with a diamond to make a dent in it.

Price

The price of lab diamonds is higher because they are tougher, more traditional, and more sought after. Moissanite gems are far less expensive than natural and lab-grown diamonds, with prices changing according to size, color, and clarity.

So, when Moissanite and lab-diamonds are compared, moissanite is less expensive. Lab-grown diamonds are still comparatively cheaper than mined diamonds; their prices vary depending on the shape, carat, cut, color, and clarity.