Diamond, Zirconia or Moissanite: which one to choose?

If you are looking for engagement rings, you may have noticed that diamond is the most used gemstone in this type of piece. Although it is not the only option to be considered, when choosing this jewel so special. The diamond engagement rings from Alexander Sparks is much desired because it is associated with the promise of eternal love. As the saying goes: Love and Diamond are the true words that goes side by side.

The diamond has unique characteristics. So it is exceptional and valuable in the world of jewelry. However, there are substitutes on the market for more affordable accessories that try to simulate the brightness and color of this gem. The synthetic gems that most aesthetically approach the diamond are cubic zirconia and Moissanite. However, they cannot perfectly imitate the characteristics of this valuable gem (diamond). Understand below the difference between these three stones.

Diamond: true choice in engagement rings

Diamond is the most desired gemstone for making jewelry, appreciated for its beauty and durability. This gem is composed of a single chemical element, carbon. It is formed under enormous pressure and temperature, in the deepest layers of the Earth. Due to its chemical structure and the conditions in which it is formed, diamond is considered the hardest mineral on the planet, with 10 Mohs of hardness. This indicates that the diamond is very resistant to scratching.

The diamond is also very resistant to heat. It can only be melted when exposed to a temperature of 5,500 degree C, which means that diamonds would only disappear from the planet if the earth came in contact with the sun. The diamond is also famous for its remarkable optical properties. It has a high dispersion index, 0.044, and a refractive index of 2.417-2.419. These two characteristics are responsible for the diamond’s high brilliance and beautiful bursts of light.

Crucial aspects of diamond

When you see a diamond shine, you are seeing the gem’s ability to bend and refract light. When the light reaches the interior of the diamond, it bounces and is refracted by the table. That is, the top of the diamond, directly to your eyes. Because it is a natural gem, the qualities of the diamond are variable. Better quality diamonds have less impurities, have a cut that enhances the brilliance of the stone and are almost colorless. In some cases, totally colorless. The better the quality of the diamond, the higher its value. In order to assess the value of a diamond, the GIA created the 4 C’s as a method to classify the diamond’s qualities. Diamonds are classified according to four characteristics: Color, Carat, Clarity and Cut.

Moissanite: a substitute but an imitation

Moissanite is a natural gem that came from other galaxies, but that can be artificially synthesized here on Earth. It was discovered by Henri Moissan, a French scientist, who was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. In 1893, he found a mineral very similar to diamond, but composed of silicon carbide in a crater created by a meteorite in Arizona. The quantity found by Moissan was so limited that it made it impossible to market the gem. That is, made in the laboratory. It took many years of trying until science was able to reproduce a satisfying imitation. 

Why Diamond is better?

Although Moissanite is a more affordable alternative than diamonds, there are major differences to take into account, such as composition and brilliance. The gem has a hardness of 9.25 Mohs, being just below the diamond. Diamond occupies the top of the hardness scale, with 10 Mohs.

The shine of Moissanite is known to produce an intense colored shine. It is appreciated by some, but rejected by others for appearing too artificial. Thus, while the diamond has a burst of intense white light, Moissanite refracts less light of that color: resulting in a peculiar color. This effect is similar to those of “disco globe”, which occurs due to the high dispersion index. Another distinct feature concerns stoning. The cut of Moissanite is generally shallower than the brilliant cut used in diamond. This is because each gem has an ideal cut to enhance the brightness.

Zirconia: another alternative but also a substitute

Colorless natural zirconia is composed of zirconium oxide and is extremely rare in nature. Therefore, the crystal commonly used in accessories is cubic zirconia, a synthetic gem produced in the laboratory since 1976. It is considered the most popular imitation of the diamond due mainly to its low cost and visual. The hardness of cubic zirconia is 8.5 Mohs. Therefore, less resistant than Moissanite and diamond.

The synthetic gemstone has a brilliance similar to that of a diamond, besides being always colorless. As well as, compare to the diamonds, zirconia has definitely a fewer refractive index. This characteristic is what determines the extent of the stone’s brilliance. It means that a good diamond produces a brilliance of superior quality to that of a zirconia, although the synthetic stone is colorless.

Conclusion: why diamond is perfect for engagement rings?

Diamond, Zirconia and Moissanite: whether by brightness, substance, color and hardness, the gems are completely different. Diamonds are natural gems formed billions of years ago. Its composition creates a material of high hardness with extraordinary beauty and shine. Already the zirconia and Moissanite gemstones are artificial, created in the laboratory.

Finally, you two are getting married. It is a stronger bond for life. Or, finally you want to propose her and want her as your life partner. Both the scenarios are extremely divine. Would you like to make this entire moment a fake news? If you buy Moissanite or Zirconia wedding and engagement ring, it will be affordable but will not worth the moments. Would you like to witness the true moment with something imitation?

Buy original diamond engagement ring from online jewellery stores. See the largest, modern and unique collections of diamond engagement rings in affordable prices. Give the moment real charm and shine it needs. What could be shinier than an original diamond engagement ring from the house of Alexander Sparks?