Moissanite vs Diamond: Which is More Beautiful?

Moissanite vs Diamond: Which is More Beautiful?

The top question in the moissanite vs diamond debate is whether one holds more beauty than the other. Certainly, moissanite is a convincing diamond simulant. To tell the difference between diamonds and moissanites, jewelry experts need a “moissanite tester” — a device that measures electrical conductivity — and a loupe for a close visual examination. However, there are slight differences in their beauty that consumers may notice.

Brilliance and Fire

When you’re looking at a diamond, you’ll notice both brilliance (white flashes) and fire (colored flashes). Moissanite also shows both, but typically has more fire than diamond. So, moissanite tends to have more colored flashes of light than diamond.

However, this depends partly on the diamond cut. Diamonds with older cut styles or modern cuts with certain angles will show more fire than most modern diamonds. This can make it difficult to tell the difference between the two.

Distinguishing moissanites and diamonds based on brilliance and fire isn’t reliable, but it’s easier to see at larger sizes. Even so, unless you have experience in the jewelry industry, you won’t be able to tell the difference just based on appearance.

Is Diamond More Durable Than Moissanite?

Hardness

At a 10 on the Mohs scale, diamond is well-known as the hardest material. Nothing but a diamond can scratch another diamond. With a hardness of 9.25, moissanite is the second-hardest material used a gemstone. Unless you store your moissanite with diamond jewelry, it’s highly unlikely that it will scratch.

Sources: Does Moissanite Chip Easily?; Moissanite Versus Cubic Zirconia.

If reliable, these figures indicate diamond takes about twice as much pressure to break than moissanite, while moissanite takes three t

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