The Basics Of Moissanite Vs Cubic Zirconia
If you have made a smart decision to choose a gemstone other than diamonds for your engagement ring, the question is, which one? Because when it comes to engagement rings, diamonds are the first choice, but they come with expensive price tags and are beyond the reach of most of us. One of the best ways to have a diamond look with affordability is to opt for a diamond simulant.
However, people should not feel pressurized to choose diamonds as a gemstone for their engagement rings and other jewelry. There exist excellent alternatives to diamonds such as moissanite and cubic zirconia.
Undoubtedly, both gemstones are pretty, durable, have a nice bling factor, and can convince people as real diamonds. Moreover, they are affordable to your pockets as well. Now, the main question is, which is a better diamond substitute, a Moissanite or Cubic Zirconia?
Let us answer this for you! The guide will help you go through all the factors to consider and make the best decision.
Moissanite Vs Cubic Zirconia: The History
Henri Moissan first discovered natural moissanite in Arizona in 1893. Crystals are believed to have been brought to earth by a meteor that crashed several thousand years ago. And therefore, moissanite is also called stardust or space diamond. It is a rare mineral comprised of silicon carbide and is great at conducting heat with incredible brightness.
The natural cubic zirconia was discovered in the late 1930s. It is composed of Zirconium oxide, a white crystalline powder. When it is melted under high heated temperatures, it forms crystals called cubic zirconia.
Cubic zirconia contains a mixture of zirconium and oxygen, whereas moissanite is made of silicon and carbon. In this manner, moissanite is more similar to diamond which is made of pure carbon. Although both CZ and moissanite are extremely rare in their natural form, both available in the market today are lab created.
Because of its origin in stars, moissanite gives an added romance, and its chemical composition is closer to diamond than CZ.
Moissanite Vs Cubic Zirconia: Strength
Although we know that diamonds are the hardest know gemstones, with a ranking of 10 on the Mohs scale. But moissanite comes pretty close and is the second hardest stone used in jewelry making after diamonds ranking at 9.25 on the Mohs scale.
Cubic zirconia is also a hard gemstone, ranking at 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale, making it a good option for daily wear, just like moissanite, as it is scratch resistant and durable.
However both are durable gemstones, but moissanite has a score of 9.25, and CZ has a score between 8-8.5, meaning moissanite is harder to a clear extent. Moissanite is an exceptionally hard stone making it ideal for routine wear because of its high resistance to damage and abrasion.
Unlike diamonds, Moissanites are more resistant to heat, so even if they were in a fire, they would possess their sparkle and form.
Moissanite Vs Cubic Zirconia: Fire & Brilliance
Moissanite has a refractive index of 2.65 which is higher than that of a diamond, i.e. 2.42. Moissanite has an extremely high range of brilliance and excellent light performance. This is one of the reasons that moissanites are a favorite choice for moissanite engagement rings because of their fire and brilliance than a diamond.
Cubic Zirconia, on the other hand, is as brilliant as diamond, but that light performance fades as the stone is made bigger. The stones larger in size will start to lose their depth of sparkle.
Moissanite Vs Cubic Zirconia: Price
When compared to diamonds, both moissanite and cubic zirconia are much more affordable. The price of moissanite is lower than a diamond but much higher than that of a CZ because it comes from natural materials that are very rare, even when created in a laboratory.
If you are considering buying in terms of investment, moissanite definitely has the edge over CZ, as moissanite has retained its value over the past decades.
Choosing moissanite as a better diamond simulant is a better decision due to durability, fire, brilliance, price, and value. Always lay down your budget, priorities, and personal style when deciding between the two. Today, couples are increasingly choosing moissanite over a diamond or other gemstone as their engagement jewelry.