Moissanite Engagement Rings

Should you consider Moissanite engagement and gemstone rings?

Also see discount platinum engagement rings and men's platinum wedding rings

These days, more and more couples are choosing Moissanite engagement and gemstone rings over traditional diamond rings.  Why?  Well, there are a couple of key reasons.  Read on to find out about Moissanite and to see if it might be a good choice for your engagement ring.

Why Moissanite Engagement Rings Are a Good Buy
 

Value

For couples on a budget, Moissanite engagement rings possess some of the same qualities as diamond rings, but for much cheaper prices.  In fact, you can get a 4.0 carat solitaire Moissanite engagement ring for around $3,000.  A similar ring with a 4.0 carat diamond would cost over ten times that amount.  In general, an engagement ring with a Moissanite stone will be eight to ten times less expensive than a diamond one.

Appearance

Moissanite engagement rings have wonderful natural clarity comparable to VS1 or VS2 clarity in diamonds.  These jewels are not particularly flawed to the eye because they don’t have typical inclusions.  The inclusions in Moissanite are white, small and ribbon-like in appearance.  These are preferable to the absence of inclusions which would give the jewel a too-perfect, therefore fake look.  

On the color scale, Moissanite would be close to grades of H through J.  The lack of perfect white color in Moissanite again avoids a too-perfect manufactured look.

Moissanite has an excellent refractive quality and gives off a fiery brilliance unmatched by diamonds. 

Comparability to Diamonds

While a Moissanite engagement ring shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a substitute for a diamond ring, but as a completely different jewel choice, it is difficult to talk about Moissanite without talking about diamonds.  The reason is that Moissanite has many of the same coveted characteristics that diamonds have.  In fact, Moissanite resembles diamonds to the point that many jewelers cannot tell the difference between the two.

Moissanite is not as hard as a diamond, but it is much harder than most other gemstones like rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

Unlike diamonds, Moissanite will never crack or damage due to natural fractures.  In this way, Moissanite is a more durable material.

Moissanite jewels are offered in the same shapes as diamonds including round, oval, princess, marquise and other popular shapes.

What You Need To Know About Moissanite Engagement Rings 
 

The Look of Moissanite

Moissanite jewels have a minor green or yellow tinge to them that is especially noticeable under certain lighting conditions.  The yellow/green tint is most noticeable on large stones and in natural lighting (like that from the sun.)  When you look at a Moissanite engagement ring in a jewelry store setting, the lighting in the store is typically altered to best feature the stone and lessen the coloring.
 

Resale Value

Though it’s not particularly relevant when talking about an engagement ring, Moissanite stones don’t generally keep their value the way diamonds or precious gemstones would.  So if for some reason you should need to sell your ring, the resale value for synthetic stones like Moissanite is generally less than the original investment.
 

The Image of Moissanite

As you might have guessed, a Moissanite engagement ring doesn’t carry the same status that a diamond ring does.  Famous slogans and taglines like “diamonds are forever” or “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” aren’t likely to ever change to favor Moissanite.  Another possible drawback is that Moissanite is not a rare stone.  Diamonds are created by nature over millions of years while Moissanite is created quickly in a lab.  However, Moissanite is not mass produced like other synthetic jewels like Cubic Zirconium.
   

Where to Purchase a Moissanite Engagement Ring

Moissanite is carried at some department stores, but is not widely carried at jewelry stores.  The best way to order a Moissanite engagement ring is from an online retailer such as www.MoissaniteCo.com
 

How to Care for a Moissanite

You can care for a Moissanite engagement ring the same way you care for a diamond.  Soak it in a jewelry cleaning solution or use dish detergent and a toothbrush to clean it at home, or take it for polishing at your local jewelry store.

Okay, So What Is Moissanite Exactly?

In plain terms, Moissanite is silicon carbide stone created by nature but synthetically manufactured by man to create beautiful jewelry.  Moissanite was originally discovered among particles in a meteor.  The meteor crystals were very lovely but too small to be used.  The company, Charles & Colvard perfected the process of creating Moissanite for use in jewelry of all kinds including engagement rings.  Moissanite was first introduced to the public in 1998, so it’s still a fairly new jewel choice.
 

A Moissanite Engagement Ring Is Not a "Fake" Diamond Ring

Please keep in mind that Moissanite should not be used a substitute for diamonds.  Moissanite is a completely different material that simply has characteristics similar to a diamond.  If you want a diamond, by all means, get a diamond.  No other gemstone will have the same exact qualities that a diamond has.

But if you want something a little different or don’t see the value in spending lots of money on a diamond ring, a Moissanite engagement ring may be a good choice for you. 

Discuss the choice and your budget with your fiancé.  If your fiancé is particular about size and ring design, she might be much happier with a large Moissanite ring than she would be with a rather small diamond.  Let her see what Moissanite really looks like, she may be surprised that she can have a gorgeous ring without putting you into debt.  Present the options to her and let her decide.   

Although it can fool many gemologists and jewelers, do not attempt to fool your fiancé into thinking that a Moissanite stone is actually a diamond.  Though many people cannot tell Moissanite from diamonds, there are still some who can tell the difference and you wouldn’t want to risk passing off Moissanite as a diamond.  Doing so would be misleading and that’s not a very good way to start your engagement.  Imagine how your fiancé might feel if she brought her “diamond” into a jeweler for cleaning and the jeweler revealed to her that her engagement ring didn’t have a diamond at all but another gemstone.  Not a good situation to put yourself in.