Lab Grown vs Moissanite

The Similarities:

COLOR

Moissanite and lab-grown diamonds have the same color range. D-E-F colorless moissanite is the top grade and easily the most popular. If you want something with more warmth and color you can select a near colorless G-H-I color range moissanite.

HARDNESS

The Mohs Scale of hardness measures the hardness or softness of different minerals on a scale of 1 through 10. Natural and lab-grown diamonds are the "hardest" of center stone options, topping out at 10. Moissanite comes in second at around 9.25, still making it a durable center stone option.

SHAPE

For standard shapes like round, square cushion, elongated radiant, emerald cut, Asscher and princess, moissanite and lab-grown diamonds will look fairly similar in overall appearance. Other moissanite shapes, like ovals and pear shapes from Charles Colvard, are wider than their diamond counterparts. However, for oval, you can also opt for a custom cut elongated Harro gem to make it more look realistic to a diamond. The same goes with pear shapes and elongated cushion cuts.

FORMATION

Both lab-grown diamonds and moissanite are both formed in a lab. Natural moissanite is a rare mineral and is more expensive than lab-created moissanite. While jewelry can be made with natural moissanite, all the moissanite used at Lauren B is lab-created.

The Differences

COST

Moissanite will cost you a fraction of the price of a natural diamond . A simple moissanite ring can be around $2000 whereas a comparable natural diamond ring for the same size can be around $6000. Even if you get an intricate ring design with a 3 carat moissanite center, it may cost you $6500, while a comparable diamond ring can easily cost you $30,000 or more!

More expensive than moissanite but still less expensive than natural diamonds are lab-grown diamonds . Due to the formation process being faster than that of a natural diamond, lab-grown diamonds are less costly to produce at scale. What used to be a 30% price difference several years ago has now ballooned to about 70-80%.

FIRE & SPARKLE

The main difference visually between a lab-grown diamond and a moissanite is that moissanite has a higher refractive index than a diamond. In simplest terms, moissanite has more sparkle than natural and lab-grown diamonds. Moissanite will always emit more spectral colors (fire). Watch this video comparing diamond to moissanite in various shapes.

CUTTING STYLE

The inner faceting of the moissanite will appear different than the diamond when viewed up close under magnification. In addition, moissanites are cut deeper than diamonds.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:

Lab-grown diamonds are made up of pure carbon whereas moissanite is made up of silicon carbide. In layman's terms, lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, whereas moissanite is a diamond simulant.

So, Which is Better? Lab-Grown Diamonds or Moissanite?

The answer really depends on your budget and what you are looking for in your center stone. If you are looking for a less expensive alternative to natural and lab-grown diamonds, then moissanite may be a good option for you.

However, if you have the budget for it and want a diamond that is eco-friendly, looks beautiful, and has all the same properties as a natural diamond, then a lab-grown diamond is the perfect option for you!