Moissanite 101

We have been told for years that an engagement ring worth giving comes with a price tag of two months salary. If you ask me, that seems like a big ask. With the cost of homeownership these days, childcare, and just simply living, how does one come up with the funds to spend that much on one piece of jewellery? Twenty plus years ago, a natural diamond was the "only" option when it came to a sparkly, quality, stone for "THE" ring. Well guess what, I have good news. That isn't the only option anymore. Let me introduce you to Moissanite. 

Now what is this Moissanite you may ask. Is it a gem stone? Is it a quality product? Does it shine like a diamond? How hard is it compared to a diamond? Can I chip it? How much will it save me?

All very good questions. 

Moissanite is a naturally occurring mineral that was first discovered by Henri Moissan while examining rock samples from a meteor crater located in Canyon Diablo, Arizona, in 1893. At first, he mistakenly identified the crystals as diamonds (carbon), but in 1904 he identified the crystals as silicon carbide (SiC). Moissanite is extremely rare and it has been reported that the largest natural piece of moissanite that has been found is only 4.1mm in length (discovered in northern Israel in August 2012)  but usually, natural SiC crystals, are found in sizes of 1.5mm or less. 

After years and years of research and trial and error we now have the modern day lab grown silicon carbide Moissanite. 

We all know there are plenty of "diamond" alternatives. Let me just say that, in my opinion, Moissanite is the best option for a diamond alternative for many reasons. 

First is the beauty of the stone. Moissanite actually has a more impressive brilliance and fire than a diamond. The fire on these babies is unbelievable. 

Second is the quality. Diamonds are rated for hardness on the MOHs scale (mineral hardness) out of 10. Diamonds come out on top on this one with a rating of 10. But Moissanite comes in at a close second of 9.25 followed by Sapphire and Ruby (corundum) at a 9. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Now, can you chip a Moissanite? The answer is yes. Can you chip a diamond? The answer is also yes. While it is very hard to chip both a diamond and a Moissanite it is still possible. Jewellery is precious and not meant to be worn for certain activities (weight lifting, gardening etc). When possible it is best to leave your jewellery in a safe place. 

Third is the savings. Moissanite offers a very impressive saving for a quality product. It is not cheap by any means, but much more affordable than natures diamond. For example, a 6.5mm (1carat) round brilliant cut diamond of SI2 clarity and E colour set in a 14k white gold 4 claw setting can retail for over $7500. A 6.5mm round brilliant cut Charles and Colvard Moissanite that is eye clean (no imperfections without magnification) and DEF on the colour scale set in a 14k white gold 4 claw setting retails for $1800. 

At Heffernan's we try our best to make everyones ring dreams a reality, and we are thrilled that Moissanite allows us to give our customers a more affordable option without having to sacrifice on quality. We use the Forever One Charles and Colvard brand of Moissanite for our Moissanite jewellery and they come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. 

Feel free to reach out to us today to see if Moissanite might be the right option for you! 

Stay tuned for our next article, Diamonds 101.