Valencia engagement ring with 1.9 carat round brilliant cut moissanite
Diamonds are forever is a slogan that has been a part of popular culture for decades. As the industry grows, learns, and becomes more aware of the ecological impact mining has on the earth, technology has brought many alternatives to mined diamonds.
Diamonds are coveted for lots of reasons though. They are very strong ( a 10 on the MOHs hardness scale) and they maintain their brilliance over time. They are neutral, versatile, and a lovely metaphor for a love that will transcend a lifetime. They’re often one of the first large purchases couples make, and are often passed down over generations.
Everyone has a choice, and our role in the process is to help provide you with the right information on what stone is the right option for you. Here are the basics on lab created stones and diamond alternatives.
Lab Grown Diamonds
Lab grown diamonds are diamonds that have been created in a laboratory. The process can vary, but usually starts with taking a slice of natural diamond and applying extremely high heat, pressure, and pure carbon. Over about a week the carbon solidifies under the heat and pressure, bonding to the slice, creating a beautiful diamond.
The only way that natural diamonds and lab created diamonds physically differ is by the way they were created. They maintain their strength, a 10 on the MOHs hardness scale, and even have variances in color and clarity. Each stone is still completely unique.
Moissanite
Moissanite is a natural form of silicon carbide that was first found in Canyon Diablo in 1883 by Charles Moisan. Most moissanite is lab created, and naturally occurring moissanite is rarely found outside of meteorite crash sites. A tiny piece of the cosmos! The process to grow a moissanite in a lab is similar to that of a diamond, by applying high pressure and temperature to a host slice and carbon.
Moissanite is a 9.25 on the MOHs hardness scale, the second strongest mineral, and they are more brilliant than diamonds. This is what makes them extra sparkly! Moissanite costs about a third of what a natural diamond of the same carat weight would cost, so it’s a great option to get a big, blingy look for a lower price.