7 Reasons Not to Buy a Moissanite Engagement Ring

1. Moissanite is Not a Diamond or Lab Diamond

Moissanite is a diamond simulate that is composed of silicon carbide. This means that it looks a lot like a diamond, and so it is often employed in jewelry to resemble diamonds.

Structurally, moissanite and diamonds are completely different; moissanite, as previously mentioned, is silicon carbide, while diamonds are pure carbon.

They are ultimately optically and chemically different.

While moissanite also naturally occurs, it’s incredibly rare and is almost exclusively found in meteors. Therefore, virtually all moissanite you will encounter is lab grown.

2. Moissanite doesn’t have the prestige of diamonds.

Whether or not we like it, there is some stigma behind not choosing a diamond.

People tend to stick up their noses when you veer away from the standard. Some people are not familiar with moissanite. Then, there are other people who do know about moissanite, and, since they know a moissanite is a “budget” option, they think less of you. We’ve met these people, unfortunately.

We think such behavior is very, very gauche, and frankly, icky. Everyone has different values, including where they would like to spend their money. Perhaps you don’t care that much about jewelry and would rather spend money traveling, buying a home or building a family. More power to you, darling!

The important thing to remember is to stay true to your values and wants.

3. Moissanite is Too Sparkly

Moissanite engagement rings really pack a punch in the glitz department. Moissanite has a rainbow refraction that gives it a 2.65 to 2.69 ranking, making it the most brilliant gemstone in the world, a pretty cool title to have.

To paint more of a picture, diamond has a 2.4 refraction. Also, the fire of moissanite is more than double than that of a diamond too. 

These engagement rings are going to draw a lot of attention regardless. The massive rainbow sparkle is going to be your telltale sign that it’s not a diamond. 

4. The Color of Moissanite is Different from Diamonds

The color is a bit off on moissanite rings. If we’re going to get technical (which we love to do), they’re gonna look like a D-F color diamond and sometimes a G-I. Moissanite stones are going to have a yellow or green hue to them.

The larger the stone, the more apparent the underlying tone of it is going to be. Its main selling point, cost-effectiveness, leads to its biggest drawback. Saving money to go as big as you can make it more obvious that it’s not a diamond. Now moissanite engagement rings are never going to come off like a yellow diamond ring, but they do sometimes get spots of discoloration with time depending on wear. 

5. Moissanite can get cloudy.

Moissanite is famous for its tendency to collect buildup from oils, lotions, and other sources of grime—the “oil slick,” they call this phenomena.

This happens because silicon carbide (moissanite’s entire makeup) can interact with the silicones in all sorts of potions and lotions, resulting in a stubborn sheen that looks like oil on wet pavement.

The oil slick builds up really quickly, and it’s very stubborn, so you’ll be cleaning your stone much more often than you would a diamond.

6. Some Jewelers Won’t Work on Synthetic Stones

First off, we’re never going to leave you hanging with your moissanite ring, engagement ring, or wedding band when you purchase through us. We can’t speak for all jewelers though, some are real purists. Just like any trade, jewelers work on what they know. Make sure to find a local jeweler with experience with moissanite rings before making your decision.

7. Moissanite Rings Hold No Resale Value

To be fair, diamonds don’t hold value either. Moissanite, on the other hand, is lab-made and inherently requires technology to produce it.

As we know, technology is ever-advancing. We’re always going to be pushing for the best, most efficient quality. Since technology is constantly getting honed for these processes, there’s really no standard to compare itself to, unlike gold or silver. 

If you’re looking to invest into something, gemstones are not the most secure option. As an heirloom to be passed down, moissanite rings will hold all their sentimental value though.