Natural Diamond Alternatives

If you are choosing to go with something other than natural diamonds, or a colorless diamond alternative for your custom engagement ring, there are a few options that offer amazing sparkle and durability.

You might even be surprised to see how natural these stones can look!

Alternatives to natural diamonds include lab-grown diamonds, cubic zirconia (CZ), and white gemstones such as moissanite, white topaz, and white sapphire.

colorless stone options,

Don’t let people tell you that a lab-grown diamond is fake. Both natural and lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds!

Lab-grown, or synthetic, diamonds are a fairly new phenomenon. The technology for them was developed in the 1960s by the International Diamond Laboratory, but it has continuously improved since then. Today, lab-grown diamonds are larger and better than ever before. In fact, in 2016, a 3-carat lab-grown diamond was graded by the international grading laboratory – Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Then, in 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expanded the definition of diamonds to include those created in labs.

Clearly, lab-grown diamonds have come a long way since their beginnings. Indeed, if you’ve gone shopping for diamond jewelry recently, you may have noticed an option to buy lab-grown diamonds along with other gemstone options. Some of you may have also hesitated about your purchase because you didn’t know the difference, or if the difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds is even significant.

First, how they’re different

Of course, both are real diamonds. The difference is in how they are formed. Natural diamonds were created billions of years ago by forces deep within the earth and brought up to the surface of the earth by volcanic activity. They are mined from rock called ‘kimberlite’ but only about 5% of kimberlite rocks have enough diamonds to make them economically worth mining.

On the other hand, lab-grown diamonds, also known as man-made, are created in the laboratory, and there are two different methods that can be used. There is the high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) method which mimics the high pressure and high temperature conditions that form natural diamonds, and there is the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method that breaks down the molecules of certain gasses into carbon and hydrogen atoms and then deposits them on diamond seeds to create a diamond crystal.

Chemically speaking, natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds are almost identical except that most natural diamonds have tiny amounts of nitrogen and lab-grown diamonds don’t, or at least the diamonds grown using CVD do not have them. Another difference is in cost. Lab diamonds cost significantly less than natural diamonds, making them a good way to keep the cost of engagement rings down. However, natural diamonds (at least high-quality ones) are supposed to retain their value for a long time. The long-term value of lab diamonds is still uncertain.

The time it takes to create a lab diamond vs a natural diamond is also obviously very different. Natural diamonds took billions of years to form, whereas lab-grown diamonds take anywhere from a week to a few months to grow. As a result, many people argue that lab-grown diamonds are much more sustainable as they do not require 100,000 tons of rock to be dug up for just a single diamond crystal.

Next, how they’re the same…

Lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds are basically the same, both chemically, physically and visually. They have the same sparkle, color, and clarity and both come in different shapes and sizes. Also, lab diamonds are just as hard as natural diamonds. They’re so similar that specialized equipment is needed to tell them apart. Even certified gemologists cannot tell the difference between them with only the naked eye. In fact, lab diamonds even have inclusions just like natural diamonds do.

Now for a quick pros and cons…

Pros of lab-grown diamonds

1. Lab diamonds are considered purer than natural diamonds in that they don’t have the dirt and impurities ingrained in them that mined diamonds and gemstones have.
2. They are free from ethical conflict because they aren’t sourced from conflicted regions. You can easily track the source of lab-grown diamonds and be assured that they don’t come from areas with a history of child labor, human rights violations, or poor working conditions.
3. They are substantially more affordable than natural diamonds.
4. Lab grown diamonds are more environmentally friendly (although they also require large amounts of energy), since they don’t require mining or the use of colossal amounts of fossil fuel.

Cons

1. Lab-grown diamonds are mass produced so they are not a one-of-a-kind gem in the way that natural diamonds are.
2. The long-term value of lab diamonds is still unknown, and their re-sell price is significantly lower than the resale value of a mined diamond.
3. Sometimes sellers don’t have quite the range of lab-grown diamonds to choose from that is available for natural diamonds.
4. While the process of creating lab-grown diamonds is less energy intensive and generally more environmentally friendly than mining natural diamonds, we still are uncertain about their actual environmental footprint in terms of disposal, raw materials used, and waste by-products.

And now, the pros and cons of natural diamonds

Pros

1. Diamonds have greater emotional and romantic value because they are associated with rich traditions and have a physical history dating back millions of years that lends them a sense of magic and awe.
2. Natural diamonds are a one-of-a-kind gem, coming from deep within the earth and formed by the forces of nature. Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand are mass-produced in diamond factories, which for some, diminishes their mystery and glamour.
3. Diamonds have a much higher financial value than lab diamonds simply because of their rarity. They also maintain their value and have high resale prices. Indeed, their value is growing because natural diamonds are becoming increasingly rare.

Cons

1. Ethical issues regarding mining practices have tainted public opinion of natural diamonds. Reports about forced labor, child labor, beatings, torture and even murder have come to light in recent years prompting public outcry and opposition to the diamond industry.
2. Mining for diamonds wreaks havoc on the environment and weak regulations on diamond mining aren’t helping to solve the issue. Diamond mining causes soil erosion and deforestation and sometimes causes the relocation of local communities and even the entire collapse of ecosystems.

So there you have it – the basic differences and similarities between lab-grown and natural diamonds.

Do you think you could tell the difference between the two?

Hopefully this information can help inform your decision about which gem is best for you. When you’re ready, let us know and we’ll help you start your project.

Cubic Zirconia (CZ) is a synthetic gemstone made from the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide. CZ is usually hard and colorless and looks very much like a real diamond, although it is far less expensive. Because it so closely resembles a diamond, CZ is a popular gemstone alternative when you are looking to cut your budget but still wear beautiful jewelry, and it’s often used in placeholder engagement rings, earrings, and larger sized stones.

Moissanite, the gemstone ‘born from the stars,’ takes its name from the French chemist Henri Moissan, who discovered it back in 1893 at the site of a crater created by a gigantic meteor strike. The crater is located in Northern Arizona and is called Meteor Crater. When it hit earth approximately 50,000 years ago, fragments of it containing minute quantities of moissanite were scattered across the desert, leaving behind a mineral that is literally ‘out of this world.’

When Moissan first discovered it, he thought he’d found diamonds. It wasn’t until 11 years later that he learned that he had discovered a completely new mineral.

Whereas colorless diamonds are made of pure carbon, moissanite is a near-colorless, naturally occurring gemstone composed of silicon carbide. It is favored by many because of its high refractive index, which is a technical term referring to how much a gem bends light. Moissanite’s high refractive index indicates that it has a lot of brilliance; it is even higher than a diamond’s brilliance. Moissanite also has a higher dispersion than a diamond, which means it reflects a more colored sparkle. Moissanite engagement rings are a popular alternative to diamond engagement rings.

Meteor Crater in the Earth’s Surface

Raw Moissanite Rock

Moissanite

What exactly is moissanite?

In its naturally occurring form, Moissanite is composed of silicon carbide, a byproduct of carbon and silicon. It is one of the rarest and scarcest minerals on earth. It has only been found in a few deposits worldwide and is considered exceedingly rare, despite the discovery of 2500 crystals of natural moissanite in Israel over the last 14 years by Shefa Yamim, an exploration and mining company.Because of its scarcity, almost all moissanite today is lab-created. Lab-created moissanite is a form of crystalline silicon carbide and was engineered specifically to look like a diamond. In fact, it is widely used as a diamond simulant and unless you are shopping specifically for natural moissanite, the moissanite you see for sale in jewelry is synthetic. Today, moissanite shines brightly as a popular alternative to diamond engagement rings.

So what’s the difference between natural diamonds and moissanite?
For sparkle and brilliance, both diamonds and moissanite make a lasting impression, but figuring which one is the best for you requires looking beyond just their sparkle. You first need to know how they differ, and this is understood best by comparing their composition, visual properties, color, weight, durability, and cost. The table below can help illustrate these differences.

And what about the difference between moissanite and lab-grown diamonds?

Because moissanite was engineered specifically to be a diamond simulant, many often assume that it is the same as a synthetic diamond. However, they are two entirely different gemstones in both appearance and composition. While diamonds (synthetic and natural) are pure carbon, moissanite is both silica and carbon. This unique combination is why moissanite sparkles more (and more colorfully) than diamonds. It’s also why it is not quite as hard as diamonds. Moissanite also has 2 refractive indexes, or in other words, it is doubly refractive, so when it’s viewed from a certain angle, it’ll appear to have double the facets. Sapphires, tourmaline, and zircon also show double refraction.

How is lab-grown moissanite created?

The process of creating moissanite is lengthy and complicated. It was developed by jewelry manufacturer and distributor Charles and Colvard and uses a patented thermal growing technique that results in the flawless and brilliant gemstone we know as moissanite. First, silicon and carbon are combined to create silicon carbide. Then, a tremendous amount of heat and pressure is applied to the combined compounds, which creates the moissanite. The gemstones are then cut and polished for maximum brilliance and fire. Because this process takes two to three months per gemstone and is costly, there are limitations to the amount of moissanite that can be created. Nonetheless, the result is worth it as it creates a gorgeous gemstone especially perfect for modern engagement rings.

Why choose moissanite over a diamond?

Moissanite has several advantages that will appeal to the modern engagement ring shopper.First, it is considerably more budget-friendly than diamonds; second, moissanite stones rarely have inclusions or blemishes because they are produced artificially. Therefore, they have higher clarity than diamonds; third, moissanite also has a high level of brilliance at every noticeable level of color (so if you love sparkle and shimmer, then this is your stone)! Lastly, moissanite is one of the most ethical and sustainable gemstones available. As a man-made stone, no mining is needed. You can get a perfectly brilliant stone without all the adverse environmental, humanitarian, and political consequences. It’s the most sustainable and ethical engagement ring choice out there. (And did we mention it’s beautiful?)

Give yourself a challenge and try to guess which of these rings is the diamond, and which is the moissanite:
A quick buying guide for moissanite engagement rings:

One is a diamond engagement ring and one is a moissanite engagement ring. Can you tell the difference?

A quick buying guide for moissanite engagement rings:

1. Quality: There are different grades of moissanite on the market. For the best quality moissanite, stick with colorless stones.
2. Fire and brilliance: For the most fire and brilliance, look for stones that are flawless (no inclusions) or only slightly included.
3. Weight: Moissanite weight is described using diamond equivalent weight (DEW) since carats are the universal unit of measurement for precious gemstones. However, since diamonds weigh more than moissanite and will weigh more than a moissanite of the same size, most moissanite is sold by size (in millimeters). In other words, carat weight isn’t an accurate indicator of size; you can get a much larger moissanite stone for the same carat weight as a diamond. For example, a 6.50 mm round brilliant diamond will have a carat weight of 1.00, whereas a 6.50 round brilliant moissanite will have a carat weight of approximately 0.88 CT (or 1.00 CT DEW).
4. Cut: Moissanite can be cut into all the popular gemstone cuts and shapes that diamonds are, such as round brilliant, pear, cushion, princess, emerald and marquise. What’s crucial to achieve the most brilliance and fire in moissanite is precision. The facets should be carefully angled to reflect light back to the top of the stone rather than out through its sides or its bottom. Round cuts provide the most sparkle, so that is usually the favored cut, but other popular cuts include the marquise, cushion, square oval, radiant, pear, and trillion cuts.

Moissanite Emerald Cut Engagement Ring with Fancy Cut Half Halo

Gothic Style Moissanite Engagement Ring with Accents and Split shank

Moissanite reflects light in a way that gives it special brilliance and radiance, making it the most brilliant gemstone in the world and ideal for modern engagement rings. Oh, and the answer to which ring is the moissanite ring? It’s the one on the left.

There are many alternatives to a diamond, such as cubic zirconia or moissanite. Each example offers its own benefit, besides costing you a lot less, and some are a more convincing imitation than others. White sapphire, the colorless cousin of the blue sapphire, has a distinctly silvery tone to its sparkle, and for some, it is a more convincing diamond alternative.

There are many reasons why you might choose a white sapphire over a diamond. For one, white sapphire contains natural inclusions. It looks more diamond-like because it contains natural inclusions in the same way a diamond would. Another feature that sets this stone apart is its luster and shine. It also ranks 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, second only to diamond. This makes it very durable, and resistant to scratching or long-term wear and tear.
Lastly, white sapphire’s affordability makes it a great alternative to a diamond. A well-cut half-carat white sapphire could cost less than half of an equivalently-sized diamond.