Origins of Moissanite – one of the rarest naturally occurring gemstones
Moissanite is a gemstone born from the stars. It was first discovered in 1893 by a French scientist named Henri Moissan, who later won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He discovered microscopic particles of the gem that would eventually bear his name in Arizona, in a crater created by a meteorite that fell to Earth. He initially thought that he had discovered diamonds!
Natural moissanite is incredibly rare, so moissanite available today is laboratory-created. After many years of trial and error, the particles Moissan discovered were successfully synthesized to produce what is now one of the world’s most scintillating gemstones.
Moissanite and Lab diamonds are one of the most durable gems, meant to last several lifetimes
Gemstones are measured on the Mohs Hardness Scale to assess a gem’s ability to withstand surface scratching. On the Mohs scale, Moissanite gemstones are a 9.25 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, which makes them very durable and great for everyday wear. In contrast, Ruby and Sapphires are a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Lab Diamonds, on the other hand, are the hardest known mineral and receive a 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Both Diamonds and Moissanite’s durability makes them a go-to-choice for engagement rings.
The Shine! - Brilliance, Dispersion (Fire), Scintillation
First off let us tell you about the definitions!
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Brilliance is the appearance of light that is reflected from the inside of the gem.
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Dispersion or Fire is the display of rainbow colors when you rotate the stone.
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Scintillation refers to the blinking flashes of white light from facet to facet
Moissanites exhibit a beautiful brilliance and fire (dispersion), generally more than diamonds because moissanites have a higher refractive index than diamonds, one that is from 2.65 – 2.69. Essentially making it sparkle more.
These three combination of brilliance, dispersion (fire), and scintillation is what gives moissanite and lab diamonds the beautiful sparkle that they are most coveted for.
Ultimately, the cut of a moissanite and lab diamond will have the largest impact on the brilliance, dispersion (fire), and scintillation. Which is why at Lovelri, we only use gemstones with the highest “Cut” quality rating of triple excellent/ideal. Helping you take the guesswork out of selecting a diamond or moissanite – ensuring you get a stone that shines like no other.
Price Savings – Better for you and Better for the Communities and Environment
Moissanites are the more economical option to mined diamonds, being about 80% cheaper. We also pride ourselves on transparent pricing and being able to offer the gemstone of your dreams regardless of size. Which is why you will see in our “Choose your Own Price”, that our moissanite are the same price for: 1.0-1.5 carats, 2.0-2.5 carats, 3.0-3.5 carats. Please keep in mind that moissanite are typically measured in diameter width but we use Diamond Equivalent Weight (DEW) to help you make comparisons between lab diamonds and moissanite.
Natural diamonds and lab created diamond prices can vary due to different factors, including carat, cut, color, and clarity. Fancy shapes normally cost more but staying true to transparency, we aim to provide the same price across shapes where possible. The composition of a mined natural diamonds and lab diamonds are scientifically 100% the same. Meanwhile lab diamonds are about 50% cheaper than mined diamonds, while also being sustainable for the environment and avoiding any conflict diamonds.
North American made, Expertly Curated
Since lab diamonds and moissanites are not mined, they are more eco-friendly than other gemstones in the market.
At LOVELRI, we go above and beyond the current industry standards to give customers high-quality and sustainable gemstones. All our lab diamonds are also carbon neutral and conflict free. In fact, our lab diamonds and moissanites have full certificates and are created by top labs in North America. Furthermore, after arriving in Canada we hand-pick gemstones to ensure you get sustainable and high-quality gemstones at an affordable price.