Choosing a Center Stone: Natural Diamond, Lab-Grown Diamond or Moissanite?

When first starting the process of shopping for an engagement ring, you might be slightly overwhelmed by the large selection of styles. You might have even thought your only option for a center stone was a natural diamond, but now you are presented with three: natural diamond, lab-grown diamond or moissanite.

How do you decide which is the best center stone for you? Let’s take a look at the key differences between these three options.

What is a Natural Diamond?

Natural grown diamonds are natural minerals that are mined from the earth. A diamond is made up of carbon and forms under the pressure of the earth’s crust. This process takes thousands of years and that is one of the reasons diamonds are so special. A natural diamond can only form under the earth’s crust and it is not yet possible to dig that deep to mine for diamonds. The diamonds we are able to mine reach the earth’s surface by deep source volcanic eruptions where magma rising from the earth’s core carry them to the surface.

While natural diamonds are made up of pure carbon, the vast majority of them also contain trace amounts of other elements. In some cases, these diamonds contain minuscule amounts of nitrogen which absorb blue light thus giving the diamond a slight yellow tint. In addition, most natural diamonds contain tiny inclusions, or imperfections, as a result of foreign materials infiltrating the natural diamond during the formation process.

Diamonds are expensive as they are difficult to mine and thus quite rare. This is why there’s a significant value for diamonds that are bigger, cleaner, and stand out from the rest.

What is a Lab-Grown Diamond?

The lab-grown diamond was first produced in the 1950s for industrial use, though gem-quality lab-grown diamonds did not enter the market until the mid-2010s. A lab-grown diamond is identical to a natural diamond in both chemical makeup and visual appearance; the only difference between the two center stones is that lab-grown diamonds are created in a lab. In fact, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) identifies lab-grown diamonds as “real” diamonds.

The facets, and subsequent brilliance, of a lab-grown diamond, are exactly the same as a natural diamond. Since lab-grown diamonds are still real diamonds, they can be cut the same as a natural diamond.

Lab-grown diamonds are almost exactly the same as earth-mined diamonds, in fact, they are also imperfect and can have color marks and inclusions just like real diamonds. They are not as rare as earth-mined diamonds, therefore they are not as expensive either.

What is a Moissanite?

Moissanite is a rare gem that was originally identified in meteorite fragments by Dr. Henri Moissan. Natural moissanite gems are made from silicon carbide, and they are extremely difficult to come by and nearly all the moissanites sold today are lab-grown.

A moissanite is a gem that looks and feels almost identical to a diamond, but it is made of a completely different material. From a first glance it can appear identical to a diamond which is what makes it a common choice for many engagement rings. Moissanites have a different faceting style than both natural and lab-grown diamonds and their refractive index is higher than diamonds, which gives them more sparkle and fire.

The cost of a moissanite is a fraction of the cost of a diamond.

Comparing the Advantages and Disadvantages of Natural Diamonds, Lab-Grown Diamonds or Moissanite:

Choosing between natural diamond, lab-grown or moissanite for a center stone will depend entirely on your preference. All three stones are popular and commonly found in engagement rings and understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each type of stone may help you choose the right fit for your ring.

Natural Diamonds

Advantages:

• Best for investment – A natural, earth-mined diamond will sustain its value, no matter how long or how much it has been used. This is because natural diamonds are always valued as a rare piece, and therefore, will always be valued in the market. You can still sell it at a reasonable price, in the near or far future.
• Traditionally used for engagement rings – If you are hoping to stick to the traditions of jewelry, an earth-mined diamond will always be the classic stone used in engagement rings. This is because of what they represent. For decades, natural diamonds were used as a token of love and commitment, a symbol of forever, and there’s a big chance this is what your partner is expecting.
• You have a lot of design options when shopping for natural diamonds – Between Earth-mined, Lab-Grown or Moissanite, the natural diamond is still the most popular choice for diamond engagement rings. And this means that you will have the most options for designs and styles when it comes to shopping for engagement rings with natural diamonds.

Disadvantages:

• It’s an expensive choice – As previously mentioned, the natural earth-mined diamond is the more expensive choice between the three choices. It is significantly more costly to buy a piece of jewelry with natural diamonds than it is to buy one with lab-grown diamonds or moissanite gems.
• There’s a lot of research involved in shopping for natural diamonds – When you compare natural, lab-grown or moissanite, natural diamonds have far more options, and factors to consider before you make a purchase. Natural diamonds have flaws and are categorized with different features such as color and clarity, that affect their overall price.

Lab-Grown Diamonds

Advantages:

• More affordable than natural diamonds – If you want that beautiful engagement ring, with that great big center stone, but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on one, then the option is to go for a lab-grown diamond. It is made to look exactly the same as a natural diamond but is sold for a lot cheaper. This is the better option if you don’t have plans to sell your ring.
• A guaranteed ethical choice – As these are grown in a lab, you’re 100% sure that the diamond you are buying did not require cheap and unethical labor (such as in Africa), for you to have it.
• It is a real diamond – Unless you disclose the fact that it’s a lab-grown diamond, you won’t be able to tell that it is. A big reason why lab-grown diamonds are so popular for engagement rings is that it looks exactly like a real natural diamond, but it costs a lot less.

Disadvantages:

• It’s not the same as a natural earth-mined diamond – There’s a sentimental value to what an earth-mined diamond represents. It has long been the tradition to give your partner a (natural) diamond ring as a symbol of your commitment. Lab-grown diamonds do not hold the same sentiment. You’ll need to consider if your partner is completely fine with receiving a lab-grown diamond, as supposed to a natural earth-mined one.

Moissanite

Advantages:

• It’s the most affordable choice between natural, lab-grown or moissanite – Out of all the three options for engagement ring stones, the Moissanite gem is by far the most affordable choice.
• It’s a popular choice – The moissanite gem can be found everywhere on social media as more and more brides-to-be and jewelry enthusiasts gravitate towards the unique gem that resembles the look of a diamond.
• There are a lot of options for Moissanite Engagement Rings – Because of its popularity with young women, there’s now a growing market for engagement rings made with Moissanite gems, giving you a vast variety of ring designs for your engagement ring shopping.
• It looks like a diamond, for a cheaper price – If the goal is to purchase the ‘big’ diamond, without breaking the bank, a Moissanite center stone is the way to go. It looks almost identical to a diamond but is far more affordable.

Disadvantages:

• It doesn’t have the white sparkle of a diamond – The Moissanite has a unique rainbow-colored sparkle, but can never imitate the unique white sparkle/brilliance a diamond gives off.
• It’s a challenge to re-sell a Moissanite ring – Much like the lab-grown diamond, a Moissanite gem loses its value once purchased. It’s not impossible to re-sell it, but you can’t sell it for the price you bought it.

 

So Which Center Stone is Right for You?

If you value rarity:

A natural diamond is rare by nature. As we mentioned previously, the quantity of natural diamonds is finite thus increasing the value of those left. If you prefer a center stone with an air of rarity and romanticism, a classic natural diamond is the best choice for you.

If you want a diamond without the diamond price tag:

If you want a diamond that without the hefty cost, a lab-grown diamond is a great option. With exact clarity, color, and cut options as a natural diamond, it is virtually impossible to differentiate between these two center stones.

If you want beauty at a low price point:

If you want a beautiful engagement ring with an even lower price point, moissanite is your best option. Moissanite is a fraction of the cost of a natural diamond, with more sparkle and brilliance and comparable hardness.