What Is Moissanite? How It Compares to Diamond
Moissanite has become increasingly visible in the Singapore engagement ring market over the past few years, and the questions we hear most often at Diamond Ateliers are: what exactly is it, does it look like a diamond, and is it worth choosing over a lab-grown diamond?
This guide gives you an honest answer to all three.
What Is Moissanite?
Moissanite is silicon carbide (SiC) — a naturally occurring mineral discovered in 1893 by French chemist Henri Moissan in a meteor crater in Arizona. Natural moissanite is extraordinarily rare, so virtually all moissanite used in jewellery today is laboratory-created.
Moissanite is not a diamond. It is not a simulant in the sense that cubic zirconia is a simulant (CZ has almost none of the physical properties of diamond), but it is also not the same material as diamond. It is a distinct compound that happens to share several properties with diamond that make it a credible alternative.
How Moissanite Compares to Diamond: The Key Differences
Hardness
Diamond is the hardest natural material on earth, scoring 10 on the Mohs scale. Moissanite scores 9.25 — harder than any other gemstone except diamond, and more than hard enough for daily wear in a ring. In practical terms, moissanite is extremely durable and will not scratch easily under normal conditions.
Brilliance and Fire
This is where moissanite diverges most noticeably from diamond. Moissanite has a higher refractive index than diamond (2.65–2.69 vs 2.42), which means it bends light more sharply and produces more dispersion — the rainbow-coloured flashes of light called "fire." In strong direct light, moissanite produces significantly more fire than diamond. Some people find this beautiful; others find it looks artificial or "disco-ball" in bright lighting. In lower light, moissanite performs similarly to diamond.
The fire difference is the most reliable way to visually distinguish moissanite from diamond. Under a direct light source in a showroom, moissanite's fire is very visible and differs from diamond's more controlled brilliance.
Colour
Early moissanite stones had a yellow or green tint. Modern "Forever One" and "Super Premium" grade moissanite is produced to be colourless (DEF equivalent), and high-quality moissanite today is genuinely difficult to distinguish from a colourless diamond in most lighting conditions. Lower-grade moissanite still shows warmth, so grade matters when choosing.
Grading and Certification
Moissanite is not graded by the GIA or IGI on the same 4Cs scale as diamonds. It is graded by its manufacturer (the dominant producer is Charles & Colvard) on their own scale. There is no independent third-party grading equivalent to a GIA certificate for moissanite, which means comparison between different sellers is less standardised.
Price
Moissanite is significantly cheaper than both natural and lab-grown diamonds. A 1.0ct equivalent (moissanite is measured in millimetre diameter rather than carat weight) typically costs SGD 200–500 in Singapore, compared to SGD 900–1,400 for a lab-grown diamond of comparable size and quality. The price gap is real and significant.
Moissanite vs Lab-Grown Diamond: Which Should You Choose?
This is the most relevant comparison for most Singapore buyers today. Both are created in a laboratory. Both are more affordable than natural diamonds. Both are durable enough for daily wear.
The key differences:
Material: A lab-grown diamond is a diamond. It is chemically and physically identical to a natural diamond. Moissanite is silicon carbide — a different material that resembles diamond but is not diamond.
Fire: Moissanite produces more colourful fire than a lab-grown diamond. Whether this is a positive depends entirely on personal taste.
Price: Moissanite is cheaper. If budget is the primary constraint and the material identity of the stone does not matter, moissanite offers the largest size for the smallest price.
Certification: Lab-grown diamonds come with GIA or IGI certificates that independently verify the stone's properties. Moissanite does not have equivalent independent grading.
At Diamond Ateliers, we work with lab-grown diamonds rather than moissanite. Our position is that for clients who want diamond but find natural diamond pricing prohibitive, lab-grown diamonds are the right solution — they are real diamonds at a fraction of the price. For clients who specifically want moissanite, we are happy to discuss their options.
The Bottom Line
Moissanite is a genuinely impressive material that performs well in jewellery. If your primary goals are size, durability, and price, and the distinction between diamond and non-diamond does not matter to you, moissanite is a valid choice. If you want a diamond — whether for its material identity, its certification, or its resale characteristics — a lab-grown diamond is the more appropriate option at comparable or only slightly higher price points.
The decision comes down to what matters most to you. Both are good answers; the question is which is the right one for your situation.
Talk to Us
Visit us at 176 Orchard Rd, #03-05 The Centrepoint, Singapore 238843. Consultations are by appointment and without obligation.