Why you should be proposing with a
moissanite engagement ring

You have found the love of your life and now you just need a ring to accompany you both!
Now you may be wondering what is moissanite and why should you consider moissanite for
your lifetime engagement ring?

What is moissanite?

Moissanite is often referred to as the gemstone that is born in the stars and whilst now
popularly used in jewellery, moissanite is still relatively new in the world of gemstones. It was
originally discovered over 120 years ago by the French nobel prize winning scientist Dr.Henri
Moissan in a meteorite crater in Arizona. He originally thought he had discovered diamonds
due to the striking similarities between the two gemstones.
However, he later determined these crystals had a separate chemical structure to diamonds
and were in fact composed of the mineral silicon carbide.
From here on the natural occurrence of moissanite became extremely rare and it wasn’t
used in jewellery until Charles & Colvard, who are the original creators of lab grown
moissanite began to research this precious gemstone for fine jewellery use. Which brings us
to today, whereby almost all jewellery set with moissanite is lab grown and is a fraction of the
cost of mined diamonds.

What does moissanite look like?

Despite moissanite looking very similar to a diamond at the outset, moissanite and diamonds
share more differences than similarities. It should in fact be viewed as its own unique
gemstone in itself with unique properties, rather than viewed as a direct diamond substitute.
It has a distinctive sparkle due to it being more refractive than diamond. The refractiness of a
mineral refers to the speed at which light can travel through it, and moissanite’s physical
structure means that it can slow down and alter the light entering the stone much quicker
than other minerals, thus giving off an almost rainbow-like sparkle.
A moissanite engagement ring makes for an amazing alternative as a colourless stone that
displays a remarkable fieriness.

How durable is moissanite?

There is no denying the durability of moissanite. On the Mohs scale of hardness, which is a
method to determine the scratch resistance of minerals, moissanite is rated 9.25. This score
is higher than any other gemstone used in jewellery other than diamonds. Making moissanite
a wonderful choice for engagement rings, designed to be worn everyday and cherished for
life.

Is moissanite a sustainable option?

By growing moissanite exclusively in a lab, mining practices usually involved are completely
eliminated which reduces the chances of unethical actions occurring to communities and
local ecosystems. In today’s current climate, people are becoming more aware of the
ramifications of their purchase choices and that’s why we’ve seen a rise in lab grown
jewellery. More newlyweds are opting for moissanite as an alternative green choice that also
happens to look fabulous! The significantly smaller carbon footprint that moissanite has in
comparison to mined diamonds, makes this gemstone the perfect choice for conscious
shoppers.

Moissanite is affordable

Moissanite is an affordable option in comparison to the traditional mined diamond ring which
is a major factor as to why we have seen a major rise in people opting for moissanite centre
stones. In fact, moissanite can cost up to 10 times less than diamonds, providing you with
more carats for the price! Allowing you to have a much larger carat weight (gemstone size)
or higher clarity gemstone for a lower price point.

Considering a moissanite engagement ring?
If the idea of moissanite engagement rings has piqued your interest or you would like to find
out more information about Lily Arkwright and their lab diamond collections simply call them
on: 0161 537 6773, or alternatively you can email their jewellery consultancy team at:
hello@lilyarkwright.com or book an in-person consultation.