written by Jessica
Moissanite Vs. Lab-Grown Diamonds: An Artisan’s Guide
Updated August 1 2025
Key Takeaways
- Moissanite and lab-grown diamonds are two distinct stones. Both are beautiful and durable, but have different chemical compositions, sparkle, and price points.
- Moissanite offers a bold, rainbow-like sparkle at a great price point, especially for larger centre stones. Lab-grown diamonds have a more classic, crisp look and sparkle.
- Carat weight isn’t the best way to compare size between these two stones—always go by millimetre measurements for accuracy.
- The best way to decide? Try both on. At Engage Studio, you can compare them side-by-side in real-life lighting to find the one that truly speaks to your personal style and story.
What is a Moissanite?
To begin this adventure of choosing between lab-grown diamond vs moissanite for your engagement ring, let’s define the two. Moissanite is a gemstone composed of silicon carbide (that’s silicon and carbon!) originally discovered in a meteor crater in Canyon Diablo, Arizona. Henri Moissan thought he found some diamonds, but later discovered it was a whole new mineral! In honour of his discovery of this new stone that came from the stars, the stone was named moissanite.
It would be a huge feat trying to mine these stones from its source! You’d basically have to travel to space to find these sparkly bad boys. Because of how rare it is in nature, all moissanite today is lab-created.
Many of our clients choose moissanite to make the most of their budget while still getting that beautiful, high-sparkle look.
Is Moissanite a Type of Diamond?
Though the two are often mentioned together, the answer is a definitive no. Moissanite is not a diamond, nor a type of diamond. Though the two may have some visible similarities, they’re completely different stones, each with its own unique characteristics. Think of it as its own category with its own charm.
What is a Lab-Grown Diamond?
A lab-grown diamond shares the same chemical (pure carbon), physical, and optical properties as natural mined diamonds. Lab-grown diamond is formed using advanced technology that replicates natural conditions. The result is a diamond that’s virtually indistinguishable from a natural one, but at a fraction of the price.
Think about it like this. Natural diamonds take around 1-3 billion, yes, billion years to form. Lab diamonds can form in a few months!! Hence the significant difference in price.
What Is the Difference Between Moissanite and Lab-Grown Diamonds?
Overview
Moissanite and lab-grown diamonds may look similar at first glance, but they differ in chemical composition, sparkle, price, and how they behave under different lighting conditions. These differences become more noticeable with larger stones and fancy shapes.
If you’re trying to choose between the two, it’s helpful to compare them in-person and in various lighting environments, which you can do in our stone viewing appointments!
Shape and Lighting
Moissanite and lab diamonds can look quite different depending on the shape and the lighting you’re seeing them in. For round cuts, they tend to be the most similar, especially in everyday settings like natural light, office lighting, or warm home lighting. But when you compare them under direct sunlight, that’s where you’ll notice the biggest difference. Moissanite has a higher refractive index (lots of light bouncing super fast), which gives off a more intense rainbow sparkle. Some people love that extra flare, others prefer the more clean and pronounced sparkle of the lab diamond. It really comes down to what catches your eye.
With fancy shapes like pear, elongated cushion, marquise, or a custom cut for example, the differences between moissanite vs lab grown diamond tend to be more noticeable especially in how the light plays across each shape and how they show up in different settings.
Price
Pricing gets really interesting when comparing moissanite vs lab grown diamond.
Moissanite is generally less expensive than lab-grown diamonds, especially for larger center stones where you might see around a 20–30% price difference depending on the stone. The interesting part is for smaller stones like pavé, side stones, or stones for wedding bands, the cost difference becomes a lot less noticeable since most of the pricing comes down to the cutting and craftsmanship. If you’re deciding between a moissanite and lab-grown diamond, our custom design process can help you see how each option fits into your vision and budget.
One of the best things about lab-grown diamonds is how many shapes and sizes they come in. We can even get them cut down to the hundredth of a millimeter! It gives us an incredibly diverse palette to work with when designing your ring.
Sparkle
This is one of the biggest visual differences. Moissanite has a higher refractive index, which gives it a lively rainbow-like sparkle. Lab-grown diamonds have that classic crisp, clean sparkle. We’ve found that each stone reacts differently depending on the lighting, so what you see in natural daylight can feel totally different from how it looks in a cozy room or our showroom lights.
Hot tip: most jewellery store lighting is designed to make stones sparkle at their absolute brightest. It’s gorgeous, sure. But your engagement ring is something you’ll wear every day, in all kinds of lighting. That’s why we always recommend viewing your stone in more natural settings too, so you can be confident you truly love it.
Watch our lab grown diamond vs moissanite sparkle comparison video for real examples 👀
Durability
Diamonds are the hardest known material (10 on the Mohs scale), while moissanite ranks at 9.25. Both are totally suitable for everyday wear and won’t easily chip or scratch.
Care
Both stones are low-maintenance and easy to clean with mild soap, warm water, and a soft brush. Regular professional cleanings are also recommended to maintain that sparkle.
Everyday Wear
If you’re choosing a stone for a ring you’ll wear every day, both options hold up fantastic. With that in mind, it all comes down to personal preference. Some clients love the playful rainbow sparkle of moissanite, while others prefer that ultra transparent, defined look of the lab-diamond.
Chemical Composition
- Moissanite: Silicon carbide (SiC)
- Lab-grown diamond: Carbon (C)
Because moissanite and lab-grown diamonds both have different chemical makeup, they also have different densities. That’s why carat weight isn’t the best way to compare their sizes. Instead, we always go by millimeter measurements. For example, a 6.5mm round moissanite will weigh less than a 6.5mm lab-grown diamond.
Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds?
Absolutely. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. They’re not simulants or lookalikes—they are chemically and optically identical to natural mined diamonds. The only difference is origin: one grows underground over millions of years, the other grows in a lab over a few weeks!
Which One Should You Choose?
Let Us Guide You to the Perfect Ring
At Engage Studio, we guide you through a relaxed, bias-free discovery process where you can try on moissanite, lab-grown diamonds, and gemstones side by side, in real-life lighting.
Compare the sparkle, shape, and feel. Ask every question. Leave with total clarity on which stone is right for you not just in theory, but in real life.
Book your complimentary design session and discover how side-by-side comparisons can guide you to the right stone for your custom engagement ring.
