Lab-Created Diamonds vs Moissanite vs Cubic Zirconia: Which Should You Choose?
Lab-created diamonds are real diamonds made from pure carbon, chemically and physically identical to mined diamonds. Moissanite is a silicon carbide gemstone that displays more colorful fire than diamonds and ranks 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it extremely durable. Cubic zirconia is synthetic zirconium dioxide, the most affordable option that looks like a diamond initially but scratches easily and clouds over time at 8 to 8.5 hardness. For engagement rings and everyday wear, lab-created diamonds offer authentic diamond brilliance and hardness (10 on Mohs scale) at 30 to 40% less than natural diamonds. Moissanite provides exceptional sparkle and durability at a lower price point than lab diamonds. Cubic zirconia works best for temporary fashion jewelry but requires frequent replacement due to its lower durability.
Understanding Diamond Alternatives for Engagement Rings
When shopping for an engagement ring or fine jewelry, you'll encounter three popular options that look similar to diamonds but differ significantly in composition, durability, and value. Lab-created diamonds, moissanite, and cubic zirconia each offer unique benefits depending on your priorities, budget, and how you plan to wear your jewelry.
The rising popularity of lab-created diamonds has created some confusion in the market. Many people mistakenly believe that lab-created diamonds, moissanite, and cubic zirconia are all the same or interchangeable. They're not. Understanding the critical differences between these three options will help you make an informed decision that aligns with your style, values, and budget.
This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about lab-created diamonds, moissanite, and cubic zirconia. We'll explore what each stone is made of, how they're created, their durability for everyday wear, how they sparkle and reflect light, their price ranges, and which option makes the most sense for different jewelry purposes.
What Are Lab-Created Diamonds?
Lab-created diamonds (also called lab-grown diamonds or synthetic diamonds) are real diamonds created in a laboratory rather than mined from the earth. They are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds because both are made of pure carbon atoms arranged in a crystalline structure.
How Lab-Created Diamonds Are Made
Lab-grown diamonds are created using two primary methods that replicate the natural diamond formation process:
High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): This method mimics the extreme conditions deep within the earth where natural diamonds form. Scientists place a diamond seed in a chamber and subject it to temperatures exceeding 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and pressures of about 1.5 million pounds per square inch. Carbon melts and begins to form a diamond around the seed.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): This process starts with a diamond seed placed in a sealed chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. The chamber is heated to around 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit, causing the gases to ionize and pure carbon to attach to the seed, slowly building a diamond layer by layer.
Both methods produce real diamonds in a matter of weeks, compared to the millions of years required for natural diamond formation underground. The resulting lab-created diamonds share the same hardness, brilliance, and fire as natural diamonds.
Key Characteristics of Lab-Created Diamonds
Chemical Composition: Pure carbon with the same crystal structure as natural diamonds
Hardness: Perfect 10 on the Mohs scale, the hardest known material, making them extremely resistant to scratching and ideal for everyday wear
Brilliance: Exhibits the classic white light brilliance that diamonds are famous for, with balanced fire and scintillation
Color Grading: Graded on the same D to Z color scale as natural diamonds, from completely colorless (D) to light yellow or brown (Z)
Clarity: Can have inclusions just like natural diamonds, graded using the same clarity scale
Durability: Will last a lifetime and beyond with proper care, suitable for heirloom pieces
Certification: Typically come with certificates from reputable gemological laboratories like GIA or IGI, detailing the diamond's quality characteristics
Pros and Cons of Lab-Created Diamonds
Advantages:
- They are real diamonds with identical properties to natural diamonds
- 30 to 40% less expensive than natural diamonds of similar quality, allowing you to get a larger or higher-quality stone within your budget
- More ethical sourcing without concerns about conflict diamonds or exploitative mining practices
- Environmentally sustainable with a smaller carbon footprint than diamond mining
- Available in the same cuts, colors, and clarity grades as natural diamonds
- Can be customized into any setting or style
- Pass diamond testers because they are authentic diamonds
Considerations:
- Generally have lower resale value compared to natural diamonds due to higher availability
- Some people prefer the romance and rarity of diamonds formed naturally over billions of years
- Not considered a financial investment in the traditional sense, though they retain value for personal use
What Is Moissanite?
Moissanite is a gemstone composed of silicon carbide. Originally discovered in 1893 by French chemist Dr. Henri Moissan in a meteorite crater in Arizona, natural moissanite is incredibly rare on Earth. Today, virtually all moissanite used in jewelry is created in laboratories using advanced technology.
The Cosmic Origins of Moissanite
When Dr. Moissan first found tiny, shimmering crystals in the meteor crater, he initially believed they were diamonds due to their exceptional brilliance. Further analysis revealed these crystals were a completely new mineral made of silicon carbide, which was later named moissanite in his honor.
Natural moissanite is so rare that it's even harder to find than natural diamonds. The gemstone's extraterrestrial origins make it a fascinating choice for those who appreciate unique backstories. However, because natural moissanite is essentially unavailable, the moissanite industry relies entirely on lab creation to meet consumer demand.
How Moissanite Is Made
Modern moissanite is synthesized in laboratories through a thermal growing process. Pure silicon carbide crystals are grown using proprietary methods that have been refined since the late 1990s when researchers in North Carolina developed techniques to create gem-quality moissanite. Charles & Colvard pioneered the commercial production of moissanite for jewelry and holds many of the original patents.
Today's lab-created moissanite has the same chemical and visual properties as the natural crystals found in meteorites, but production is controlled to ensure consistent quality, color, and clarity for jewelry applications.
Key Characteristics of Moissanite
Chemical Composition: Silicon carbide, a completely different substance from carbon-based diamonds
Hardness: 9.25 to 9.5 on the Mohs scale, making it the second hardest gemstone suitable for jewelry after diamonds, highly resistant to scratching and perfect for everyday wear
Brilliance and Fire: Exhibits more rainbow fire than diamonds due to its higher refractive index of 2.65 compared to diamond's 2.42, creating colorful flashes of light that catch attention across a room
Color: Modern high-quality moissanite is produced to be colorless, though it may show slight warm undertones (yellowish or grayish tints) under certain lighting conditions, especially in larger stones, graded on a color scale similar to diamonds
Clarity: Lab-created moissanite is typically eye-clean with excellent clarity since the production process is controlled
Double Refraction: Unlike diamonds which have single refraction, moissanite exhibits double refraction, which can create a slightly different optical effect visible under magnification
Price: Significantly more affordable than diamonds, though typically more expensive than cubic zirconia
Pros and Cons of Moissanite
Advantages:
- Exceptional brilliance and fire that can exceed diamond sparkle, with 58% more colorful light dispersion than cubic zirconia
- Extremely durable and scratch-resistant, suitable for daily wear in engagement rings
- More affordable than both natural and lab-created diamonds, allowing for larger stones within budget
- Eco-friendly with minimal environmental impact compared to diamond mining
- Nearly impossible to distinguish from diamonds to the untrained eye
- Available in various cuts, sizes, and settings
- Will not cloud or fade over time with proper care
- Unique extraterrestrial origin story adds sentimental appeal
Considerations:
- Not a real diamond, made of silicon carbide rather than carbon
- Rainbow fire effect may appear more colorful or less natural than diamond brilliance to some people
- May show warm undertones in certain lighting, particularly in larger stones
- Does not carry the same traditional symbolism or prestige as diamonds
- Lower resale value compared to diamonds
- Some diamond testers may identify it as moissanite rather than diamond due to its electrical conductivity
What Is Cubic Zirconia?
Cubic zirconia (commonly abbreviated as CZ) is a synthetic gemstone made from zirconium dioxide. It was first discovered in its natural form in 1892 by German mineralogists, but natural cubic zirconia is extremely rare. The cubic zirconia used in jewelry today is entirely lab-created.
The Development of Cubic Zirconia
Commercial production of cubic zirconia began in the 1970s when Soviet scientists perfected methods to synthesize it in laboratories. The breakthrough came when they discovered how to create high-quality single crystals by melting zirconium oxide powder at extremely high temperatures (around 4,982 degrees Fahrenheit) with stabilizers like magnesium and calcium. As the material cools, crystals form and stabilize, creating a product that can be cut and polished to resemble diamonds.
By 1976, cubic zirconia was being produced commercially and quickly became popular as an affordable diamond alternative. Companies like Swarovski embraced the material and helped popularize the "CZ" abbreviation. Today, cubic zirconia is one of the most widely used diamond simulants in fashion and costume jewelry.
How Cubic Zirconia Is Made
Cubic zirconia is manufactured by melting zirconium oxide powder mixed with stabilizing materials at temperatures approaching 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The molten material is allowed to cool slowly, forming crystals that are then cut, faceted, and polished into gemstones. The process is relatively quick and inexpensive compared to creating lab-grown diamonds or moissanite, which contributes to CZ's very low cost.
Every lab has its own specific methods for producing cubic zirconia, and quality can vary significantly based on manufacturing techniques and materials used.
Key Characteristics of Cubic Zirconia
Chemical Composition: Zirconium dioxide with stabilizing elements, containing no carbon and sharing no chemical properties with diamonds
Hardness: 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale, softer than both diamonds and moissanite, making it more susceptible to scratching and wear over time
Brilliance: Lower refractive index (2.15 to 2.177) compared to diamonds (2.42) and moissanite (2.65), resulting in less brilliant sparkle, though CZ has higher dispersion creating more rainbow-like light reflections that can appear artificial
Color: Can be manufactured to be completely colorless, often more colorless than lower-grade diamonds, though it may develop a yellowish or grayish tint over time
Clarity: Inherently flawless because it's synthetically created with no natural inclusions, which can actually make it look too perfect and artificial
Weight: Approximately 1.7 times denser than diamonds, meaning a CZ stone of the same size will be noticeably heavier than a diamond
Durability: Tends to become cloudy and scratched with regular wear, losing brilliance over time, typically needs replacement after 2 to 3 years of daily wear
Price: Extremely inexpensive, often costing just $20 to $50 per carat or about one one-hundredth the cost of a lab-grown diamond
Pros and Cons of Cubic Zirconia
Advantages:
- Extremely affordable, making it accessible for anyone on any budget
- Completely colorless appearance initially
- Flawless clarity with no inclusions
- Readily available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors
- Good option for fashion jewelry or temporary pieces
- Can be replaced inexpensively if lost or damaged
Considerations:
- Not a real diamond or even a particularly durable gemstone
- Scratches easily and becomes cloudy with regular wear
- Loses sparkle and brilliance over time, no amount of cleaning can restore original appearance once surface is damaged
- Lower hardness means it's not ideal for everyday wear, especially in rings
- Carries little to no resale value
- Often paired with lower-quality metals in inexpensive jewelry
- Does not carry the same symbolic meaning or prestige as diamonds or even moissanite
- Typically needs to be replaced every few years with regular wear
- Can look glassy or cheap compared to diamonds and moissanite
- Some jewelers may refuse to work on CZ jewelry for resizing or repairs due to heat sensitivity
Comparing Hardness and Durability for Everyday Wear
Hardness is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a gemstone for engagement rings or jewelry you plan to wear daily. The Mohs scale of hardness measures a gemstone's resistance to scratching, with 10 being the hardest.
The Mohs Scale Comparison
Lab-Created Diamonds: Perfect 10 on the Mohs scale. As the hardest known natural material, diamonds are virtually impossible to scratch in everyday wear. Lab-created diamonds share this exceptional hardness, making them ideal for engagement rings and other jewelry worn daily. They will maintain their beauty and structure for a lifetime and can become family heirlooms.
Moissanite: 9.25 to 9.5 on the Mohs scale. Second only to diamonds in hardness, moissanite is extraordinarily durable and highly resistant to scratching. It's an excellent choice for everyday wear and can last for decades without showing significant wear. Moissanite's durability makes it suitable for engagement rings, wedding bands, and any jewelry worn regularly.
Cubic Zirconia: 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale. While this is still relatively hard, cubic zirconia is significantly softer than both diamonds and moissanite. This lower hardness means CZ is more prone to scratches, chips, and surface wear. With daily use, cubic zirconia will develop scratches that cause it to appear cloudy and dull. The surface cannot be restored through cleaning once it's damaged.
What This Means for Your Jewelry
The hardness difference might seem small numerically, but it's significant in real-world use. According to testing using the Knoop indentation method, moissanite is 219% harder than cubic zirconia. This translates to substantially better scratch resistance and longevity.
For engagement rings and wedding bands that will be worn every single day, hardness matters immensely. Rings are constantly exposed to potential scratches from doorknobs, car keys, countertops, and countless other surfaces. A gemstone with lower hardness will show wear much faster.
Moissanite's durability makes it far better suited for everyday wear than cubic zirconia. CZ might look beautiful initially, but it will progressively lose brilliance as microscopic scratches accumulate on the surface. Most cubic zirconia stones need to be replaced after just 2 to 3 years of regular wear, while moissanite can maintain its clarity and sparkle for decades.
Lab-created diamonds offer the ultimate in durability, maintaining their pristine appearance indefinitely with proper care.
Understanding Brilliance, Fire, and Sparkle Differences
How a gemstone interacts with light determines its visual appeal. Three optical properties create the sparkle we see: brilliance (white light reflection), fire (colorful light dispersion), and scintillation (flashes of light when the stone or light source moves).
Refractive Index: How Light Moves Through the Stone
The refractive index measures how much a material bends light as it passes through. A higher refractive index means more light is reflected back to your eye, creating more sparkle.
Lab-Created Diamonds: Refractive index of 2.417 to 2.419. Diamonds exhibit balanced brilliance with white light reflections and subtle rainbow fire. This creates the classic diamond sparkle that's bright but natural-looking, with sharp, crisp facets that catch light beautifully.
Moissanite: Refractive index of 2.65 to 2.69, higher than diamonds. This means moissanite reflects more light overall and produces more fire. Moissanite displays colorful flashes of rainbow light that can be more intense and noticeable than diamond fire. Some people love this extra sparkle, while others feel it looks less natural than diamond brilliance.
Cubic Zirconia: Refractive index of 2.15 to 2.177, lower than both diamonds and moissanite. CZ has less overall brilliance than diamonds. While it does produce some colorful flashes due to its dispersion properties, the overall sparkle is flatter and less dynamic than moissanite or diamond, particularly in natural lighting.
Dispersion: Creating Rainbow Fire
Dispersion refers to how a gemstone splits white light into its rainbow color components. Higher dispersion creates more colorful flashes.
Moissanite has exceptional dispersion at 0.104, significantly higher than diamond's 0.044 and cubic zirconia's 0.058 to 0.066. This means moissanite exhibits vivid rainbow colors when light hits its surface, producing 58% more fire than cubic zirconia. These colorful flashes are striking and eye-catching, though they can appear more colorful than what most people expect from a diamond.
Lab-Created Diamonds show more subtle fire that's balanced with white light brilliance, creating the sophisticated sparkle diamonds are known for.
Cubic Zirconia produces rainbow flashes that are more noticeable than diamond but less intense than moissanite. However, the overall effect can appear artificial to trained eyes, especially combined with CZ's lower brilliance.
How They Look in Different Lighting
Lab-Created Diamonds: Sparkle consistently across all lighting conditions with balanced white light and subtle rainbow flashes. They look particularly stunning in natural daylight and under jewelry store lights.
Moissanite: Shows impressive fire and brilliance in all lighting, with particularly noticeable colorful flashes in direct sunlight and bright indoor lighting. The rainbow effect becomes even more pronounced in spotlights.
Cubic Zirconia: Initially appears bright and clear but can look flat or glassy in natural lighting. As the surface develops scratches over time, CZ loses its ability to reflect light effectively and appears increasingly dull and cloudy.
Which Sparkle Is Right for You?
If you love maximum sparkle and colorful fire that catches attention, moissanite's intense brilliance will appeal to you. If you prefer the classic, balanced sparkle of traditional diamonds with subtle fire, lab-created diamonds deliver that authentic diamond look. Cubic zirconia offers initial sparkle but will noticeably diminish with wear.
Price Comparison: What You'll Actually Pay
Budget is a crucial consideration for most people shopping for engagement rings or fine jewelry. The price differences between lab-created diamonds, moissanite, and cubic zirconia are substantial.
Cubic Zirconia: The Budget Option
Cubic zirconia is extraordinarily inexpensive, typically costing just $20 to $50 per carat. You can purchase a large, flawless CZ stone for less than $100. This makes cubic zirconia accessible to anyone, regardless of budget.
However, this low price reflects CZ's minimal value. The stone itself has essentially no resale value. If you tried to sell cubic zirconia jewelry, you might retain some value for the metal setting, but the CZ gemstone itself is worthless in the secondary market.
Additionally, because cubic zirconia needs to be replaced every few years with regular wear, the long-term cost may be higher than it initially appears. If you're replacing a CZ stone every 2 to 3 years, those costs add up over time.
Moissanite: The Mid-Range Value Option
Moissanite pricing varies based on size and quality, but it's significantly more affordable than diamonds while being substantially more expensive than cubic zirconia. A high-quality 1-carat moissanite might cost between $300 and $600, compared to several thousand dollars for a comparable lab-created diamond.
When considering moissanite versus cubic zirconia pricing, moissanite is the better long-term value. While it costs more upfront, moissanite will last for decades without losing its brilliance, while cubic zirconia needs frequent replacement. The cost per year of ownership makes moissanite much more economical than repeatedly buying cubic zirconia.
Moissanite offers an excellent balance of quality, durability, and affordability. You can get a larger stone or higher-quality piece within your budget compared to choosing a diamond.
Lab-Created Diamonds: Premium Quality at a Lower Price Than Natural
Lab-created diamonds are the most expensive of the three options but still cost 30 to 40% less than natural diamonds of similar quality. The price varies significantly based on the 4Cs (cut, color, clarity, and carat weight), just like natural diamonds.
For example, a high-quality 1-carat lab-created diamond might cost $1,500 to $3,000, compared to $4,000 to $8,000 or more for an equivalent natural diamond. This substantial savings allows you to either save money or invest in a larger or higher-quality diamond within the same budget.
Lab-created diamonds hold more value than cubic zirconia or moissanite, though they typically have lower resale value than natural diamonds. However, if you're buying an engagement ring for personal use rather than as a financial investment, lab-created diamonds offer authentic diamond quality at a more accessible price point.
Making the Right Choice for Your Budget
If budget is your primary concern and you need something temporary: Cubic zirconia provides the lowest upfront cost, though it will need replacement.
If you want excellent value with durability: Moissanite offers the best balance of quality, sparkle, and price for long-term wear.
If you want a real diamond without the premium natural diamond price: Lab-created diamonds give you authentic diamonds at a more accessible cost.
Lab-Created Diamonds vs Cubic Zirconia: Not the Same Thing
One of the most common misconceptions is that lab-created diamonds and cubic zirconia are the same or similar. This confusion likely stems from the fact that both are created in laboratories. However, this is where the similarities end.
Lab-created diamonds are real diamonds, chemically identical to natural diamonds. They're made from pure carbon with the same crystal structure, hardness, and optical properties as mined diamonds. Even professional jewelers and gemologists cannot distinguish between lab-created and natural diamonds without specialized equipment.
Cubic zirconia is a completely different material made from zirconium dioxide. It contains no carbon and shares no chemical or physical characteristics with diamonds. CZ is a diamond simulant designed to look like a diamond at a fraction of the cost, but it's not a diamond in any way.
The Critical Differences
Hardness: Lab-created diamonds score a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale, while cubic zirconia ranks 8 to 8.5, making diamonds far more durable.
Brilliance: Lab-created diamonds exhibit the classic diamond sparkle with balanced brilliance and fire. Cubic zirconia has inferior refractive qualities with a flatter appearance and excessive rainbow effects that can look artificial.
Color: Lab-created diamonds are graded on the D to Z color scale like natural diamonds. Cubic zirconia can be made completely colorless but may develop tints over time.
Value: Lab-created diamonds retain value as real diamonds, while cubic zirconia has essentially no resale value.
Durability: Lab-created diamonds last forever with proper care. Cubic zirconia scratches easily, becomes cloudy, and typically needs replacement after a few years of regular wear.
Diamond Testing: Lab-created diamonds pass diamond testers because they are authentic diamonds. Most diamond testers will not identify cubic zirconia as a diamond.
If you want a real diamond for your engagement ring or fine jewelry, a lab-created diamond delivers authentic diamond quality. Cubic zirconia is suitable only for temporary fashion jewelry where durability and authenticity aren't priorities.
Moissanite vs Cubic Zirconia: Which Diamond Alternative Is Better?
When comparing moissanite and cubic zirconia as diamond alternatives, moissanite is the clear winner for quality, durability, and long-term value.
Durability Comparison
Moissanite's hardness of 9.25 makes it far more suitable for everyday wear than cubic zirconia at 8 to 8.5. Using the Knoop indentation test, moissanite measures 3000 while cubic zirconia measures only 1370, meaning moissanite is 219% harder. This dramatic difference in hardness translates to substantially better scratch resistance.
Moissanite will maintain its clarity and sparkle for decades with proper care. Cubic zirconia, on the other hand, progressively loses brilliance as its surface becomes scratched and clouded. Most CZ stones show significant wear after just 2 to 3 years of regular use and need to be replaced.
Sparkle and Brilliance
Moissanite outshines cubic zirconia significantly. With its refractive index of 2.65 to 2.69, moissanite reflects light more intensely than CZ's 2.15 to 2.177. Moissanite's exceptional fire creates colorful flashes of rainbow light that are 58% more intense than cubic zirconia's dispersion.
While cubic zirconia can initially appear bright and clear, it lacks the dynamic light performance that makes moissanite so captivating. Moissanite displays bright, multicolored reflections in various lighting conditions, while cubic zirconia often appears flatter and can lack the brilliance associated with premium gemstones. As CZ develops surface scratches over time, it becomes increasingly dull and may even appear cloudy.
Long-Term Value
When considering value rather than just initial price, moissanite clearly provides better return on investment. While cubic zirconia might cost $20 to $50 per carat, its 2 to 3 year lifespan means you'll need to replace it repeatedly. Moissanite costs more upfront (typically $300 to $600 for a 1-carat stone) but lasts for decades, making the cost per year of ownership much lower.
Moissanite is also more precious and meaningful than cubic zirconia. Its extraterrestrial origins, exceptional durability, and lasting beauty make it suitable for engagement rings and heirloom pieces. Cubic zirconia is mass-produced and commands little value or sentimental significance.
Heat Resistance
Moissanite has greater heat resistance than cubic zirconia, which is very sensitive to heat. This becomes important if you ever need jewelry repairs or resizing. Many jewelers may refuse to work on cubic zirconia jewelry because the heat from soldering can damage the CZ stone. Moissanite can withstand the temperatures required for most jewelry repairs.
The Bottom Line
If you're looking for a diamond alternative for an engagement ring or any jewelry you plan to wear regularly, moissanite is the better choice. It offers superior durability, more impressive sparkle, and better long-term value than cubic zirconia. Cubic zirconia is best reserved for costume jewelry, temporary pieces, or situations where the jewelry will see very limited wear.
Which Option Is Right for Your Engagement Ring?
Choosing between lab-created diamonds, moissanite, and cubic zirconia for your engagement ring depends on your priorities, budget, and how you plan to wear the ring.
Choose Lab-Created Diamonds If:
- You want a real diamond with authentic diamond brilliance and hardness
- You value the traditional symbolism and prestige of diamonds
- You're looking for a sustainable and ethical alternative to mined diamonds
- You want something that will last forever and can become an heirloom
- You prefer the classic, balanced sparkle of diamonds with subtle fire
- You're willing to invest more for superior quality and lasting value
- You want a gemstone that will maintain its appearance indefinitely
Lab-created diamonds are ideal for engagement rings because they offer everything you love about diamonds (hardness, brilliance, and symbolism) at a more accessible price than natural diamonds. They're perfect for anyone who wants a real diamond without the premium cost or ethical concerns of mining.
Choose Moissanite If:
- You love maximum sparkle and colorful rainbow fire
- You want exceptional durability for everyday wear at a lower price point
- You're looking for the best value combination of quality and affordability
- You appreciate the unique extraterrestrial origin story
- You prefer a larger stone within your budget
- You want an eco-friendly, sustainable option
- You're open to a gemstone that's not a traditional diamond but offers comparable durability
Moissanite is an excellent choice for engagement rings, offering near-diamond hardness and even more sparkle at a fraction of diamond prices. It's perfect for couples who want beautiful, durable jewelry without the high cost of diamonds.
Avoid Cubic Zirconia For Engagement Rings
While cubic zirconia is the most affordable option upfront, it's not recommended for engagement rings or any jewelry you plan to wear daily. Here's why:
- CZ will scratch, cloud, and lose its sparkle within a few years of regular wear
- It doesn't carry the same symbolic meaning or significance as diamonds or moissanite
- The need for frequent replacement makes it less economical long-term
- It has essentially no resale value
- Many jewelers may refuse to work on CZ for resizing or repairs
Cubic zirconia is better suited for fashion jewelry, costume pieces, or temporary situations where you need something inexpensive that won't be worn daily.
Caring for Your Diamond Alternative
Each of these gemstones requires specific care to maintain its beauty, though lab-created diamonds and moissanite are much easier to care for than cubic zirconia.
Cleaning Lab-Created Diamonds and Moissanite
Both lab-created diamonds and moissanite can be cleaned using the same methods as natural diamonds:
Regular Cleaning: Mix warm water with mild dish soap. Soak the jewelry for 10 to 15 minutes, then gently scrub with a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove oils and dirt. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a lint-free cloth.
Ultrasonic Cleaners: Both lab-created diamonds and moissanite can safely be cleaned in ultrasonic jewelry cleaners.
Professional Cleaning: Have your jewelry professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year.
With proper care, lab-created diamonds and moissanite will maintain their brilliance indefinitely.
Cleaning Cubic Zirconia
Cubic zirconia can be cleaned using mild soap and water or ultrasonic cleaners. However, it's important to understand that cleaning cannot restore CZ once its surface becomes scratched and clouded. Regular cleaning can remove dirt buildup, but it won't fix the underlying surface damage that causes cubic zirconia to lose its sparkle over time.
Because cubic zirconia is so soft compared to diamonds and moissanite, any gemstone can become cloudy with normal dirt buildup and oils from daily wear. The difference is that diamonds and moissanite can be cleaned back to their original brilliance, while scratched cubic zirconia cannot.
FAQs About Lab-Created Diamonds, Moissanite, and Cubic Zirconia
Q: Is a lab-created diamond the same as cubic zirconia?
A: No, absolutely not. Lab-created diamonds are real diamonds made from pure carbon, chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds. They score a perfect 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. Cubic zirconia is made from zirconium dioxide, a completely different material that only mimics diamond appearance. CZ ranks 8 to 8.5 in hardness, scratches easily, and has no resale value. Lab-created diamonds are real diamonds, while cubic zirconia is a diamond simulant.
Q: Is moissanite a lab-grown diamond?
A: No, moissanite is not a lab-grown diamond. While both are lab-created gemstones, they have completely different chemical compositions. Moissanite is made of silicon carbide, whereas diamonds (whether mined or lab-grown) are composed of carbon atoms. Despite its diamond-like appearance, moissanite is a distinct gemstone with unique optical and physical properties, including more colorful fire than diamonds.
Q: Will moissanite pass a diamond tester?
A: It depends on the type of diamond tester. Most basic diamond testers measure thermal conductivity, and moissanite conducts heat similarly to diamonds, so it may test positive. However, moissanite also conducts electricity (unlike diamonds), so advanced diamond testers that check both thermal and electrical conductivity can distinguish between moissanite and diamonds. Gemological equipment can also detect moissanite's double refraction, which diamonds don't have.
Q: Does cubic zirconia look like a real diamond?
A: To the untrained eye, cubic zirconia can resemble a diamond initially, especially when it's new and well-cut. However, there are noticeable differences. CZ produces excessive rainbow fire that can appear artificial, has a lower refractive index resulting in less brilliance, and is heavier than a diamond of the same size. Trained jewelers and gemologists can easily distinguish CZ from diamonds. Additionally, as CZ wears over time and develops scratches, it looks increasingly dull and cloudy, making it obvious it's not a diamond.
Q: How long does cubic zirconia last?
A: Cubic zirconia typically lasts 2 to 3 years with regular daily wear before it becomes noticeably scratched and cloudy. While the stone itself won't fall apart, its surface will develop microscopic scratches that cannot be removed through cleaning, causing it to lose its brilliance and appear dull. CZ worn only occasionally for special events may last longer, but it will eventually show wear. This is why cubic zirconia is not recommended for engagement rings or everyday jewelry.
Q: Which is more expensive, moissanite or cubic zirconia?
A: Moissanite is significantly more expensive than cubic zirconia. A 1-carat cubic zirconia might cost $20 to $50, while a comparable moissanite could cost $300 to $600. However, moissanite provides much better long-term value because it lasts for decades without losing its brilliance, while cubic zirconia needs replacement every few years. When you consider cost per year of ownership, moissanite is actually more economical than repeatedly replacing cubic zirconia.
Q: Can you tell the difference between moissanite and diamond?
A: The untrained eye often cannot distinguish between moissanite and diamond, especially in smaller stones. However, there are differences visible to experts: moissanite displays more colorful rainbow fire due to its higher dispersion, may show slight warm undertones in certain lighting (particularly in larger stones), and exhibits double refraction under magnification. In everyday wear, most people cannot tell them apart. Gemological testing equipment can definitively identify the difference.
Q: Are lab-created diamonds real diamonds?
A: Yes, lab-created diamonds are 100% real diamonds. They have identical chemical composition (pure carbon), crystal structure, hardness (10 on Mohs scale), and optical properties as natural diamonds. The only difference is their origin: lab-created diamonds form in weeks in a controlled laboratory environment using advanced technology, while natural diamonds form over millions of years underground. Even expert gemologists cannot tell them apart without specialized equipment.
Q: Do lab-created diamonds hold their value?
A: Lab-created diamonds generally have lower resale value compared to natural diamonds because they're more readily available and production costs are decreasing. However, they retain more value than cubic zirconia or moissanite. It's important to remember that diamonds (whether natural or lab-created) should not be purchased as financial investments. Their true value lies in what they symbolize: love, commitment, and important life milestones. For personal use and enjoyment, lab-created diamonds offer excellent value.
Q: Which is harder, moissanite or cubic zirconia?
A: Moissanite is significantly harder than cubic zirconia. Moissanite ranks 9.25 to 9.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, while cubic zirconia ranks 8 to 8.5. Using the Knoop indentation test, moissanite measures 3000 compared to cubic zirconia's 1370, making moissanite 219% harder. This makes moissanite far more resistant to scratching and suitable for everyday wear, while cubic zirconia scratches more easily and clouds over time.
Q: Is moissanite better than cubic zirconia?
A: Yes, for engagement rings and everyday jewelry, moissanite is far superior to cubic zirconia. Moissanite is more durable, has greater brilliance and fire, maintains its sparkle indefinitely, and offers better long-term value. While cubic zirconia is cheaper upfront, it needs replacement every few years with regular wear. Moissanite costs more initially but lasts for decades, making it more economical long-term. Cubic zirconia is best reserved for costume jewelry or temporary fashion pieces.
Q: Can moissanite get cloudy over time?
A: No, moissanite does not inherently get cloudy over time. Like any gemstone worn daily, moissanite can develop a film from oils, lotions, dirt, and daily grime, making it appear temporarily cloudy. However, this is just surface buildup that can be completely removed through proper cleaning. Once cleaned, moissanite returns to its original brilliance. Unlike cubic zirconia, which develops permanent scratches that cause cloudiness, moissanite's hardness protects it from this issue.
Q: Are lab-created diamonds more ethical than natural diamonds?
A: Yes, lab-created diamonds are generally considered more ethical than mined diamonds. They avoid issues associated with diamond mining, including worker exploitation, environmental destruction, and conflict diamonds (blood diamonds) that fund armed conflicts. Lab-created diamonds have a smaller carbon footprint than mining operations, don't require displacing communities or ecosystems, and provide complete transparency about their origin. For ethically-conscious consumers, lab-created diamonds offer peace of mind.
Q: Will a cubic zirconia engagement ring last?
A: A cubic zirconia engagement ring is not recommended for long-term use. While the metal setting may last, the CZ stone itself will become scratched and cloudy within 2 to 3 years of daily wear. The stone will lose its sparkle and develop a dull, worn appearance that cannot be fixed through cleaning. You would need to replace the stone regularly. For an engagement ring meant to last a lifetime, choose lab-created diamonds or moissanite instead, both of which maintain their beauty indefinitely.
FAQs About FJD as a Business
Q: Does FJD offer lab-created diamonds, moissanite, and cubic zirconia jewelry?
A: FJD specializes in fine jewelry featuring high-quality lab-created diamonds and moissanite. We focus on providing premium gemstones that offer exceptional durability, brilliance, and lasting value. Our collection includes engagement rings, wedding bands, earrings, necklaces, and other fine jewelry pieces designed to be worn and treasured for a lifetime.
Q: How do I know if I'm getting genuine lab-created diamonds from FJD?
A: FJD sources lab-created diamonds from reputable suppliers and provides certification for our diamond jewelry. Each lab-created diamond comes with documentation from recognized gemological laboratories detailing the stone's quality characteristics. We stand behind the authenticity and quality of every piece we sell.
Q: Can FJD help me choose between a lab-created diamond and moissanite for my engagement ring?
A: Absolutely. Our jewelry experts are here to help you understand the differences between lab-created diamonds and moissanite so you can make the best choice for your style, budget, and preferences. Contact our customer service team for personalized guidance, and we'll help you find the perfect engagement ring that fits your vision and values.
Q: Does FJD offer custom design services for lab-created diamond or moissanite jewelry?
A: FJD offers various customization options for your jewelry. Whether you're looking to create a unique engagement ring design or customize an existing style, our team can work with you to bring your vision to life. Contact us to discuss your custom jewelry project and learn about available options.
Q: What is FJD's warranty or guarantee on lab-created diamond and moissanite jewelry?
A: FJD stands behind the quality of our jewelry with warranty and guarantee policies designed to give you peace of mind. For specific details about our warranty coverage, repair services, and satisfaction guarantee, please visit our website or contact our customer service team. We want you to feel confident in your jewelry purchase.
Q: How should I care for my FJD lab-created diamond or moissanite jewelry?
A: Both lab-created diamonds and moissanite are highly durable and easy to care for. Clean your jewelry regularly with warm water and mild soap, using a soft brush to remove oils and dirt. Have your jewelry professionally inspected and cleaned at least once a year. FJD provides care instructions with each purchase, and our customer service team is always available to answer care and maintenance questions.
Q: Does FJD offer financing options for engagement rings?
A: FJD may offer financing options to help make your dream engagement ring more accessible. Contact our customer service team or visit our website for current information about financing plans, payment options, and any special promotions available for engagement ring purchases.