Moissanite vs Lab Grown Diamonds: Which Is Right for You?
If you’re shopping for an engagement ring or a special piece of fine jewellery in Australia, chances are you’ve come across both moissanite and lab grown diamonds. Both are stunning, ethical, and far more affordable than mined diamonds — but they’re not the same stone. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is a Lab Grown Diamond?
A lab grown diamond is chemically, physically and optically identical to a mined diamond. It’s made of pure carbon in a crystal structure, created in a controlled laboratory environment using either High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) technology. The only difference is where it came from.
Lab grown diamonds are graded by the same 4Cs as mined diamonds (cut, colour, clarity and carat) and carry IGI or GIA certificates. At Melia Nae, all our lab grown diamonds are conflict-free and ethically sourced.
What Is Moissanite?
Moissanite is a naturally occurring mineral (silicon carbide) originally discovered in a meteorite crater in 1893 by Dr. Henri Moissan. Today, virtually all moissanite sold in jewellery is lab created. It’s an incredibly hard stone (9.25 on the Mohs scale, just below diamond) and has a refractive index actually higher than diamond — meaning it produces even more rainbow fire and brilliance.
Sparkle: Which One Shines More?
Both stones are dazzling, but they sparkle differently. Lab grown diamonds produce white light brilliance — the classic, clean shimmer you associate with a traditional diamond. Moissanite has a higher refractive index (2.65–2.69 vs diamond’s 2.42), which creates more colourful fire and flash, sometimes described as disco-ball sparkle in very large stones.
• Prefer traditional, understated sparkle → lab grown diamond
• Love maximum brilliance and rainbow fire → moissanite
Hardness & Durability
Diamond (including lab grown) scores 10/10 on the Mohs hardness scale — the hardest natural material on earth. Moissanite scores 9.25/10. Both are perfectly suited for everyday wear, including engagement rings.
Price Difference
Lab grown diamonds cost roughly 50–80% less than mined diamonds of the same quality. Moissanite costs even less — typically 10–15% of the price of a comparable mined diamond. For the budget-conscious buyer who wants a large, brilliant stone, moissanite offers extraordinary value.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose a lab grown diamond if: you want a stone that is chemically a diamond, you plan to resize or recut it one day, or you want IGI/GIA certification.
Choose moissanite if: you want maximum size for your budget, you love intense fire and sparkle, or you simply love the stone on its own merits.
At Melia Nae, we carry both. Visit us at Macarthur Square, Campbelltown, or browse our collection online. Our team is happy to show you both side by side so you can decide in person.