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Lab Moissanite vs. Lab Diamonds: Understanding the Difference
When shopping for fine jewelry, especially online, it’s easy to get confused by misleading product titles and descriptions. Terms like “Lab Diamond Moissanite” or “Moissanite Diamond” are frequently used by sellers on online marketplaces — but these phrases are deceptive and can lead buyers to believe they’re getting a lab-created diamond, when in fact they’re purchasing lab moissanite or another lesser valued simulant.
Let’s set the record straight.
What Is a Lab Created Diamond?
Lab-created diamonds are real diamonds that are grown in a laboratory environment, rather than mined from the earth. They have the same:
- Chemical composition (carbon)
- Crystal structure (cubic)
- Hardness (10 on the Mohs scale)
- Visual properties (brilliance, fire, and scintillation)
Lab diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from natural diamonds — even trained gemologists need advanced equipment to tell them apart. The key difference lies in their origin.
What Is Lab Created Moissanite?
Moissanite is a completely different gemstone, made of silicon carbide, not carbon. While moissanite is also lab grown and visually similar to diamond at a glance, it is not a diamond.
Key characteristics of moissanite include:
- A different chemical structure (SiC)
- A hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale (still very durable, but not diamond-hard)
- A higher refractive index, giving it more rainbow-like “fire”
- A different brilliance and sparkle pattern, often described as “disco-ball” or more flashy
Why the Confusion?
Many sellers — especially on high-traffic marketplaces — label moissanite as:
- “Lab Diamond Moissanite”
- “Moissanite Diamond Ring”
— or, they just don’t differentiate it at all and wrongly try to sell it as lab diamond.
These titles are intentionally misleading and suggest the item is a lab created diamond rather than moissanite.
This kind of labeling is not only deceptive but also unfair to customers who may unknowingly buy a gemstone that’s not what they expected — often at inflated prices.
Key Differences at a Glance
Feature | Lab-Created Diamond | Lab Moissanite |
Chemical Composition | Carbon (C) | Silicon Carbide (SiC) |
Hardness | 10/10 | ~9.25/10 |
Brilliance | True diamond brilliance | More rainbow-like fire |
Durability | Extremely durable | Very durable |
Certification | Often IGI or GIA | Rarely certified at reputable lab |
Price | Higher | Lower |
Still Unsure? We’re Happy to Help
We’re here to protect your investment and peace of mind. If you’re ever uncertain about a listing or a certificate, feel free to reach out. Our GIA graduate gemologist can help review it and confirm whether we think it’s legitimate or if it might be better to pass up that “great deal”. Contact us today!