Moissanite VS Lab Diamonds – Castlefield Collection

Moissanite & lab diamond engagement rings crafted to last a lifetime.

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Moissanite Vs. Diamonds

Moissanite and diamonds are two distinct gemstones. Both occur naturally, and both have lab-grown options. Contrary to popular belief, moissanite is not a diamond simulant - it is its own unique gemstone.

While diamonds (both lab-grown and mined) are made of carbon, moissanite is made of silicon carbide.

Most people cannot easily tell the difference between moissanite and diamonds, especially without holding the two stones directly next to one another.

The affordability, durability and beauty of moissanite makes it a great choice for engagement rings. Lab diamonds are also a great option, though at a higher price point.

Top: Castlefield moissanite
Bottom: Lab diamond

Moissanite Vs. Lab Diamonds Vs. Mined Diamonds

	Moissanite	Lab Diamond	Mined Diamond
Durability	9.25 on the Mohs scale. Second hardest gemstone on Earth, perfect for everyday wear.	10 on the Mohs scale. The hardest gemstone on Earth, perfect for everyday wear.	10 on the Mohs scale. The hardest gemstone on Earth, perfect for everyday wear.
Brilliance & Refraction	The most brilliant gemstone in the world. Has more fire (colorful sparkle) than diamonds. Can have a lighter, almost iridescent appearance.	Very brilliant, but less fire (colorful sparkle) than moissanite. Can show more depth and contrast (light and dark facets).	Very brilliant, but less fire (colorful sparkle) than moissanite. Can show more depth and contrast (light and dark facets).
Price	Much lower in price than both lab grown and mined diamonds. For example, a 2 carat round (VVS, E-F) may be $750 USD.	More expensive than moissanite but far less expensive than mined diamonds. For example, a 2 carat round (VVS, E-F) may be $2,600 USD.	Dramatically more expensive than both moissanite and lab diamonds. For example, a 2 carat round (VVS, E-F) may be $30,000 USD.
Sourcing & Ethical Impact	Grown by expert scientists in controlled laboratories.	Grown by expert scientists in controlled laboratories.	Obtained from mines. Highly environmentally and socially destructive.

What is Moissanite?

Moissanite came from the stars. In 1893, French scientist Henri Moissan discovered beautiful natural moissanite inside a meteor crater. Today, natural moissanite is exceptionally rare - significantly rarer than diamonds.

Over time, lab-created moissanite was developed from the same material - silicon carbide.

Environmental & Social Impact

Natural diamonds come at a very high cost: not only to your wallet, but also to the environment and developing nations. At Castlefield Collection, you can have a beautiful, glittering engagement ring without the guilt.

Since lab diamonds and moissanite are created in a lab, there is no need for the unethical and environmentally-destructive mining that takes place in the diamond industry. Rather than being taken from mines, our moissanite and lab diamonds are grown by skilled scientists in controlled laboratories and is cut and polished by a small team of artisans.

By purchasing Castlefield Collection jewelry, you are supporting a small, woman-owned business and a team of skilled craftspeople. Your ring will be created with a high level of attention, love and care.

Natural Diamond Mining Facts:

The CO2 emissions from global diamond mining over one year is equal to 1.5 million+ vehicles running for a full year. (via BDI)

Water usage from one year of natural diamond mining is the equivalent of 5 months worth of water consumption for Kenya's entire population of ~41 million people. (via BDI)

Diamond mines release toxins that are "environmentally and socially disastrous, causing irreversible degradation of sensitive habitat and human health impacts." (via The National Round Table on The Environment & The Economy)

The average stone in a diamond engagement ring involves the removal and processing of 200 to 400 million times its volume of earth, destroying ecosystems. (via USGS.gov)

Energy usage from one year of diamond mining equates to the annual energy consumption from over a million US households. (via BDI)

Diamond Vs. Moissanite

Carat Size Equivalents

Diamonds are measured by carat, which indicates their weight. However, moissanites do not weigh the same as diamonds - making it difficult to make exact comparisons between the carat weight of a diamond and the equivalent size of a moissanite.

Therefore, we highly recommend that you consider our stone measurements in millimeters when choosing your stone size, rather than going by carat weight.

Please see the below charts for comparisons between moissanite size (in mm) and the approximate equivalent diamond carat weight. Millimeter measurements are listed as length x width.

Note: We can cut any size moissanite for you - even if it's not listed in these charts!

Round

mm	Approximate Carat Equivalent
5 x 5	0.5
5.5 x 5.5	0.63
6 x 6	0.8
6.5 x 6.5	1
7 x 7	1.2
7.5 x 7.5	1.5
8 x 8	2
8.5 x 8.5	2.5
9 x 9	3
9.5 x 9.5	3.5
10 x 10	4
10.5 x 10.5	4.5
11 x 11	4.9

Oval

mm	Approximate Carat Equivalent
7 x 5	0.9
8 x 6	1.5
9 x 6	1.8
9 x 6.5	1.9
9 x 7	2
9.5 x 7	2.25
10 x 7	2.5
10 x 7.5	2.75
10 x 8	3
10.5 x 8	3.25
11 x 8	3.5
11 x 8.5	3.9
11 x 9	4.2
12 x 9	5
12 x 10	5.8
13 x 10	6.5

Pear

mm	Approximate Carat Equivalent
7 x 5	0.77
8 x 5	1
9 x 6	1.5
9 x 7	1.8
10 x 7	2.1
10 x 8	2.5
11 x 7.5	2.7
11 x 8	3
12 x 8	3.2
12 x 8.5	3.8
12 x 9	4
13 x 9	4.7
14 x 9.5	5.6

Cushion

mm	Approximate Carat Equivalent
5 x 5	0.6
5.5 x 5.5	0.8
6 x 6	1.1
6.5 x 6.5	1.3
7 x 7	1.7
7.5 x 7.5	2
8 x 8	2.4
8.5 x 8.5	3
9 x 9	3.3
9.5 x 9.5	4.2
10 x 10	5

Elongated Cushion

mm	Approximate Carat Equivalent
7 x 6	1.3
8 x 6	1.6
8 x 6.5	1.8
8 x 7	2
8.5 x 7	2.2
9 x 7	2.4
9 x 7.5	2.5
9 x 8	2.6
9.5 x 8	2.9
10 x 8	3.2
10 x 9	3.6
11 x 9	5
11 x 10	5.7
12 x 9	5.7
12 x 10	6.5

Radiant

mm	Approximate Carat Equivalent
6 x 4	0.7
7 x 5	1.2
8 x 6	1.8
9 x 6	2.3
9 x 7	2.7
10 x 7	3.3
10 x 8	3.9
11 x 8	4.8
11 x 9	5.3
11.5 x 9	5.6
12 x 9.5	6.2
12.5 x 9	6.1
12.5 x 10	7

Emerald

mm	Approximate Carat Equivalent
6 x 4	0.7
6.5 x 5	1
7 x 5	1.2
7.5 x 5.5	1.5
8 x 6	1.8
8.5 x 6	2
9 x 6	2.3
9 x 7	2.7
9.5 x 7	3
10 x 7	3.3
10 x 8	3.9
11 x 8	4.8
11 x 9	5.3

Asscher

mm	Approximate Carat Equivalent
5 x 5	0.6
5.5 x 5.5	0.8
6 x 6	1
6.5 x 6.5	1.3
7 x 7	1.5
7.5 x 7.5	2
8 x 8	2.5
8.5 x 8.5	3
9 x 9	3.5
9.5 x 9.5	4
10 x 10	5

Princess

mm	Approximate Carat Equivalent
5 x 5	0.6
5.5 x 5.5	0.8
6 x 6	1
6.5 x 6.5	1.3
7 x 7	1.5
7.5 x 7.5	2
8 x 8	2.5
8.5 x 8.5	3
9 x 9	3.5
9.5 x 9.5	4
10 x 10	5

Heart

mm	Approximate Carat Equivalent
6 x 6	0.8
6 x 7	1
6.5 x 6.5	1
7 x 7	1.2
7 x 8	1.4
7.5 x 6.5	1.2
7.5 x 7.5	1.4
8 x 8	1.9
8 x 9	2.3
8.5 x 8.5	2.3
8.5 x 9.5	2.6
9 x 9	2.6
9 x 10	3.1
9.5 x 9.5	3.1
10 x 10	3.5

Marquise

mm	Approximate Carat Equivalent
8.2 x 4.3	0.5
10.2 x 5.3	1
11.7 x 6.1	1.5
12 x 6.5	1.8
13 x 6.8	2
13.3 x 7	2.3
13.77 x 7.25	2.5
14.25 x 7.5	2.75
15.2 x 8	3.25
15.7 x 8.25	3.5
16.15 x 8.5	4
17.1 x 9	4.5

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Moissanite Vs. Diamonds

Moissanite Vs. Lab Diamonds Vs. Mined Diamonds

What is Moissanite?