We are an affiliate
We hope you love the featured products! Just so you know, we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page, at no extra cost for the buyer. Thank you if you use our links, we really appreciate it!
Cubic zirconia vs moissanite always get compared as a choice for engagement rings, with a diamond simulant.
Why are cubic zirconia and moissanite wedding rings popular alternatives to diamond rings?
A diamond engagement ring has the look, the fame, the price and this last one pushes it beyond the budget of many couples.
For this reason, there is always a quest for affordable alternatives. Many prefer bands with similar gems at a more affordable price point.
Cubic zirconia and moissanite are two white stones like white sapphire, white topaz morganite or swarovski. These are popular options for diamond alternatives.
These two offer similar looks and hardness to diamond at a much cheaper price tag.
What is cubic zirconia?
Cubic zirconia is well known diamond substitute.
Its chemical composition has a cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2).
As it is rarely found in nature, practically all cubic zirconia stones used in jewelry are lab created.
This brings the advantage of controlling the production environment and process from start to finish.
Thanks to this edge, producers are able to create stones with zero inclusions and reach a higher degree of clarity. This is a huge benefit over natural cz stones.
It is also possible to add other elements and obtain colored stones as desired.
Please note that a cubic zirconia stone and zircon are different minerals and should not be mistaken for each other.
Click on the photo to check on Amazon
What is moissanite?
Moissanite is a popular choice or engagement rings and other jewelry.
This gemstone is named after its discoverer French chemist Henri Moissan.
Back in the day, Monseiur Moissan was inspecting rocks in a meteor crater in Arizona.
He took stone samples, which he thought were diamonds at the time.
Only after 10 years have passed, he noticed that they had a different crystal structure.
They were made of silicon carbide, not carbon.
Moissanite is not only a diamond alternative, but also it shares a similar journey leading to jewelry.
Its deposits are not abundant. However, scientists have discovered methods to produce moissanite stone in artificial environments.
This opens doors to produce practically flawless stones. These are pieces with don not have structural flaws.
And again, as in CZ, it is possible to produce moissanites at the desired color.
As it is very hard and offer a superior level of clarity, it is widely used in electronics and optics.
Moissanite and morganite are different gems with separate crystal structures.
For a comparison, check our post on Morganite vs Cubic Zirconia.
| Cubic zirconia | Moissanite | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 8-8.5 | 9.25 |
| Density | 5.5 to 5.9 | 3.21 |
| Refractive index | 2.15 to 2.18 | 2.65 |
| Dispersion | 0.058 to 0.066 | 0.104 |
Cubic zirconia vs moissanite: Pros and Cons
1. Origin
Practically, moissanite and CZ stones used in jewelry are not natural gemstones. They are all lab created stones.
Despite they can both be found in nature, their deposits are very limited. Definitely, their mining output can not satisfy the demand.
However, as scientists have developed necessary production methods, we are able to create these gems as much as needed.
This freedom of production also enables us to make stones with color, clarity, cut and carat size, expanding design diversity.
2. Hardness
Moissanite is harder than cubic zirconia.
Hardness of metals and gems are measured on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
In this scale, a typical diamond has the top place with a 10 rating and talc makes the bottom with a 1 grade.
Precious metals pure gold and silver get around 2.5-3 rating. Titanium gets a 6 grade.
Moissanite is far above, following diamond closely with a 9.5.
Thus, diamond is harder than moissanite but this latter is no softy!
Cubic zirconia has a lower 8.5 rating on the Mohs scale.
While, this means that it is softer than moissanite and diamond, it is definitely a very durable stone.
Yet, it has lower scratch resistance than moissanite or diamond.
Click on the photo to check on Amazon
3. Weight
Cubic zirconia weights twice as much moissanite does.
CZ’s density is about 5.5 to 5.9 g/cm3.
Moissanite’s density is about half of this around 3.2 g/cm3.
So, a 1 carat CZ gem on a ring will weight twice a moissanite gem.
4. Fire
Moissanite jewelry exhibits more fire than cz items.
This is no surprise as it is famous for its fire.
It outperforms even diamond in this regard.
What is moissanite fire?
Light is refracted by crystals. This refraction differs according to the wave lengths of different colors forming the incoming light.
For example, red light will be refracted with a smaller angle than purple.
When day light passes through the surfaces of crystals, it gets separated into rays of different colors.
This phenomenon forms a rainbow like pattern as can be seen in the video.
This is called moissanite fire.
Moissanite has a refraction index of 2.65, higher than cubic zirconia and diamond.
So, greater the refractivity, more the fire!
5. Price
These are both affordable options for a diamond simulant.
Between the two, cz is a more affordable stone than moissanite.
The former is one of the cheapest diamond simulants.
On the other hand, the latter will receive a higher price, though still lower than diamond.
Click on the photo to check on Amazon
The Verdict: Is moissanite better than cubic zirconia?
It all comes to this one question.
Our answer is “Yes, if possible”.
Despite they have similar sparkle and appearance, moissanite has superior physical properties when compared to CZ.
It brings important qualities to this comparison like hardness, durability and fire. Moissanite delivers more in these areas.
It is nearly hard as diamond.
It is more scratch resistant than CZ.
It exhibits fire putting even synthetic diamond into shame.
However, after underlining moissanite’s pros, we have to admit that price is a factor, unfortunately.
And, cubic zirconia is a more affordable option, with a lower price tag.
Thus, at the end of the day, if its price does not shake the budget, we would suggest a moissanite wedding ring.
On the other side, if there is not much room left for the ring, you can go for a cubic zirconia ring.
Related questions
1. Is moissanite the best fake diamond?
Many think moissanites are the best diamond simulants or fake diamonds.
A moissanite is hard like a diamond, with a slightly lower Mohs hardness rating.
It makes offers similar shiny looks with close scratch resistance.
And, it even outplays diamond when it comes to exhibiting fire.
On the downside, moissanite rings have higher prices than other rings with diamond substitutes like white sapphire or white topaz.
Click on the photo to check on Amazon
2. Can you tell the difference between moissanite and diamond?
Diamond testers are useful machine to distinguish between a real diamond and a substitute.
You can ask your local jewelry shop for help in this regard.
A more practical way is to compare the fire of both gemstones.
Send white light over the stones in a dark room and observe the rainbow colors forming.
If they are clearly seen, then you probably have a moissanite.
Check the video above for a comparison.
3. Does Moissanite get cloudy?
No, moissanite is a very hard and durable stone.
It follows diamond’s 10 hardness rating closely with a 9.25.
It will not get cloudy over time.
4. Does cubic zirconia get cloudy?
Cubic zirconia is not as hard as diamond or moissanite.
It can get dull and cloudy with time.
5. Should I buy a moissanite engagement ring?
If you can afford it, yes. We believe it is a better choice over a CZ ring.
Buy your high-quality moissanite gemstone engagement rings from reputable sellers like Charles & Colvard or Amazon.