Moissanite vs Lab-Grown Diamond vs Natural Diamond
Moissanite, lab-grown diamond and natural diamond can look almost identical across a room, but they are very different stones. Here is an honest guide to all three, so you can choose with confidence.
The short answer:
Moissanite is its own gemstone, created in a lab. It has more sparkle and fire than diamond, is almost as hard, and costs a fraction of the price.
Lab-grown diamond is a real diamond, chemically identical to a mined one, grown in a lab. It costs much less than natural diamond, but more than moissanite.
Natural diamond formed in the earth over billions of years and is mined. It is the most expensive of the three and the traditional choice.
Side by side
Moissanite vs lab-grown diamond vs natural diamond
| Moissanite | Lab-grown diamond | Natural diamond | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Silicon carbide crystal | Carbon crystal, chemically identical to natural diamond | Carbon crystal |
| How it is made | Grown in a lab | Grown in a lab in weeks, using high pressure and heat (HPHT) or chemical vapour deposition (CVD) | Formed deep in the earth over 1 to 3 billion years, then mined |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 9.25 | 10 | 10 |
| Brilliance (refractive index) | 2.65 to 2.69 | 2.42 | 2.42 |
| Fire (dispersion) | 0.104 | 0.044 | 0.044 |
| Look | Bright white with flashes of rainbow colour | Bright white sparkle | Bright white sparkle |
| Report | GRA | IGI with full 4Cs grades. GIA now describes lab-grown stones only as premium or standard | GIA or IGI with full 4Cs grades |
| Indicative price, 1 carat stone | Under $400 set in a finished piece | Roughly $1,100 to $1,600 for the loose stone | Roughly $6,000 or more for the loose stone |
Higher refractive index means more brilliance. Higher dispersion means more fire, the rainbow flashes you see in sunlight. Prices are indicative in AUD as at October 2026 and vary with cut, colour and clarity. Diamond prices in particular change often.
The basics
What each stone is
Moissanite
Moissanite is silicon carbide. It was discovered in 1893 by the French scientist Henri Moissan in fragments of a meteorite that landed in Arizona. Natural moissanite is far too rare for jewellery, so every moissanite today is created in a lab.
It is a genuine gemstone with its own chemistry, not an imitation, and involves no mining.
Lab-grown diamond
A lab-grown diamond is pure carbon, just like a mined diamond. It is grown over a few weeks, either under high pressure and heat (HPHT) or from carbon gas (CVD).
It looks, wears and tests the same as a natural diamond. Only specialist equipment can tell them apart.
Natural diamond
Natural diamonds formed around 150 kilometres below the earth's surface over one to three billion years, and are brought up by mining.
Their rarity and long history are what give them their price and their traditional place in engagement rings.
How they compare
The differences that matter
Sparkle
Moissanite bends light more strongly than diamond, so it has more brilliance and noticeably more fire. In sunlight and in larger stones you will see more rainbow flashes. Lab-grown and natural diamond share the same cooler white sparkle.
Durability
Diamond, lab-grown or natural, is the hardest gemstone at 10 on the Mohs scale. Moissanite is close behind at 9.25, harder than sapphire and ruby, and made for everyday wear.
Colour and clarity
Our moissanite is D colour, the highest grade, and VVS clarity, so it stays bright white and very clean. Diamonds of either kind come in a wide range of grades, and price rises steeply for the whitest, cleanest stones.
Price
For a one carat look, moissanite costs a few hundred dollars set in a finished piece. A similar lab-grown diamond costs several times that for the stone alone, and a natural diamond many times more again.
Certification
Every Prism & Pearl moissanite comes with a GRA report recording its colour, clarity and size. Lab-grown and natural diamonds are graded by labs such as IGI and GIA, and our bespoke lab-grown diamonds come with an IGI report.
Origin
Moissanite and lab-grown diamonds have a clear, traceable origin with no mining. Natural diamonds are mined, so their origin depends on the supplier and certification.
Choosing
Which one is right for you?
Choose moissanite if
You want the biggest, brightest sparkle for your budget, a stone you can wear every day without worry, and you love a little rainbow fire.
Choose lab-grown diamond if
It matters to you that the stone is a diamond, you prefer a cooler white sparkle, and you are comfortable paying more than moissanite for that. We set IGI-certified lab-grown diamonds in our bespoke pieces.
Choose natural diamond if
Rarity, tradition or heritage matter most to you, and the budget allows for the highest price of the three.
Bespoke
Designing a bespoke piece?
Any Prism & Pearl design can be made to order in solid 9K, 14K or 18K gold, or in platinum, or we can create something entirely your own. For bespoke pieces you can choose a GRA-certified moissanite or an IGI-certified lab-grown diamond. Tell us what matters most to you and we will talk you through the options before anything is made.
Questions we are asked
Moissanite and diamond FAQs
Is moissanite a fake diamond?
No. Moissanite is its own gemstone, with a different chemistry to diamond. Imitations such as glass and cubic zirconia are much softer and lose their sparkle over time. Moissanite does not. We always describe it as moissanite, never as diamond.
Is a lab-grown diamond a real diamond?
Yes. A lab-grown diamond has the same chemistry, hardness and optical properties as a mined diamond. The only difference is where it formed. It must always be described as lab-grown, laboratory-created or synthetic so buyers know what they are getting.
Which sparkles more, moissanite or diamond?
Moissanite has a higher refractive index and more than twice the dispersion of diamond, so it shows more brilliance and more rainbow fire. Lab-grown and natural diamonds sparkle the same as each other, with a cooler white sparkle.
Can people tell the difference?
At a glance, most people cannot tell moissanite, lab-grown and natural diamond apart. Up close, an experienced eye may notice moissanite's extra rainbow fire in sunlight or in larger stones. Telling lab-grown from natural diamond needs specialist laboratory equipment.
Will moissanite pass a diamond tester?
Moissanite conducts heat much like diamond, so basic thermal testers often read it as diamond. Testers that also check electrical conductivity will identify it as moissanite. Your GRA report confirms exactly what your stone is.
Does moissanite hold its value?
Moissanite holds its beauty for life. It will not cloud, fade or lose its sparkle, and at 9.25 on the Mohs scale it stands up to everyday wear. Like all fine jewellery, it is best chosen for how it looks and how you will wear it rather than as an investment, and moissanite gives you a bigger, brighter stone for your budget.
Can I wear moissanite every day?
Yes. At 9.25 on the Mohs scale it is harder than sapphire and ruby, which makes it one of the best choices for rings and tennis bracelets you wear daily. Diamond, lab-grown or natural, is harder again at 10.
Does moissanite go cloudy?
No. Moissanite will not turn cloudy or change colour over time. Like any gemstone, it can look duller when lotion or everyday grime builds up, and a gentle clean brings the sparkle straight back.
What is a GRA report?
A GRA report records the details of your moissanite, including its colour, clarity and size. Every Prism & Pearl moissanite comes with one.
See the sparkle for yourself
Every moissanite comes with its GRA report, a lifetime warranty and free AU & NZ shipping on orders over $350.
Still deciding? Read our 4Cs guide, see stone shapes or ask us anything.
