Moissanite vs CZ – Hardness
Hardness is the resistance of a gemstone to being scratched or the facets being worn down.
Hardness is the resistance of a gemstone to being scratched or faceted. The Mohs hardness of CZ is 8.5, while the Mohs hardness of moissanite reaches an astonishing 9.25-9.5. Compared with CZ, moissanite is too soft, and it will lose its luster if it is often worn for months or years, while Moissanite will not be easily worn and scratched. While CZ sellers boast that CZ can scratch glass, many gemstones and jewelry are harder than glass and can easily scratch glass. So it’s not a huge feat.
Moissanite vs. CZ – Toughness
Toughness is the ability to resist chipping and fracture. Compared with CZ, moissanite is about 3 times tougher than CZ: 7.6 PSI compared to 2.4 PSI. Obviously, the toughness of Moissanite is better than that of CZ.
Therefore, considering the significantly inferior hardness and toughness of CZ, its lifetime is limited. And moissanite has a very high hardness and toughness, so it will not scratch, chip and wear like CZ, and with a little maintenance, it will last a lifetime or more.
Moissanite vs. CZ – refractive
Moissanite is known for its high refractive index. Moissanite has a refractive index of up to 2.69, while CZ has a refractive index of 2.15. The higher the refractive index of a gemstone, the more brilliance the gemstone emits. Therefore, the brilliance of Moissanite easily surpasses that of CZ.
Moissanite vs. CZ – Dispersion
The dispersion value of moissanite is also the best among many gemstones. The dispersion value of moissanite is 0.104, and the dispersion value of CZ is 0.060, so moissanite will emit more fire.
Therefore, the optical properties (refractive index and dispersion) of moissanite are significantly better than those of CZ, and moissanite will look brighter.
Moissanite vs. CZ – Reaction to Dirt
Over time, oil and dirt build up on the gemstone’s surface, giving both moissanite and CZ a cloudy, hazy appearance. This can come from household cleaners, makeup, body oils and dust, etc., causing the gemstone to tarnish and appear dull.
Moissanite is more resistant to dirt than CZ. CZ is easily overshadowed and tarnishes at a faster rate. CZ needs to be cleaned more frequently than moissanite in order to maintain its shine.
Moissanite vs. CZ – Color and Clarity
CZ is almost always created to be perfect and flawless, with an excellent clarity rating and lack of color. In fact, all cubic zirconia stones have a color grade of D, which is the highest rating given for diamond color.
Moissanite, on the other hand, is rarely completely white or totally transparent. They can contain certain greenish, grayish or yellowish tints and even some structural flaws. This is due to the complicated process involved in the production of moissanite. Like diamonds, which are never perfect, moissanites also contain internal flaws and miniscule imperfections.
Moissanite vs. CZ – Value
Both moissanite and cubic zirconia are more affordable compared to diamonds. However, Moissanite is generally much more expensive than CZ. Since CZ is cheap, there is basically no resale value, and CZ is often found in cheap jewelry.
This often surprises shoppers who tend to think of moissanite as a “fake” diamond. They want it to cost a lot less than it does now. It is important to remember that moissanite is a stone in itself and requires state-of-the-art technology, expertise and high cost to synthesize it. It is only about 10% of the price of a diamond. As you can see, moissanite saves up to 90% over diamond.
If you think about it from an investment perspective, moissanite has an advantage over CZ because moissanite has maintained its value over the past decade or so.
In Summary
While CZ is the more affordable option, we must choose moissanite as the better diamond simulant of the two due to its durability, brilliance, and value.
Nothing can replace diamond in terms of prestige and rank, but moissanite comes close. Unfortunately, CZ is always considered cheap and of little value.
When deciding between the two, create a budget and priorities. Most likely no one will know the difference. At first glance, diamonds, moissanite and cubic zirconia all look alike.