Diamond Alternatives

kibo8 · March 2011

So I've read a lot of posts on this board about different alternatives to getting a diamond. Moissanite, asha, run of the mill CZ, etc. The thing is i've never seen any of them in person, and they all kind of seem the same to me online. To anyone who has them, or has seen them, can you weigh in on what you think of them?

The only cz jewelry I own is some Diamonique studs from QVC because I am reallllllly good at loosing earrings, so I thought they would be a better investment. They look real enough to me, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between those and my real diamond studs.

Thanks!

[Deleted User] · March 2011

I don't know a lot about diamond alternatives, but I have seen moissanite stones in person and they look just the same to me. My concern, if I were to go that route, would be how they hold up over time. I would want something that wouldn't look dull or get scratched in a couple years and need to be replaced. I don't know where to research that, but maybe some of the other girls on here who have done their research can address those concerns.

heyimbren · March 2011

Panda had a Moissanite and then got an Asha instead, because she wasn't sold on the colour of the Moissanite (I believe). Elle has a Moissanite now, and hers is beautiful.

I think diamond alternatives do tend to have a bit of a different colouring than diamonds (but that depends on the colour of the diamond too). I think they're very pretty, but I also don't see them as the same thing as diamonds. What I mean is that I like them for what they are, but not as a fake diamond.

skyler1108 · March 2011

I have a moissanite wedding set (e-ring and matching band) that I absolutely LOVE. I was lucky enough to know what moissanite looked like in person because my dad had bough my mom a pair of moissanite earrings for Christmas one year.

As I said I love me set. I have an enhanced center stone (one that went through an extra process to make it more white) in my ring. My ring is really clear but it can have a little bit of an off white color when I am sitting in my living room and it is starting to get dark outside but I haven't turned on a lamp yet. Other than that I have not noticed any color to it. It is also pretty sparkly but not too much that is looks gaudy in my opinion. I am very happy that we went with moissanite.

If I am not mistaken JC Penny's carries moissanite (or at least they did at one point). I would check out one of their stores to see if they still carry it so you can see it in person. I do not have experience with any other the other stones you mentioned so I can not way in on them.

I posted a picture of my ring below so you can see what moissanite looks like in a real picture, not on that is on a website.

kibo8 · March 2011

allusive- I agree with your concern on how they hold up over time! I've seen a lot of people say "well i've had mine for 5 years and it still looks just as good!" I plan on wearing it longer than 5 years lol.

bren- I've heard about Moissanite having a different color to it. But then again, I've heard people say theirs doesn't have a tint!

I like the idea of Moissanite or Asha or the like because I like the cleaness of diamonds. I could never wear a colored gemstone because it wouldn't match my outfit everyday. I'm sort of OCD like that.

kibo8 · March 2011

skyler- your ring is absolutely gorgeous! I will definitely have to check out JCP.

What threw me off is I was on moissaniteco.com and then ashadiamond.com and they are literally the same website, everything looks the same. I just couldn't really figure out how they were different and which is better.

heyimbren · March 2011

From what I've seen, the colouring (or lack of) seems to vary from stone to stone. Similar to the way a diamond would.

I've found most Moissanite seems to be extra sparkly in rings... and clearer? But that could just be me.

[Deleted User] · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_diamond-alternatives?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:0476c58f-dea7-4704-a92d-fe3edfa5bfe0Post:ce5ddfd7-9642-41ca-9f6d-c19132e6e1cc">Re: Diamond Alternatives</a>:
[QUOTE]allusive- I agree with your concern on how they hold up over time! I've seen a lot of people say "well i've had mine for 5 years and it still looks just as good!" I plan on wearing it longer than 5 years lol. bren- I've heard about Moissanite having a different color to it. But then again, I've heard people say theirs doesn't have a tint! I like the idea of Moissanite or Asha or the like because I like the cleaness of diamonds.I could never wear a colored gemstone because it wouldn't match my outfit everyday. I'm sort of OCD like that.
Posted by kibo8[/QUOTE]

Me too! BF got me a ring years ago that I wear almost every day. It's a really pail blue aquamarine. I had a hard time wearing it with other colors at first...but now I'm used to it. Definitely want my e-ring and wedding band to be a clear stone though!

Elle1036 · March 2011

Moissanite Club: Skyler, me, SeaTea, and Panda (alum).

Asha: Panda

Lannyte: Leia

Anybody I'm missing?

I love my moissanite. It's seriously sparkly. It puts diamonds to shame on that front. The color, though, is something you need to be prepared to deal with if you decide to go with a moissanite. I've noticed that while my stone almost always photographs perfectly white, it almost always shows just a little bit of color. Like Skyler, I have an "enhanced" stone (contact customer service at moissaniteco.com for more details) and I still see color in it almost all the time. Most other people don't, though, because they don't know to look for it.

I actaully find the hints of color to be cool and interesting. In some lighting, it has a yellowish hue, in other lighting it's greenish, and sometimes it's even bluish. It's always very faint, and hardly ever noticible if you look at the ring from the top. I have to turn it to the side a little to see it.

The point is, you need to ask yourself seriously what you want before you make a decision. If you want to get as close to the diamond look if you can without the pricetag, go for a hiqh quality CZ. If you want something unique that still has the essence of a "traditional" e-ring, the moissanite might be for you.

skyler1108 · March 2011

Allusive- moissanite is pretty much as durable as a diamond. Moissanite is about a 9.25 on the Mohs scale where a diamond is a 10.0. Moissanite is the second hardest gemstone there is. Also since moissanite is a gemstone it will not change color over time just like a diamond or sapphire wouldn't.

Pretty much moissanite will stand the test of time just as well or even better than any other gemstone will. It will not crack, chip, scratch or change colors. I am pretty hard on my ring (not on purpose and just tend to know into stuff often) and it is still as beautiful as it was the day I got it. As I said above my dad bought my mom moissanite earrings years ago and with daily wear they are still beautiful as well.

skyler1108 · March 2011

Thank you kibo8. Check out this website (< click). There is a lot of information in terms of the durability on there.

kibo8 · March 2011

allure- I think pale blue aquamarines and faint yellow gemstones (not sure the name) are just the prettiest things in the world! But I know I would never be able to wear them every day, or i'd have to train myself like you did! lol. Plus I mostly wear yellow gold, even though BF has been tryig to get me to wear more white, and colored gemstones sometimes look a little gaudy to me in a yellow setting.

elle- I really like the way you put that, that Moissanite is something unique. Definitely something to think about.

[Deleted User] · March 2011

Skyler - Thanks for the tip. I've only heard people address color with diamond alternatives. BF and I found a ring we like a little while ago - assuming we stick with that it will be a real diamond, but i'm glad you brought this up in case we decide to shop around more. Your ring really is gorgeous!!

Elle1036 · March 2011

To weigh in on the colored gemstone thing:

I have yellow sapphires in my ring, and I genuinely feel like it matches everything. That's one of the reasons I went with yellow instead of blue sapphires. I haven't felt weird about it once.

skyler1108 · March 2011

Thank you allusive. Obivously how the stone will hold up over time is a big concern when deciding what to get. I did a lot of research before I decided on moissanite because I wanted to make sure that it would last.

Beads921 · March 2011

The more I read about moissanite on here (which is pretty well weekly that it comes up), the more I love it.

That's all, I really have nothing of value to add to this thread, since I know jack squat about any type of gemstone.

SeaTea02 · March 2011

I can see a little green in my moissanite when it is cloudy out, that is about it. It is also enhanced though.

And even diamonds can chip. My mom's 1 ct. did after having it for 30 years. I know that isn't the norm but it can still happen. Insurance is the only real way to protect your self from that.

PandaBurr · March 2011

Elle said everything perfectly. Not really much I need to add, having owned both. I guess I'll just AW pictures.

Round- Natural Diamond; Loose- Asha F color; Mounted- Enhanced 7.5mm moissy

Three stone- Natural diamond; Bottom loose- I/J Asha Antique cushion; Top loose- Same 7.5 enhanced moissy; Mounted- Same F color Asha modern cushion

Left- Same 7.5 enhanced cushion moissy; Right- Same I/J Asha Antique cushion (chipped so I had to return it. It was my most favorite stone EVER. SOOOO diamond-like. Amazingly beautiful. They finally doing another batch, but it won't be available until April-ish)

Mounted- Same 7mm F Asha; Left- Same 7.5 enhanced moissy; Right- Same 8mm I/J Asha antique cushion

And then my ring now, which I lurvvvveeee. The e-ring is a 7mm old European cut Asha, I think H/I color. I can't remember. Definitely not the same as the I/J antique cushion. The wedding band is all diamonds from a ring my mom gave me.

Although, in terms of durability, I have noticed some very very slight scuffing on my current ring (about 6 months old). I think it has to do with the cut though (the table sits higher than other cuts). My cushion is 2 years old, and has no wear on it at all. So... I really dunno, haha. But, the way I see it, my stone was only like $200, and it would take me 32-33 times to replace it to reach the equivalent cost of a diamond. And I REALLY don't think I'm going to need to replace it all that often, if at all. As for the moissy, it got chipped when I took it to a jeweler to switch out the stones. Didn't notice until after the fact, so there was nothing I could do about it at that point, but I don't think that really means anything in terms of durability, more than it means that jeweler was a shithead. I think the thing that people tend to forget is that diamonds are not indestructible either. That round pendant is probably about.. 10 years old? And has the same scuffing pattern on it as my ring now, except worse. Luckily none of it is noticeable, unless you know where to look for it. I guess my point is, you gotta take care of your jewelry no matter what it's made of. Something I learned the hard way, haha.

motoLyn · March 2011

Dang Panda you be blinging! All of them gorgeous of course.

PandaBurr · March 2011

Sigh, sadly I only have the cushion mounting left (it's a necklace now), the three stone, and my current ring set. The pendant I gave back to my mom to get it fixed (it was VERY loose in the setting), and was never seen again. The I/J Asha had to be returned because they sent it to me chipped (WTF.) and there weren't anymore in stock. And the moissy I sold because it wasn't being appreciated. It's somewhere in England now, being loved by someone else. Le sigh. I can't convince FI to let me expand my collection haha. I'm totally obsessed with sims.

leia1979 · March 2011

Woo Panda bling!

So, as Elle said, I have a Lannyte. It's cheaper and not quite as hard as Moissanite. Of the samples I saw in store, it was more clear than Moissanite, and it's singly vs doubly refractive. I've had it just shy of six months, and it's held up fine so far. It also has a warranty, so if it chips or cracks, the Lannyte company will replace it.

Call some local jewelers--it may not be obvious if they carry diamond simulants. You just have to ask.

Elle1036 · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_diamond-alternatives?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:0476c58f-dea7-4704-a92d-fe3edfa5bfe0Post:36c7b9c1-d0ce-4b25-b17a-52d1349e5c5e">Re: Diamond Alternatives</a>:
[QUOTE] As for the moissy, it got chipped when I took it to a jeweler to switch out the stones. Didn't notice until after the fact, so there was nothing I could do about it at that point, but I don't think that really means anything in terms of durability, more than it means that jeweler was a shithead. I think the thing that people tend to forget is that diamonds are not indestructible either.
Posted by PandaBurr[/QUOTE]

...except try to sell it a poor, unsuspecting soul just trying to save a couple bucks...

PandaBurr · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_diamond-alternatives?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:0476c58f-dea7-4704-a92d-fe3edfa5bfe0Post:658b7433-4535-48a6-bdd6-eb27062e12ea">Re: Diamond Alternatives</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Diamond Alternatives : ...except try to sell it a poor, unsuspecting soul just trying to save a couple bucks...
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]

Haha, if it weren't for you I probably never would've even noticed the chip! I ended up selling it for I think $500. I can't remember. I just remember taking a huge hit on it. I should've kept it and sent it to Joe to turn it pink instead. Ah well.

jeanacorina · March 2011

Panda, you're such a bling hoar.

But I really like your side-by-side comparisons. And, I still love the moissanite. I kind of like the little bit of color, and love the sparkle.

Elle1036 · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_diamond-alternatives?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:0476c58f-dea7-4704-a92d-fe3edfa5bfe0Post:c4438156-56de-4d71-8de1-a5e3665b90d0">Re: Diamond Alternatives</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Diamond Alternatives : Haha, if it weren't for you I probably never would've even noticed the chip! I ended up selling it for I think $500. I can't remember. I just remember taking a huge hit on it. I should've kept it and sent it to Joe to turn it pink instead. Ah well.
Posted by PandaBurr[/QUOTE]

I really want moissaniteco to make a batch of blue moissys again. I want one. I want I want I want! I would have used one for my e-ring if it was available. Apparently they weren't very popular, though. :-(

[Deleted User] · March 2011

My e-ring is a ruby with white sapphires surrounding the center stone and my wedding band is Dimonart, which from what I understand is just like CZ only a little better? Doesn't really matter to us - they're both sparkly and I get compliments on them all the time.

trebmal · March 2011

Ok, I am a little late to the game, and I am SURE this has been asked a million times, but searching isn't working so hot for me right now, but can anyone provide links to some of the sites that offer the moissys (new favorite knot word btw)?
I am a long way off from needing one, but I am all about saving money and have issues with the whole conflict diamond scenario.
Thanks ladies.

Elle1036 · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_diamond-alternatives?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:0476c58f-dea7-4704-a92d-fe3edfa5bfe0Post:ab1474e0-d76c-43a6-b10c-bace2ceab61f">Re: Diamond Alternatives</a>:
[QUOTE]Ok, I am a little late to the game, and I am SURE this has been asked a million times, but searching isn't working so hot for me right now, but can anyone provide links to some of the sites that offer the moissys (new favorite knot word btw)? I am a long way off from needing one, but I am all about saving money and have issues with the whole conflict diamond scenario. Thanks ladies.
Posted by trebmal[/QUOTE]

The biggest retailer is <a href="http://www.moissaniteco.com." rel="nofollow">www.moissaniteco.com.</a> If you do a live chat with their customer service team, they'll tell you how to purchase an "enhanced" stone, which I recommend.

skyler1108 · March 2011

Elle I want a blue one too. I really want them in a pair of earrings. I keep checking back and get sad when I see that they are still not available.

Elle1036 · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_diamond-alternatives?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:0476c58f-dea7-4704-a92d-fe3edfa5bfe0Post:56c4809c-5f41-420b-af14-8ab211435c4f">Re: Diamond Alternatives</a>:
[QUOTE]Elle I want a blue one too. I really want them in a pair of earrings. I keep checking back and get sad when I see that they are still not available.
Posted by skyler1108[/QUOTE]

Ohhh earrings would be fantastic! I am earring-hoar.

Yeah, one of the owners (either Mike C or his wife) posted in the betterthandiamond forums that they're not even sure if they're going to make any blue ones again. This gives me the sads.

For a while, someone had a blue moissanite ring for sale on diamondbistro. I would have snatched it up, but it was a marquise cut.

ETA: This is the ring I saw. Ah, that color. *drools*
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ftkM5zkDEQ" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ftkM5zkDEQ</a>

trebmal · March 2011

Thanks....

Diamond Alternatives

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