Moissanite is quickly becoming a popular alternative to diamonds for its exceptional sparkle and ethical properties but where exactly Where Do They Mine Moissanite Rings? The Hidden Facts No One Talks About?
While diamonds are found deep within the earth, moissanite has a slightly murkier backstory. I will reveal some of the untold secrets everyone hides this piece, and why this precious gemstone is a game-changer for engagement rings. If you find yourself close to looking at a moissanite ring or are simply curious about its origins, you’re in the right place.
Discover more about the comparison between moissanite and diamonds by reading our detailed guide here: Moissanite vs Diamonds: What’s the Difference?
What Is Moissanite?
Moissanite is a dazzling gemstone that has been growing in popularity especially within the engagement ring industry. What is Moissanite, and why does it continues to be a fanbleaded alternative to the classic diamonds?
Moissanite is a rare mineral that occurs naturally and is composed of silicon carbide. The first known discovery of SiC was in 1893 by the French chemist Henri Moissan investigating rock samples found in the Canyon Diablo meteorite that fell in a desert in Arizona.
He believed he had found diamonds at first, but when he looked into it more carefully, the mineral proved to be entirely different. At some time, it was christened in his namesake: moissanite.
But pure, natural moissanite is extremely rare. It is so rare that it can be found in a few meteorites or in traces of other minerals but not enough for use as gemstone. For this reason, a majority of the moissanite gemstones you see today are lab created.
Moissanite is formed under similar conditions in the laboratory as they are in nature, they created using advanced scientific methods to develop lab-grown Moissanite that looks a lot like what we can see natural moissanites work.
Which also contributes to moissanite being a completely sustainable and ethical option for jewelry, as there is no need to mine the earth for its gemstones, avoiding environmental problems that traditional diamond mining has.
Interested to know more about why moissanite is the better gemstone compared to diamonds? Read The Ultimate Moissanite vs Diamond Review Guide and we explore a comparison of these two remarkable gemstones further in this article.
Moissanite Is More Than Beautiful in Its Own Way Moissanite has very, Very highly refractive qualities, and It is also a good budget friendly diamond alternative. It possess the same glitter and glamour but at a fraction of the cost, which means that most people opt to use this as their diamond element.
Also, it is a green gemstone which has added to its popularity as more and more people are becoming environmentally aware of their purchase.
More Eco-Friendly Gemstones to Discover Another amazing alternative to diamonds is the moissanite, which we also wrote about in a blog post of Eco-Friendly Moissanite Engagement Rings, where you can read how moissanites save the environment from more mining than with traditional diamonds.
Lastly, moissanite is more durable than most other gemstones. It is not as tough as a diamond, but it scores 9.25 on the Mohs scale, which makes it almost scratch-free and perfect for everyday use.
Read Will Moissanite Get Cloudy? to learn more. Educate Yourself by Finding out the Reality, where we debunk some often encountered misconceptions regarding moissanite endurance ability.
Moissanite is something that never fails to heat up the hearts because of its affordability and preservation despite being eco-friendly. If you are looking to buy a moissanite ring, it is crucial that you comprehend its attributes.
Curious about how moissanite weds to contemporary necklace styles? Check out our guide The Anatomy of a Moissanite Ring where we explain all about moissanite ring design and structure.
Where Do They Mine Moissanite Rings?
Most of us imagine sprawling mines, tons and tons dug from the earth by heavy machinery deep into the bowels of the crust. Moissanite is one of the exceptions. But, if you are looking for the details where manufacturers mine the moissanite rings then it is a very big “Wait What?!” part of jewelry manufacturing.
Thanks to a new eco-friendly gem cutting technique, moissanite is not mined — unlike diamonds or other precious gemstones. Rather, nearly all of the moissanite gemstones you see in jewelry are created in laboratories.
The Surprising Truth About Moissanite Mining
The Insipid Of Moissanite Jewelry, There Were No Moissanite Mines Moissanite, meanwhile, is quite different as it is not found in nature like diamonds, sapphires, or emeralds. Natural moissanite does occur, but is incredibly unlikely…. More common, are small deposits that largely come from meteorites or in traces within other minerals which is usually not enough for commercial gems.
How come they do not make moissanite jewelry from natural moissanite?
- Rarity: Natural moissanite is extremely rare in occurrence. The element was first discovered by French chemist Henri Moissan in 1893 in an Arizona meteorite crater. This discovery was so astounding that scientists believed moissanite was a type of diamond for years. Yet, that turned out to be a whole different gemstone when studied further.
- Size: Moissanite occurs naturally only in small crystals. These are too small to be cut into stones that would work for jewelry.
- Inclusions: Natural moissanite is commonly found with inclusions or impurities, which would make it undesirable for use in fine jewelry.
Due to these reasons, natural moissanite for making jewelry is not practical. Hence scientists were trying to solve this scarcity and ended up developing moissanite in the labs.
Lab-Grown Moissanite: How It’s Made
To meet the growing demand for moissanite jewelry, scientists developed a method to produce moissanite in laboratories. Moissanites are more affordable alternatives to diamonds, with even higher quality than other commonly used alternatives like cubic zirconia.
Is there a method to this madness?: To keep up with the rising popularity of moissanite jewelry, scientists devised a way to create it in laboratories. This process is replicating the conditions in which natural moissanite comes to be. The result? Gorgeous, affordable, ethically made moissanite.
The Lab-Grown Process:
- Raw Ingredient: The process begins with silicon carbide (SiC), the substance that comprises moissanite.
- Heat and Pressure: The silicon carbide is put together under extremely high heat and pressure, the same type of natural forces that make gemstones deep inside the earth.
- Crystallization: Eventually, the silicon carbide crystallizes into a uniform crystal structure which can be cut and polished to be used as moissanite gemstones.
Moissanite is grown in labs and this makes it possible for moissanite to be a real, conflict-free diamond that grows essentially cost free.
Mining Moissanite vs Diamond: Environmental Impact
One of the key reasons that moissanite is considered eco-friendly is because it is not mined. By contrast, conventional diamond mining has major environmental consequences such as habitat destruction, soil and water pollution. Lab-growing moissanite, in contrast, bypasses this issue entirely.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of moissanite and diamond mining:
| Moissanite | Diamonds |
|---|---|
| Lab-grown | Mined from the earth |
| No environmental destruction | Significant environmental impact |
| No water or air pollution | Can cause water and soil contamination |
| Energy-efficient production | Requires large amounts of energy and machinery |
| No human exploitation | Potential for unethical labor practices in some mines |
| Affordable due to lab creation | Expensive due to mining and rarity |
For more insight into how moissanite differs from diamonds, read our comprehensive guide: Moissanite vs Diamonds: What’s the Difference?.
The Benefits of Choosing Lab-Grown Moissanite
When you choose moissanite for your jewelry, you are not just choosing a gem that shines bright and is built to last. This is also what we call the purchasing option which show a respect for ecology. So, let us take a gander at a couple of the different attitudes you could be better off hunting lab-grown moissanite rather.
- Sustainable: Lab created moissanite is more sustainable because no mining is required to get the gemstone. It causes no habitat destruction, no toxic contamination of the environment, and no water pollution.
- Reasonably Priced: The main reason people are initially attracted to moissanite is the cost savings. Moissanite is so much cheaper than diamonds, being a lab grown gemstone and it still gives you all the sparkle.
- Conflict-Free (Cruelty-Free): Since there is no mining, there is no potential for many of the ethical labor concerns associated with end-to-end production of moissanite. Now you can wear your moissanite ring and know it came from a lab environment that is controlled to perfect ethical conditions.
Want to learn more about taking care of your moissanite jewelry? Be sure to read our guide on How to Clean Your Engagement Ring at Home for helpful tips.
Why Lab-Grown Moissanite Is a Game Changer
Moissanite invigorates the market as a sustainable option to diamond because it is not mined but instead lab-grown in controlled environments. Although the traditional diamond mining industry has had its criticism for environmental and ethical reasons. Moissanite is the way to go when you want that diamond-like gemstone, without feeling awful about it.
But how does moissanite compare?
- No mining: Moissanite is created in a lab, so no digging up Earth and humans for what they consider beautiful.
- Moissanite costs less: Moissanite is not as expensive and it is lab-created.
- Comparable Sparkle: Moissanite is almost as brilliant as a diamond, with a refractive index that is 2.65-2.69 higher than diamonds means it will sparkle and reflect light in an equal manner.
Interested in other eco-friendly gemstones? Read more in Moonstone Engagement Rings: The Hidden Gem That Will Take Her Breath Away.
The Difference Between Moissanite and Diamonds
Many people wonder, what’s the difference between moissanite and diamonds? While the two gemstones look similar, they have some significant differences.
| Moissanite | Diamonds |
|---|---|
| Lab-grown, eco-friendly | Mined from the earth, potentially harmful |
| More affordable | Expensive |
| Higher brilliance | Slightly lower brilliance |
| Scratch-resistant, but not as hard as diamonds | Hardest naturally occurring substance |
Why Choose Moissanite for Your Engagement Ring?
The reason you can choose a moissanite ring is that an ethical luxury from start to finish. Diamonds may be beautiful but moissanite is an ethical alternative that even looks better. Seriously, for moissanite hoop earrings or the perfect ring to pop the question with, buying these sparkly stones is worth considering on sustainability issues alone.
For more eco-friendly jewelry options, check out our post Moissanite Tennis Chain: The Hidden Gem Your Jewelry Collection Needs.
Common Myths About Moissanite Mining
There are a number of myths and preconceptions about moissanite that tend to make the rounds. It is these misconceptions that can ruin the overall beauty and worth of moissanite as an alternate gemstone.
Here, we explain to you two of the most popular fallacies that relate moissanite mining or its primary facet to set off any dubiousness.
Myth 1: Moissanite was mined like Diamonds
One of the most common misconceptions is that moissanite is mined in the same fashion as a diamond or other precious gemstone. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
The Reality:
Unlike diamonds, which are mined to be retrieved and often leave large scale environmental scars, moissanite is never actually mined. Natural moissanite is so rare it hardly every occurs in large enough quantities even for jewellery use.
But the moissanite gemstones you see in rings are grown in a lab. With decades of research and constant technological advancements, moissanite can be created in a lab under controlled conditions that mimic how the gemstone is formed in nature.
Why does this matter? The lab-grown nature of moissanite is a massive part of why it makes for an environmentally-friendly alternative to diamonds. That means there is no need for mining, so the earth will not be disturbed and ecosystems will not potentially be harmed from large-scale excavation.
With all of this in mind, moissanite is one of the most environmentally friendly gemstone options currently available.
Want to learn more about the green properties of moissanite? For people who want to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly, moissanite is a great alternative to diamonds — read our guide Eco-Friendly Moissanite Engagement Rings Alternatives To Diamonds for more.
Myth 2: Moissanite Is”FAKE”
A terrific number of myths about moissanite still doit around, and maybe one of the most common is it is a counterfeit diamond. This misconception most likely happens because moissanite is often compared to diamonds as its ringer.
Moissanite, despite the word diamonds found in its full name, is not striving towards imitating a diamond—Rather creating itself as a gemstone.
The Reality:
Moissanite is not an imitation gemstone. True to its natural form with all the qualitites and properties that define it. Although moissanite and diamonds both have a beautiful brilliance, some even prefer moissanites unique sparkle.
Moissanite is even more refractive than a diamond, which means it actually reflects more light and sparkles more spiritedly in certain conditions.
In addition to being created from the second brightest and hardest material, moissanite is also scratch-resistant. It is slightly less hard than a diamond, which ranks 9.25 on Mohs scale (diamonds rank at 10), it still incredibly scratch-resistant and can easily be worn everyday
Moissanite is even more attractive because of its price tag. Moissanite is lab-created, so it costs a fraction as much as the urge to splurge you get with natural diamonds.:) As such, people can afford a bigger and more sparkly rock without totally blowing the budget.
Add to the mix its affordability, beauty and eco-friendly status, moissanite is a truly wonderful choice for engagement rings and fine jewelry.
Why These Myths Exist
These myths exist because people often associate moissanite with diamonds. It is natural to assume that moissanite, looking so much like a diamond, is only a lesser, “fake” diamond. But knowing that moissanite is an exclusively separate jewel, created through a different approach serves to disproves why belief in these myths are inaccurate.
Conclusion
So, where do they mine moissanite rings? The answer lies in the lab, not in the earth. This offers those looking for a sustainable, yet eternal and expensive-looking gemstone with nearly flawless color characteristics at an affordable price. Since it is lab-grown, a moissanite ring can be worn with peace of mind as it leaves very little ecological footprint on the environment.
Learn more about Where Do They Mine Moissanite Rings in GIA official website.
