Cubic Zirconia vs Moissanite! Which Sparkle Wins Over Your Heart?

Cubic zirconia and moissanite have taken over the market lately, providing folks with stunning, budget-friendly stand-ins that are actually like the real thing, sometimes even better!

But here's the twist: though both look quite similar to the diamond if you look at it first, when you observe closely you’ll find that they are two completely different gemstones. 

What is Cubic Zirconia?

People were drawn to how realistic it looked compared to a diamond, without the price-tag-inducing tear. Jewelry makers picked up on it as a mass-market alternative to diamonds right away, and now you can get CZ in everything from department stores to high-end boutiques.

CZ, produced in a lab through zirconium dioxide crystals baked to astronomically high levels, is quite different from million-of-years-formed natural gemstones created under the planet.

And the result?

A stunning clear rock that keeps up with diamond's sparkle but with a few not-so-subtle differences once you know what you're seeing.

Features of Cubic Zirconia

Cubic zirconia is renowned for being nearly blemish-free.

No inclusions. No off-color hues. No natural "flaws" such as in most diamonds.

When you first glance at CZ, it will also appear even more perfect than the actual thing, good or bad depending on how you feel about it.

But since it's man-made, CZ will also carry a little bit of a different type of sparkle to diamonds.

It transmits more white light (called "brilliance") but less "fire" (those rainbow-colored bursts you see in diamonds).

In the sunlight, a CZ stone may appear slightly glassier or even slightly plastic-looking than a natural diamond.

And CZ over time can become scratched, dull, or cloudy because it is softer than diamonds or moissanite.

That's why CZ jewelry will be wonderful for daily wear but not ideal for something like an everyday wear engagement ring.

What is Moissanite?

Moissanite has the coolest history of any gemstone.

Henri Moissan, a French scientist, was digging a crater out of a meteor in Arizona in 1893 when he encountered tiny, sparkling crystals that initially he believed were diamonds.

He had actually found an entirely new mineral, silicon carbide, that effectively came from the stars.

Natural moissanite jewelry is ludicrously rare (like, virtually impossible to mine enough to use in jewelry), so by the late 20th century, scientists were experts at synthesizing it in a lab.

Nowadays, nearly every moissanite gem you see is lab-grown, which translates to predictable quality and size.

But though it may have been born in a test tube, moissanite is not a "synthetic diamond", but a gemstone in its own right, with mesmerizing properties and unearthly fire (pun completely intended).

Moissanite's most amazing attribute?

Fire.

It's got more fire than diamonds, i.e., it erupts with those red, orange, yellow, blue, and pink rainbow explosions like nobody's business.

With proper lighting, a silver moissanite can be observed to have some kind of little mini light show on your finger.

Aside from the sparkle, moissanite is also extremely resilient.

It scores 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale (diamonds get a 10), and as such can withstand scratching, chipping, and everyday wear pretty much as well as a diamond.

A neat aside? Moissanite will be a little lighter than an equivalent-shape diamond, but not significantly so that you'll notice unless you're using scales in a lab.

With color, earlier mens moissanite jewelry tended to have a pale yellow or greenish tinge, but newer iterations, particularly higher quality or "forever brilliant" grades, are virtually colorless and as similar-looking as diamonds.

How Can You Tell the Difference?

If  you hold a CZ ring in one hand and a moissanite in the other. Can you tell they're different in any way?
The answer is YES!
Perhaps, if you know where to look.

Brilliance and Fire

CZ tends to reflect mostly white light.

It's very sparkly-looking, but sometimes the sparkle is a little harsh or artificial.

Christmas lights versus candlelight, bright but not quite so rich.

Meanwhile, moissanite is a firecracker.

It reflects white and rainbow light and can appear a little "fiery" or even "disco ball-ish" when struck squarely with light.

Some folks just adore that rainbow flash; others prefer the slightly lesser degree of diamond-like glint.

In the real world?

Moissanite appears more diamond-like because its glint is just a fraction richer and deeper than CZ.

Color and Clarity

When talking of color:

CZ tends to be all-white, perhaps even too uniform.

It does occasionally take on a blue-ish tint in a particular light, which makes it a bit "unreal."

Moissanite is ever so slightly warm in terms of quality.

Higher quality, more expensive moissanite gemstones are nearly colorless, but the lower grades can have a faint yellow or gray tint.

When it comes to clarity:

CZ is basically always flawless.

Moissanite will also have microscopic inclusions like diamonds, but they are generally not easily visible to the human eye.

So if you're after that real, natural look, moissanite will win.

Hardness Scale Comparison

Here comes the science-y part:

The Mohs scale is used to measure how hard a material is in relation to how easily it scratches.

Diamonds: 10/10 (Man's hardest known substance)

Moissanite: 9.25/10 (Very, very hard, resists normal wear and tear with ease)

Cubic Zirconia: 8–8.5/10 (Still very good, but definitely less so)

Daily Wear and Tear

Imagine this:

You wear your ring to the office, to the gym, in the shower, on that weekend drive.

Moissanite has no issues doing all of that.

CZ, although very durable, will begin to show its age sooner.

You'll need to be a bit more cautious with CZ, perhaps remove it prior to cleaning, mowing the lawn, or pumping iron.

Budget-Friendly or High-End?

CZ is cheaper.

We're talking:

$20 for a plain sterling silver band.

Perhaps $100–$200 for a more elaborate setting.

If you're somebody who's constantly swapping out jewelry, or you desire nice things for special occasions but wouldn't mind if they don't last indefinitely, CZ is the total budgeting option.

You can actually spend 10 other cubic zirconia items and get the price of one single moissanite ring.

Moissanite is a "serious" investment, still brilliantly less expensive than diamonds, however.

It runs around $300–$500 for an infinitesimal moissanite gemstone.

$1,000–$3,000+ for a more expensive, larger-quality engagement ring.

It's really more of a startup expense than CZ, I'll admit. But think about it: you're getting a stone with virtually diamond toughness and lifespan.

It's one that will continue to pay for itself every time your hand glints sunlit facets.

Who Should Use Cubic Zirconia?

Cubic zirconia is for you if:

• You're searching for fashion jewelry and don't wish to break the bank and yet still have plenty of options.

• You desire an inexpensive but cute ring to bring along on trips (so you won't be upset if you misplace it!)

• You enjoy the appearance of diamonds but don't care if the piece will only last a few years.

• You're purchasing jewelry that you intend to switch out frequently or only wear occasionally.

Who Should Choose Moissanite?

Select moissanite if:

• You desire a resilient, long-lasting, diamond-esque gemstone, but not with the cost of a diamond.

• You require an engagement ring or wedding band to withstand the ups and downs of life.

• You desire a gemstone that will remain brilliant and transparent for centuries.

• You like that moissanite is indeed a gemstone unto itself, not just some "diamond simulant."

Well, what do the verdict say?

Both moissanite and cubic zirconia have their advantages, but it all comes down to what you most value yourself.

If all you need is something that looks stunning, costs less, and you don't mind replacing it in the future, cubic zirconia is your cost-friendly friend.

But if you want something that's strong, fiery, and a lifetime investment (without breaking the bank like a diamond will), moissanite is SO, SO worth the splurge.

Bottom line, what actually sparkles is what feels fabulous TO YOU.

And lucky guess? Whatever it is - CZ or moissanite - you're still going to sparkle!