Let’s face reality: the diamond and traditional fine jewelry industry doesn’t want you to buy anything else besides diamonds. And to be fair, up until a few decades ago, there was no stone on the market that came close to the brilliance and performance of a diamond. Until moissanite entered the chat. Especially in North America, moissanite has gained huge traction and popularity in the last decade. In Europe on the other hand, moissanites never really took off due to low availability, many misconceptions and different engagement ring norms. While it’s common to spend 2 monthly salaries on an engagement ring (the average person spends $5.200,-¹) in North America, in Europe it’s much less. In Germany the average amount spent is €600,-². How is it then that moissanite hasn’t gained in popularity? It’s the perfect stone, for an affordable price. Let’s go through some myths that might’ve influenced the low popularity in Europe.

Myth 1: Moissanite is a fake diamond

Many people think moissanite is a fake diamond, similar to cubic zirconia. The reality is, moissanite is a unique gemstone with its own beautiful characteristics just like other stones for example emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Moissanite was never invented to be a diamond simulant but was discovered by coincidence in a meteor crater in Arizona and later recreated in a lab. How cool is that! At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. Yes, moissanites look very similar to diamonds, especially to the untrained eye. But upon closer inspection there are differences, for example moissanites have a rainbow sparkle whereas diamonds sparkle white. Both are beautiful stones but with moissanites it’s possible to purchase a larger stone for the fraction of the price of a diamond (e.g. a 2ct moissanite ring can be purchased for under €1.000,- while a 2ct lab grown diamond ring will cost between €2.000,- to €4.000,-). 
 

Myth 2: Moissanite scratches easily and is not durable

This couldn’t be farther away from the truth. Reality is, moissanite is the second hardest gemstone we currently know. Diamond ranks as a 10 on the Mohs scale and is the hardest material in the world, whereas moissanite ranks as 9,25. In comparison, dust ranks as a 7,0-7,5 which means stones that have a hardness under 7,0-7,5 will scratch and wear down over time³. Thanks to its hardness, moissanite is the perfect stone for everyday use and wear and it will last you a lifetime, just as diamonds do.

Myth 3: Moissanite has a brown tint

When I read this in an article, I almost choked on my food. Colorless moissanites supposedly have a brown tint and are equivalent to a J-color diamond? I looked down on my moissanite engagement ring. That stone looks pretty darn colorless to me. The reality is, moissanite comes in three color ranges: colorless (D-F), near-colorless (G-H), and slightly yellow tinted (I-J). And no, the colorless (D-F) range does not have a brown tint. As a matter of fact, it has a slight blue tint because it’s so crisp, that some customers prefer the warmth of the near-colorless (G-H) range. Moissanites can however come in a variety of colors: white, grey, black, champagne, yellow, green and blue. The idea that moissanites have a brownish color is based on outdated information. Thanks to advanced manufacturing techniques, today's moissanites are colorless and offer a brilliant alternative to diamonds.

Don't be fooled by the diamond industry! Most of the sources that talk negatively about moissanites, are diamond sellers that want to protect their own sales.

Myth 4: Your ring doesn’t reflect true love if you buy moissanite

This is the lie that De Beers invented with their marketing campaign in the late 1940s by saying things like “a diamond is forever” and how the priority should be to buy a nice diamond for the woman you love. Indirectly meaning that if you don’t spend 2 months’ worth of a salary, you don’t truly love your partner. This was the biggest scam, especially once you find out that diamond prices have been inflated by De Beers. In the late 1980s, De Beers had a market share of almost 90%⁴ which enabled them to control the cost and supply of diamonds by making them appear artificially scarce and thus expensive. Diamonds are not rare and even less rare now that we can create them in a lab^5,6. True love is not determined by what stone is sitting on your ring. I personally didn’t want my boyfriend to spend so much money on my ring, I would’ve felt guilty. In my opinion, his hard-earned money was better invested in stocks. The only part of an engagement ring that truly holds its value is the gold. So, if you know your girlfriend prefers a bigger stone but your budget is limited, go for a moissanite. If she loves small stones, go for a lab diamond.

Conclusion

Moissanite is not a “fake diamond” or a low-quality stone. As a matter of fact, it’s a beautiful gemstone that can be worn for a lifetime and beyond without breaking the bank. We at Hardtwein are in love with moissanites and their rainbow sparkles, which is why you can soon purchase the most beautiful moissanite rings from us. And don’t worry, if you do prefer diamonds, we will always offer those, too.

Sources:

1: Rumsey, E. (09 January 2025), Here's The Average Engagement Ring Cost in 2025, According to Real Couples, retrieved 23 February 2025 from: https://www.theknot.com/content/how-much-to-spend-on-engagement-ring

2: Sinus (05 February 2020), Schmuck-Studie: Verlobung am Valentinstag? Nicht ohne einen Ring!, retrieved 25 February 2025 from: https://www.sinus-institut.de/media-center/presse/verlobung-am-valentingstag-nicht-ohne-meinen-ring

3: Clark, D. (15 July 2024), Gemstone Hardness and Wearability, retrieved 25 February 2025 from: https://www.gemsociety.org/article/hardness-and-wearability/

4: Australian Diamond Portfolio (unknown date), De Beers – Monopoly Broken, retrieved 25 February 2025 from: https://www.diamondportfolio.com.au/investor-centre/market-information/de-beers-monopoly-broken/

5: Blakemore, E. (21 March 2024), Are diamonds really ‘forever’?, retrieved 25 February 2025 from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/diamond-engagement-rings-history-debeers-marketing

6: Rosen, S. (23 July 2021), Are Diamonds Really Rare? Diamond Myths and Misconceptions, retrieved 25 February 2025 from: https://www.gemsociety.org/article/are-diamonds-really-rare/