Engagement Rings have traditionally been one of the
largest purchases a couple will make behind the house and car. Its no wonder
that young couples with a young family and household expenses have been opting
for Diamond alternatives. With Diamonds being the most sought after for
Engagement Rings, there has been a shift in recent years as couples become more
financially and socially conscious.
A recent survey of young couples in
2019 showed that approx. 18% of couples chose to purchase a Diamond
alternative. This is a jump compared to the 13% the year before in 2018. We
even have recent confirmations from the Diamond powerhouse De Beers reporting a
lull in sales in recent years. They reported a 39% decrease in sales in 2019
compared with 2018.
As the price for genuine natural Diamonds continue to
rise and for many around the world base largely on how well the dollar is doing
in the market, there has been a huge surge in sales and popularity for Lab
grown Diamonds and at an even better price point the Moissanite.
The Moissanite Ring has become
hugely popular for quite a few reasons including the price, the similarity to
Diamonds and their low environmental impact.
For a lot of
buyers price is a large factor in decision making and the Moissanite being just
a fraction of the price of their genuine Diamond counterpart, the savings can
be anywhere from 70 – 90% depending on the type of Moissanite and where buyers
can find them. Comparing
one of the most popular choice for an Engagement Ring…the Round Brilliant, we
see prices for a GIA certified G colour and SI1 Clarity in an Excellent cut
natural Diamond exceeding $8000 Australian dollars. The same in a Moissanite is
$400 - $600. With a saving of thousands its an easy choice for most who still
want the brilliance of a Diamond yet want to save money to put towards the
house or honeymoon.
Moissanites are also very
very similar to Diamonds. They share virtually the same durability with a
genuine Diamond sitting on a 10 right at the top of the Moh’s scale of hardness
while a Moissanite sits at a 9.25. When you compare Moissanites against other
coloured Gemstones like sapphires and rubies which each sit a little under at a
9. They are also very attractive when comparing scintillation and shine.
Moissanites are cut in the same way and have the same colour and clarity grades
so essentially look very very similar. With the advances in manufacturing and
cutting techniques its no wonder couples are choosing Moissanites often as a
first choice compared with Diamonds.
If the similarity and
price point isn’t enough the fact that they are 100% ethically sourced and
produced should tip most over the edge. They are lab grown and not mined, meaning
their origins can be traced so they are totally conflict free. It also means
they don’t impact the environment the same way genuine Diamonds do in the
mining process.
Its obvious
why Diamond alternatives are on the rise and in particular the Moissanite Ring.
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