Engagement Rings
Moissanite vs Diamond: Why Choose ATERNA® Gen 4
A clear comparison of origin, brilliance, durability and cost.
Moissanite vs Diamond
Choosing the Stone You'll Love
Choosing a gemstone for an engagement ring, wedding band or fine jewellery often comes down to moissanite or diamond. Each has its own character, and the right choice depends on your style, your budget and the look you love. Here's a clear comparison, and why ATERNA® Gen 4, our diamond grade moissanite, is a beautiful choice for exceptional brilliance and value.
9.50Mohs hardness
D/EColourless grade
VVS1Clarity
IdealCut
Moissanite
Silicon carbide
A gemstone known for its brilliance and affordability, first discovered by Henri Moissan in 1893 in a meteor crater in Arizona. Natural moissanite is extremely rare, so the gems in jewellery are created in laboratories under controlled conditions.
It has a higher refractive index than diamond, which gives it a lively sparkle and fire, and it ranks high on the Mohs scale, so it's suited to everyday wear.
Diamond
Pure carbon
Mined diamonds form deep within the earth under immense pressure and heat. They're pure carbon arranged in a crystal lattice, rated 10 on the Mohs scale, the hardest known natural substance.
Moissanite is not a diamond. The two differ in composition, optical properties and origin, but both are beautiful in fine jewellery.
ATERNA® Gen 4
Diamond grade moissanite
Quorri's exclusive moissanite, made from an enhanced, reformulated blend of silicon carbide and carbon. At 9.50 it's second only to diamond on the Mohs scale.
Each stone is D/E colour, VVS1 clarity and ideal cut, with a laser inscribed serial number. Discover ATERNA® Gen 4.
Key Factors
How Moissanite and Diamond Compare
Four things matter most when you're choosing: where it comes from, how it sparkles, how well it lasts and what it costs.
Origin and Composition
- Diamond: natural gemstones formed deep within the earth, made of carbon atoms in a crystal lattice.
- Moissanite: first found in meteorites, now created in the laboratory. It's made of silicon carbide and has optical properties similar to diamond.
Brilliance and Sparkle
- Diamond: celebrated for brilliance, fire and sparkle, and a play of colour that has long symbolized love.
- Moissanite: exceptional brilliance and fire, often described as more colourful than diamond's. Its higher refractive index gives a rainbow-like sparkle some call a disco ball effect.
Durability and Hardness
- Diamond: 10 on the Mohs scale. It resists scratching, chipping and everyday wear.
- Moissanite: 9.25 on the Mohs scale, very durable and suited to everyday wear, though slightly less scratch resistant than diamond. ATERNA® Gen 4 rates 9.50.
Cost and Affordability
- Diamond: associated with luxury, and priced by carat weight, cut, colour and clarity.
- Moissanite: priced significantly lower than a diamond of comparable size and quality. See our affordable engagement rings.
Side by Side
ATERNA® Gen 4 vs Moissanite vs Diamond
A quick look at how the three compare.
| Feature | ATERNA® Gen 4 | Standard Moissanite | Mined Diamond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition | Silicon carbide and carbon blend | Silicon carbide | Pure carbon |
| Mohs hardness | 9.50 | 9.25 | 10 |
| Colour | D/E colourless | Varies | Varies by grade |
| Clarity | VVS1 | Varies | Varies by grade |
| Cut | Ideal cut | Varies | Varies by grade |
| Refractive index | 2.65 to 2.69 | 2.65 to 2.69 | 2.42 |
| Colour under high heat | Engineered to stay colourless | Can yellow in some stones | Stable |
| Diamond tester | Can test positive on some testers | Usually detected | Positive |
| Origin | Laboratory | Laboratory | Mined from the earth |
| Conflict free | Yes | Yes | Varies by source |
| Price | Substantially lower | Lower | Highest |
Swipe sideways to see every column on a small screen.
The ATERNA® Difference
Why Choose ATERNA® Gen 4 Over Standard Moissanite?
ATERNA® Gen 4 and moissanite are both lab created forms of silicon carbide, but ATERNA® Gen 4 is made with a proprietary process that refines crystal structure, colour stability and light performance.
Harder9.50 on the Mohs scale, higher than the 9.25 of standard moissanite, for even greater scratch resistance.
Colour stableControlled growth conditions produce D/E colourless stones. Some standard moissanite can yellow under high heat, while ATERNA® Gen 4 is engineered to stay colourless.
Precision cutEach stone is faceted to ideal-cut proportions, with precise symmetry and angle balance to maximize fire and brilliance in any light.
Both start from the same base material, yet ATERNA® Gen 4's exclusive formulation and cutting standards deliver a consistently pure, durable gemstone for anyone who loves outstanding sparkle.
Which Is Right for You
Moissanite or Diamond?
There's no wrong answer, only the one that fits your story. Here's a simple way to decide.
Choose ATERNA® Gen 4
- You love fire and a lively sparkle
- You'd like a larger stone for your budget
- You want a diamond grade look at a substantially lower price
Choose a Lab Diamond
- You want a real diamond with a 10 Mohs hardness
- You'd like an IGI grading report
- You want a lab grown diamond priced below a mined stone. Explore our PURE® lab diamonds
Choose a Mined Diamond
- You value a natural stone formed in the earth
- Rarity matters most to you
- You're comfortable at the highest price point
Still deciding? Our full stone comparison guide puts PURE® lab diamonds, LUXE® Gen 3 and ATERNA® Gen 4 side by side, and our stone upgrade policy lets you move up whenever you're ready.
Choose ATERNA® Gen 4 for its brilliance, durability and value.
Responsibly Crafted
Conflict Free and Kind to the Planet
Our stones are created in a controlled laboratory, with no mining and no connection to conflict zones. We believe beautiful jewellery should be kind to the planet and the people on it.
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No. Moissanite is made of silicon carbide, while diamond is pure carbon. They have different optical properties, with moissanite having a higher refractive index, but both are used in fine jewellery and moissanite is a popular, durable alternative.
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Moissanite has a higher refractive index than diamond, so it often shows more fire, with a colourful, rainbow-like sparkle. Diamond is known for its classic brilliance. Which you prefer comes down to personal taste.
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Both are lab created silicon carbide, but ATERNA® Gen 4 is a proprietary reformulation. It rates 9.50 on the Mohs scale compared with 9.25 for standard moissanite, is graded D/E colourless, and is engineered to stay colourless under high heat. Every stone is cut to ideal proportions.
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Diamond rates 10 on the Mohs scale and standard moissanite rates 9.25, so both are suited to everyday wear. ATERNA® Gen 4 rates 9.50, second only to diamond.
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Yes. Moissanite is typically priced significantly lower than a diamond of comparable size and quality, which lets you choose a larger stone within your budget. See our affordable engagement rings.
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Yes. Moissanite is durable, brilliant and suited to everyday wear. ATERNA® Gen 4 rates 9.50 on the Mohs scale, is D/E colourless and is cut to ideal proportions, handset in solid gold or platinum. Browse our engagement rings.
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A lab grown diamond is a real diamond, made of pure carbon and rated 10 on the Mohs scale. Moissanite is made of silicon carbide and has a different optical character, with more fire. Both are created in a laboratory. Explore our PURE® lab grown diamonds.
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Because of its high carbon content, ATERNA® Gen 4 can test positive on some standard diamond testers, and it passes the fog and transparency tests. Advanced multi-testers designed to detect moissanite can tell it apart from diamond.
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Yes. Our stone upgrade policy lets you move up to a larger ATERNA® Gen 4 or a PURE® lab diamond as your story grows.
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Yes. Moissanite and ATERNA® Gen 4 stones are created in a controlled laboratory, with no mining and no connection to conflict zones.
Moissanite vs Diamond Questions
