Source:

www.Moissanite.Com

Searching for the best diamond alternatives? You're not alone! Diamonds are no longer a girl’s real best friend… Many brides and women alike are no longer demanding their fine jewelry or engagement rings feature diamonds, but instead are demanding something better. As awareness has spread about the environmental and social impacts of the diamond trade - and acceptance has grown for diamond alternatives over recent years - jewelry featuring precious gems and lab-created gems has become much more mainstream.

If you’re looking for something more than just a "diamond alternative", meet your new best friend forever – Moissanite. Better looking, better pricing, better than diamonds. Moissanite, a rare naturally occurring mineral, has become a popular choice for engagement rings and fine jewelry. We don’t like to refer to Moissanite as a diamond alternative, but rather the premium choice for colorless gems. I

Why you should ditch the diamonds:

1. A more beautiful gemstone

The Lauren!  Available at www.portcityjewelers.com

MORE FIRE: Moissanite has 2.4 times the fire of diamond.

What does that mean? It means that when you look at your moissanite gemstone, you will see more than twice the amount of rainbow sparkle you thought you loved about other white gems. Moissanite beats other diamond alternatives, and diamonds themselves.

“One look at moissanite, and you’re sold. I’ve never seen a diamond sparkle anywhere near as much, even in top quality stones. I will never choose anything else.” – Michael B.

MORE BRILLIANCE: Moissanite has more brilliance than diamond, or any other gem in the world.

Moissanite is a double refractive stone, whereas diamond has only a single refraction. When a beam of light enters moissanite it is split in two, producing twice as much light as it exits. Because of this property more light exits moissanite, making it visually whiter and brighter than diamond. Charles & Colvard Created Moissanite® has a unique cut (different from that of diamond). Our signature cut is especially designed to maximize the brilliance of a moissanite’s double refractive body.

MORE DURABILITY: Lasting durability meant for a lifetime of beauty.

We think some veer away from diamond alternatives with the thought they won’t last a lifetime. Although diamond is the world’s hardest gem - news flash! Moissanite ranks on GIA’s scale of hardness at a 9.25. Moissanite is extremely resistant to chipping, scratching, and breaking, just like diamond (which ranks at a 10). Other white gems like sapphire or diamond alternatives like cubic zirconia are not as strong. Sapphire and Ruby ranks at 9, and Emeralds only fall at 7.5, making them less desirable for everyday wear and tear. Match the durability of moissanite with its superior optical properties, which begs the question, why choose diamond?

2. More money in your wallet

While the diamond industry keeps demand high by releasing “limited” quantities at a time to maintain the illusion of scarcity, what you pay for is not actually what you get. With moissanite, you don’t have to settle for a lesser quality stone in order to stay within budget. The beauty of lab-created gemstones is that they all come out top quality, with no visible imperfections, and no heavy markups. At a fraction of the cost of diamond, moissanite is the best in luxury at prices that can fit everyone’s budget. Let’s compare:

Price of Diamond vs. Moissanite

1.00ct Moissanite :Ranges from $299.00 - $599.00 on www.portcityjewelers.com depending on the level of Moissanite you choose.

1.00ct Diamond (D-E-F Color Range): $6,000-$13,000* depending upon quality of stone *figures based on average price comparison from randomly selected online diamond distributors and retailers.

Moissanite comes in a variety of color grades, including Forever Classic™ (J-K), Forever Brilliant® (G-H-I), and Forever One™ (D-E-F) all at modest prices everyone can afford. No more are the days of settling for a small, or a dingy or cloudy diamond when you can get a better look for far less.

3. More Conscious

No More Intense Environmental Damage

With moissanite you never have to worry about the environmental impacts of mining. Unless you are in the market for a lab-created diamond, all natural diamonds have been mined. Mining practices cause intense environmental damage —devastating landscapes, water supplies, and wildlife during diamond extraction. The negative affects of diamond mining impact areas for decades, even long after a mine is no longer in use. Despite best efforts, regulations surrounding the diamond trade remain weak and still struggle to protect the environment adequately, often failing at long-term monitoring and new research, with very little accountability.

No More Human Rights Violations

Many organizations, like Human Rights Watch, are dedicated to protecting human rights within the diamond industry and putting an end to “blood diamonds”. Unfortunately, weak regulations behind the diamond trade still allow for many atrocious human rights violations to slip through the cracks. Laws vary across countries causing international diamond trading regulations to become obscure and hard to uphold.

Murder, torture, enslavement, and child labor continues to take place as part of diamond mining in many foreign countries. Many countries rely heavily on diamond mining for the support of their governments, but the economic benefits are often outweighed by violence and death tolls in the millions by the funding of wars, corrupt governments, and rebel groups.

Moissanite is one of very few "diamond alternatives" that has remain untouched by the atrocities of human rights violations. With moissanite, you never have to worry about where your gemstone came from, and no mining is involved. Although moissanite is a naturally occurring mineral, it is so rare on earth that it is impossible to mine. All of our beautiful eco-friendly gems are made right here in a modern facility in Raleigh, North Carolina!

One of our most senior staff hard at work inspecting stones after final processing!

What do other people think about moissanite versus diamonds?

“I knew almost nothing about diamonds, so I decided I better learn at least something before investing thousands in a ring. What I found completely shifted my focus away from diamonds and towards a stone with much greater appeal due to its beauty, value and most especially its provenance. If you do not know the origins of moissanite, you owe it to yourself to read the Charles & Colvard brief chronicle of this gem.” – Douglas B.

“Every piece of Moissanite jewelry I have bought is absolutely amazing and I will never go back to diamonds again.” - Ileana W.

“I am so very pleased with my studs. I do have nice diamonds and was not sure how I would react to moissanite. I just love the fire and depth I thought I could only achieve with diamonds. I am thinking about buying a setting for my 2 ct. diamond ring, as I now am sure they would match. I get many compliments.” – Linda S.

“Stunning. And no blood on our hands.” – Patrick K.

“Love, love, love my new moissanite. I compared it to an $8,000 1 carat in a fine jewelry store and we could not tell the difference to the naked eye.” – Bonnie D.

Tell us what you think about Moissanite!