Everyone’s heart skips a beat at the sight of a glittering jewel, but when you’re caught between a rock and a hard place, deciding between Moissanite and Asha Diamond, which one outshines the other? Well, hold your horses!
We’re diving deep into moissanite and asha diamonds, comparing stuff like where they come from, how they look, and what they’ll do to your wallet. If you’re thinking about these sparklers, hang around for some must-know info that’ll help you pick the best one.
What is Moissanite?
Unearthed first within the confines of an Arizona meteor crater by Dr. Henri Moissan back in 1893, Moissanite is a treasure trove, a gemstone born from silicon carbide. Given its elusive existence in nature, scientists replicated it in labs, thereby paving the way for its rise to fame in the jewelry world.
What is Asha Diamond?
Contrary to Moissanite, Asha Diamond isn’t a bona fide gem, but an impressive facsimile of diamond, birthed from a cubic zirconia heart, swaddled in a shell of the amorphous diamond. Crafted with the intention to dupe the naked eye into seeing a real diamond, one could say that Asha Diamond plays a convincing doppelgänger. After all, it’s commonly misidentified as its pricier counterpart, the authentic diamond.
Moissanite vs Asha Diamond
Despite their uncanny resemblance, Moissanite and Asha diamonds are worlds apart. Let’s delve into the nitty-gritty of their differences.
Structural and Chemical Composition
Moissanite’s DNA: Boasting silicon carbide as its primary constituent, the unique structure of Moissanite is the secret sauce to its jaw-dropping brilliance and toughness. Lab-grown Moissanite is a carbon copy of its naturally occurring counterpart.
Asha Diamond’s DNA: Asha diamonds feature a cubic zirconia core enveloped in a thin diamond layer. While this combo succeeds in mimicking an authentic look, it falls short in replicating the physical properties of natural diamonds or Moissanite.
Appearance and Sparkle
While both Moissanite and Asha diamonds are showstoppers in their own right, their radiance and aesthetic appeal aren’t identical.
Moissanite’s Firepower: Famous for its dazzling luminosity, Moissanite owes its sparkle to its double refractive property, which splits light and scatters it in a spectrum of colors, creating a stunning rainbow effect.
Asha Diamond’s Firepower: Although captivating, Asha diamonds lack Moissanite’s double refractive nature, resulting in a more subdued brilliance that’s a dead ringer for natural diamonds, but doesn’t quite go toe-to-toe with Moissanite’s spectacular light show.
Color and Clarity
Moissanite’s Palette: Moissanite dazzles in a spectrum of colors, ranging from near colorless to exhibiting a subtle yellow or green hue under specific light conditions. Its pristine clarity ups the ante of its sparkle.
Asha Diamond’s Palette: Asha diamonds edge towards colorlessness, mirroring the appearance of natural diamonds to a T. Nevertheless, their clarity may lag behind that of Moissanite, depending on the quality of the core and coating.
Strength and Durability Standoff
The ideal gemstone is as tough as nails, and Moissanite and Asha diamonds are no exception.
Moissanite’s Robustness: Scoring a solid 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale, Moissanite is the next toughest contender to diamond, making it a shoo-in for everyday wear.
Asha Diamond’s Robustness: Asha diamonds lag slightly behind Moissanite with a hardness rating of 8.5 on the Mohs scale. While they’re sturdy enough to withstand daily wear, they may need a tad more TLC to keep them scratch-free and in mint condition.
Cost and Value
The price tag is a major player when shopping for gemstones. Let’s see how Moissanite and Asha diamonds measure up.
Cost of Moissanite vs Asha Diamond
Moissanite: Despite costing an arm and a leg more than Asha diamonds, Moissanite’s price tag is a far cry from that of natural diamonds. Considering its superior attributes, many shoppers believe it offers a bang for the buck.
Asha Diamond: Asha diamonds are a steal, offering budget-conscious buyers a happy medium between cost-effectiveness and stunning beauty.
Factors Affecting the Price
Moissanite: Moissanite’s price can fluctuate based on factors like size, color, clarity, and cut. As a rule of thumb, larger stones with superior color and clarity command heftier prices.
Asha Diamond: For Asha diamonds, the size and quality of the diamond coating mainly influence the price. The thicker the coating and the larger the size, the steeper the price.
Care and Maintenance
For Moissanite and Asha diamonds to stand the test of time, follow these golden rules:
Moissanite: Give your Moissanite jewelry a warm, soapy bath and brush it gently. Stay clear of harsh chemicals that can potentially harm the stone.
Asha Diamond: Asha diamond jewelry requires more frequent cleaning to keep its sparkle alive. Regularly inspect the diamond coating for signs of wear and tear.
Making the Call: Moissanite vs Asha Diamond
In the tussle between Moissanite and Asha Diamond, the winner is purely subjective. The unique sparkle, exceptional hardness, and durability of Moissanite make it a crowd-pleaser for those hunting for a resilient and radiant stone. Conversely, Asha Diamond’s charm lies in its uncanny resemblance to natural diamonds without burning a hole in your pocket.
In a nutshell, both Moissanite and Asha Diamond offer an irresistible alternative to natural diamonds. Each boasts its unique strengths and trade-offs, allowing you to cherry-pick the one that best aligns with your personal style, budget, and ethos.
Related Reading:
Moissanite Vs Cubic Zirconia: Which One Should You Choose?
White Sapphire vs Moissanite: What’s the difference
FAQs
Is Moissanite or Asha diamond the better pick?
It all boils down to what tickles your fancy. If durability and jaw-dropping sparkle are your cup of tea, Moissanite might just be your best bet. If cost-effectiveness and diamond-like aesthetics take the cake for you, then Asha diamond might be the way to go.
Is moissanite more expensive than Asha diamond?
Yes, Moissanite generally carries a heftier price tag than Asha diamond, owing to its superior hardness and sparkle. However, it’s a more affordable choice compared to natural diamonds.
Are Asha diamonds real diamonds?
No, Asha diamonds aren’t authentic diamonds, even though they’re cloaked in a thin layer of real diamonds. The core is made of cubic zirconia.
Do Asha diamonds scratch easily?
The cubic zirconia core of Asha diamonds is softer than real diamonds or Moissanite, making it prone to scratches. However, the diamond coating provides a layer of protection.
Are Moissanite and Asha Diamond eco-friendly?
Yes, being lab-grown, both Moissanite and Asha Diamonds steer clear of the environmental impact associated with mining diamonds.