Everybody wants something that’s breathtakingly beautiful, but these days its sometimes hard to justify paying the astronomical prices that are demanded. This is why increasing numbers of people are looking into alternative solutions.

Concerning rings, there is no gemstone which has the reputation for beauty and luxury like the diamond. Is it worth considering diamond alternatives then? Can other gems attain the resplendence of this time honored standard?

There are two primary gemstones which act as competition for diamonds. These are moissanite and cubic zirconia. The latter has a terrible reputation as something cheap, gaudy, and somewhat fake. CZ rings should never be chosen in place of diamonds.

Moissanite, on the other hand, provides a great solution to budgetary concerns without yielding anything in terms of beauty. In fact, many people even think that moissanite rings look better than diamond ones due to the increased brilliance.

Unfortunately, moissanite can’t be found in nature. This means that all moissanite rings use synthetically created gemstones. If this would bother you, then you should definitely not consider getting one. Many have no problem with this, though.

Moissanite rings have many fans amongst gemologists who have studied them. They apparently exhibit higher luster, fire, and brilliance compared to diamonds. This means that they’ll look as good if not better at first glance.

Where moissanite rings really shine is price. Diamond rings of similar quality can cost two or three times as much as a moissanite one easily. This may mean having to settle for a smaller stone or one of lower clarity.

No matter what you ultimately decide on, both diamond and moissanite rings share in a tradition of beauty and elegance that no honest eye can deny. For tradition and symbolism, go with diamond rings. If price is more of a concern, go with moissanite.