Ethical Alternative to Diamonds - Zen Moissanite
When Tiana and I were first looking into rings, we came across a classic game-changer. I didn’t know there was a more affordable, more ethical, just-as-durable alternative to diamonds; but it turns out there is one. And it is called “moissanite”. Let me introduce you to what it is, and why we chose it.
Are Diamonds Ethically Sourced?
When it comes to purchasing engagement and wedding rings, it should be a simple process: find out what fits your price range and looks good, then go ahead and buy it. BUT, like a lot of things in life, there’s more to the issue. Many diamonds on the market wouldn’t be there without first being dug out of the ground by a slave of some kind. When we asked ourselves whether or not we could purchase a real diamond and also remain true to our ethics - ultimately the answer was: no.
Price Control in the Diamond Industry
Diamonds mined in the western world typically guarantee to be conflict free, but ultimately what happens is that ALL diamonds, no matter where they are mined, are price-controlled. The methods by which the global diamond supply is provided to the public is questionable at best. If you want to know more about this, Google the history of the company “De Beers” and you’ll know what I mean. At their peak, they controlled 85% of the total international diamond supply chain, from mining, to distribution, to sale. If there are too many diamonds on the market, causing the price to go down, they release less diamonds into circulation, causing the price to go up again, ultimately causing the average hard working person to lose money unnecessarily. The effects of De Beers on the market are still evident, and a leading reason why we decided to opt-out of buying real diamonds altogether.
Alternatives
Is there anything other than a diamond that I can buy for my partner to show them how special they are to me? If I can’t buy them diamonds, then what will I buy? Thankfully we live in a bright future where we can use our dollars for social good, and receive a premium product in exchange for those dollars. Alternatives to diamonds DO EXIST, and one alternative we found is particularly impressive. It’s called moissanite.
Moissanite isn’t the only alternative to real diamond, but when we considered long-term value, it was the best choice. Moissanite lasts impressively long (longer than can be reliably tested), looks enough like a diamond that only a trained professional can tell the difference, and although it is not as hard as diamond, it is hard enough that under normal circumstances will not be damaged. We figured we wouldn’t be putting it through hard use anyways (my wife takes her rings off for most physical tasks).
Gemstone Hardness
Durability really comes down to just one factor: hardness, which is measured on the Mohs scale. Diamonds are rated at a 10, and Moissanite is rated at a 9.25. For reference, this is actually harder than a sapphire, which is generally rated around a 9.
Engagement Ring Costs and Life
The large majority of engagement rings are purchased by young couples who are just starting out. It is so easy to spend too much money on rings and weddings. Many young couples go into debt to make all this happen. It only happens once right? But more often than not, that debt lasts decades and puts strain on the relationship.
We are so glad we looked for ways to not over-extend ourselves. And for Tiana’s rings, we are so happy with the choice we made. If we were to invest in the same style, clarity, cut, and size of ring, made out of diamond instead of moissanite, it would have cost 3-4x as much.
Why We Picked Zen Moissanite
Tiana had a very specific idea in mind for her engagement ring, and to be honest, I’m glad she did because I would not have been able to pick on my own. Zen Moissanite is Canadian-based, which was very important to us, and they deliver a premium product with the option for a custom design. We opted in for a custom design, which adds time and a bit of cost so they can draw up the CAD file, but it was worth it. Zen Moissanite actually ended up using Tiana’s wedding band template and released it on their site as a non-custom option titled the ’Iris.’ Head over to their website here and take a look.
