If you’re shopping Sunshine Coast engagement rings and deciding between a lab-grown diamond and moissanite, you’re choosing between two brilliant, durable, and ethical lab-created gems — each with a distinct look, price profile, and story.

At Morgan & Co Jewellery Buderim, we primarily design with lab-grown and natural diamonds, as they offer timeless beauty, recognised certification, and enduring value. However, if moissanite is what your heart desires, we’re more than happy to source the highest quality moissanites to bring your dream ring to life.

The Short Answer

Choose lab-grown diamond if you want the classic diamond look, formal diamond grading (GIA/IGI), and a traditional heirloom feel.

Choose moissanite if you want the biggest, boldest sparkle for your budget and don’t mind that it’s a different gemstone (silicon carbide) rather than diamond.

What They Are (and Aren’t)

Lab-grown diamond: A real diamond — a pure carbon crystal grown using HPHT or CVD technology. Chemically and optically identical to a mined diamond.

Moissanite: A different gemstone (silicon carbide) created in a lab. Famous for its vibrant, rainbow “fire.” It’s not a diamond, but it’s durable and beautiful in its own right.

Side-by-Side: The Essentials

Plain English: lab-grown behaves like diamond because it is diamond. Moissanite is a different gem — brighter, more fiery, and more affordable.

How They Wear Day to Day

Both are durable for everyday wear. Diamonds remain the benchmark for hardness; moissanite follows closely behind. In reality, how you care for your ring and the quality of the setting matter more than microscopic differences in toughness.

Care: Warm water, mild detergent, and a soft brush. Both can generally handle ultrasonic and steam cleaning, depending on your setting.

The Aesthetic Difference (What Your Eye Sees)

Brilliance vs Fire —
Diamonds (lab-grown included) give that refined white sparkle.
Moissanite throws stronger rainbow flashes — some love the vibrance, others prefer the classic diamond glow.

Size & Presence —
Moissanite offers more size for the spend.
Lab-grown diamonds provide beautiful balance between size, value, and authenticity.

Shapes & Cuts —
Lab-grown: classic brilliance, timeless elegance.
Moissanite: vibrant fire, sometimes “extra sparkly” in larger sizes.

Budget Logic

Best diamond value: Lab-grown diamonds deliver the classic sparkle and tradition at a fraction of the mined diamond price.

Maximum size for spend: Moissanite gives you more millimetres on the hand but is a different gemstone.

Heirloom energy: Most of our clients choose lab-grown or natural diamonds for their lasting beauty, certification, and sentimental value.

Colour, Clarity & Sourcing Notes

Lab-grown diamonds: We curate bright, high-quality stones (typically D–F colour, VS–VVS clarity) for exceptional brilliance.

Moissanite: We source premium, near-colourless options for clients who specifically request them. Viewing them in natural light at our Buderim studio helps you decide if the unique moissanite sparkle is for you.

Both options avoid new mining and have transparent supply chains.

“How Big Will It Look?”

Moissanite is sold by millimetre (mm), diamonds by carat.
Approximate face-up size comparisons:

• 6.5 mm ≈ 1.00 ct diamond

• 7.5 mm ≈ 1.50 ct diamond

• 8.1 mm ≈ 2.00 ct diamond

Design Tips From Our Bench

If you love moissanite’s sparkle but want a softer look, consider step-cut shapes or smaller centres.
Prefer understated elegance? Lab-grown diamonds in oval, radiant, or round cuts offer refined brilliance.

Resale & Longevity

Neither is intended as an investment. Mined diamonds generally hold higher resale perception, followed by lab-grown, with moissanite lowest. Choose the stone that makes your heart sing — not for resale, but for forever.

Real-World Scenarios

• “I want classic diamond sparkle and grading.” → Lab-grown diamond

• “I want the biggest look for my spend.” → Moissanite

• “I prefer subtle flashes over rainbow fire.” → Lab-grown diamond

• “I want an extra-large oval that turns heads.” → Moissanite or lab-grown, depending on budget

FAQs

Is moissanite durable enough for an engagement ring?
Yes, it’s very tough (9.25 on the Mohs scale).

Will moissanite look ‘fake’ next to diamonds?
It looks different — more rainbow fire. Some adore it; others prefer the diamond’s white brilliance.

Do lab-grown diamonds test as real diamonds?
Yes. They are diamonds and pass all modern testing methods.

How Morgan & Co Buderim Can Help

We’re a by-appointment custom jeweller on the Sunshine Coast, specialising in lab-grown and natural diamond designs — with moissanite available on request.

What we offer:

• One-on-one design consultations with CAD renders.

• Side-by-side viewing of handpicked stones in natural light.

• Honest guidance around look, lifestyle, and budget.

• Australian-made craftsmanship, built for a lifetime.

We look forward to welcoming you into our Buderim studio soon.

Warmest,
Laura xo