American Diamond vs Cubic Zirconia vs Moissanite

American diamond is the Indian trade name for cubic zirconia, lab-grown zirconium dioxide, colourless, hard, and cut in the brilliant style. Zircone is our house name for the same material.

So a listing offering you an American diamond ring and one offering cubic zirconia are offering the same stone. Judge them on cut quality and setting, not on the label.

Natural zircon is a mined gemstone with its own chemistry and a slightly softer, more brittle character. It is often confused with cubic zirconia because the names look alike.

If a listing says zircon at cubic-zirconia pricing, it almost certainly means cubic zirconia.

Moissanite is silicon carbide, roughly 9.25 on the Mohs scale against cubic zirconia's 8 to 8.5, and considerably more expensive. It also throws far more rainbow fire, which some people love and others find obviously non-diamond.

For an engagement ring you intend to wear for decades, moissanite is the more durable choice. For a wardrobe of demi-fine pieces you rotate, cubic zirconia gives you five pieces for the price of one.

Cut first. A poorly cut stone at any price looks glassy. Facets should be crisp and symmetric, and the stone should sit level in the setting.

Setting second. Prongs beat glue every time, glue yellows, dries out and drops stones.

Finish third. The metal around the stone fails long before the stone does, so a sealed 18K gold finish over a nickel-free base is what determines how the piece ages.