When people look at engagement rings or fine jewelry, one thing usually stands out right away is the sparkle. Some stones seem to catch light in a way that makes them shimmer intensely, even more than traditional diamonds. In many cases, that extra sparkle comes from moissanite ring, a gemstone that has gained popularity in recent years.
How Do Gemstones Sparkle?
To understand why a moissanite sparkles so much, we first need to look at how sparklers work in general. A gemstone sparkles when light hits it and bounces around inside before coming back out.
There are a few types of sparkle you might notice:
Brilliance – This is the white light that reflects off the surface and from inside the stone.
Fire – These are the rainbow-like flashes of color you see when the stone moves.
Scintillation – These are the little flashes of light and dark you see when you move the ring.
Different gemstones reflect light in different ways. Some materials let light bounce more, others slow it down or split it into colors more easily. This is where moissanite has some interesting features.
Moissanite and Light Refraction
Moissanite is made in a lab, but it’s a real gemstone with its own special characteristics. One of those is how well it bends light. Scientists use something called a refractive index to measure how much a material bends light. The higher the number, the more sparkle and brilliance the stone can produce.
Diamond has a refractive index of about 2.42
Moissanite has a higher refractive index of around 2.65 to 2.69
This means that light entering a moissanite ring gets bent and bounced around more before coming back out. As a result, moissanite reflects more light to your eyes, making the stone look extra bright.
Moissanite also has a higher dispersion rate. This is what creates the colorful flashes (fire) when you move the ring in the light:
Moissanite: about 0.104
Diamond: about 0.044
That’s more than double, which explains why moissanite often looks more fiery and colorful than a diamond ring.
Source: Capucinne.com
What This Looks Like in Real Life
What really matters for most people is how it looks when you’re actually wearing it. After all, a ring isn’t meant to sit under a microscope, it’s meant to be worn, seen, and enjoyed.
In Sunlight
When you’re outside on a sunny day, moissanite tends to give off bold, rainbow-like flashes as the light hits it. These colors are created because moissanite splits light into its different colors (this is called dispersion). So as you move your hand, you’ll often see flashes of red, green, blue, and orange bouncing off the stone.
A diamond, on the other hand, reflects more white light, giving it a more classic and controlled sparkle. It still shines, but the effect is usually a little more subtle, more of a clean shimmer than a burst of colors.
Under Indoor Lighting (Like at Work or Home)
Moissanite tends to stay bright under most indoor lighting. Even when the light isn’t very strong, it still catches and reflects it. This makes the stone look lively and shiny from different angles, especially when you move your hand.
Diamonds can also sparkle indoors, but how much they shine depends a lot on the cut and clarity of the stone. In softer lighting, diamonds may appear a bit dimmer or show fewer flashes unless the light hits them just right.
This is something people notice in everyday moments like sitting at your desk, cooking in the kitchen, or looking down at your hand in the car. A moissanite ring usually looks “lit up” more often than a diamond in those normal daily environments.
In Low or Romantic Lighting (Candlelight or Soft Evening Light)
Moissanite performs surprisingly well in dim or low lighting. Whether you’re out for a dinner date or just relaxing at home in the evening, you might notice that moissanite still catches and reflects even the smallest bit of light, giving off soft flashes and glow.
Diamonds in low lighting can sometimes appear more subtle, especially if the stone isn’t directly hit by a light source. They still sparkle, but not always as strongly unless there’s some focused light nearby (like a candle or phone flashlight).
Moissanite tends to look more noticeable and reflective, even in soft lighting.
Diamonds can look more understated, giving off occasional flashes when light hits just right.
Why People Notice the Difference
This is why many people who wear moissanite rings say they feel more eye-catching or lively. It’s not because they’re trying to draw attention, but simply because the stone reacts more to everyday light. Even in quiet moments, moissanite often stays bright and playful.
That said, some people prefer the more refined and traditional sparkle of a diamond. It really comes down to personal style. But if someone wants a gemstone that stays visibly bright throughout the day, in all kinds of lighting, a moissanite ring is often the one that stands out, sometimes more than expected.
Understanding why moissanite sparkles the way it does can help explain why so many people are drawn to it. Whether you’re comparing it to diamonds or just curious about how different stones perform, moissanite’s optical properties make it an interesting, and often surprising choice. If you’re interested in seeing how moissanite looks in different cuts and settings, capucinne.com offers a wide range of moissanite ring designs, from classic to modern styles.