What are the downsides to moissanite?

Moissanite's dispersion is 0.104, against diamond's 0.044. In indoor lighting that gap is small enough that even gemologists need a closer look. In direct sunlight, the rainbow flash is obvious. The effect scales with size: a 0.5ct round in a settled setting reads diamond-like under most conditions; a 2ct oval throws clear rainbow flares the moment the wearer steps outside. Some people love the show, others find it draws unwanted attention or simply does not match a quieter style. Try a similar size and shape outside in the sun before committing to a large brilliant-cut oval or pear if a diamond look matters to you.

Moissanite holds almost no resale value. Pawn shops typically pay scrap for the metal and nothing for the stone, and peer-to-peer resale on the secondary market tends to return 10 to 30% of the original price. The reason is supply: a new 1ct moissanite retails for around AU$500 to AU$900 in 2026, so secondhand buyers can choose between your stone and fresh inventory at similar prices. The trade-off is direct. A 1ct moissanite sits well below a 1ct lab-grown diamond at AU$1,500 to AU$2,800 and a 1ct natural diamond at AU$7,000 plus, in exchange for weak resale.