Shopping for an engagement ring but can't afford an authentic diamond? Why not opt for a moissanite ring? This diamond look-alike was first discovered in 1893 by a French Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Henri Moissan. He found the mineral in a meteorite buried in a canyon in Arizona. While the findings were astonishing, the mineral was so scarce that it was not available for jewelry use.

A hundred years later, scientists uncovered a way to make moissanite. The material shared many of the same characteristics of diamonds. When ranked on the Mohs Scale of hardness, the moissanite ranked only one-half a point lower than the diamond, making it extremely durable. Diamond cutters analyzed the material and determined that moissanite could make a beautiful gemstone. Others believed it would become an inexpensive substitute for diamonds.

A moissanite ring can easily fool onlookers. To the naked eye, moissanite can sometimes look just like a diamond.

Moissanite is now becoming more popular in the use of jewelry. If you're shopping for a moissanite ring, you'll have the same options you would with a diamond. The cut of the moissanite is available in solitaire, princess, emerald, oval and any other shape imaginable. The carat weight of moissanite is measured differently than a diamond, and you'll never have to worry about a visibly imperfect stone. All moissanite stones are flawless to the naked eye. And, what's more--you'll pay a lot less for a moissanite wedding ring than you would a diamond ring.