You’ve probably known people with rings that have gone cloudy over time. Maybe you’ve even owned rings that turned cloudy in the past. If so, you may be wondering if Moissanite will do the same thing eventually.
Does Moissanite get cloudy? Moissanite will not grow ‘cloudy’ as the years pass by. It’s a very stable and durable stone. There could be a temporary impact on the look of the ring if it isn’t protected and maintained well. Fortunately, though, correction is typically a quick, simple, and inexpensive process once you notice the issue.
Below, I’ll share some important ways that you should be protecting your ring and simple methods for quickly correcting issues when you notice something developing.
Moissanite Engagement Rings Won’t Change with Age
Sometimes exposure to the sun, air, moisture, or other elements can fade, or change, the color of things. Old books and family photos sometimes yellow as they age. Clothing and upholstery can become faded through prolonged sun exposure over time. Some stones, like Rose Quartz, can also have coloring that fades over time, with exposure to the sun.
Fortunately, Moissanite ISN’T a stone that’s known to experience color change as it ages. The coloring that you love today, is the same coloring that your great-great-grandchildren will also be able to enjoy as they look at your ring—long after you’re gone.
Because Moissanite (sometimes called ‘Moissy’ for short) is such a hard stone, it’s sometimes referred to as a ‘forever stone’ or an ‘heirloom stone.’ That’s because your Moissy Engagement Ring should continue to sparkle and look beautiful for many generations—just like a diamond would. Diamond is rated at 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness (the relative hardness scale that’s used to communicate about how materials like rocks and minerals compare to each other, in terms of hardness), but Moissanite is the next hardest stone on the scale with a rating of 9.25-9.5.
Sitting near the very top end of the Mohs Scale, Moissanite is, even more, scratch resistant than Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, and all other gems and diamond simulants. Moissanite rings look so similar to diamond, that some people refer to them as Moissanite Diamond Rings—though, in reality, the two stones aren’t related chemically in any way. They’re both very hard, and look quite similar, but they’re made of very different things.
Why Some Stones Get Cloudy
Cubic Zirconia (CZ) has been mass produced for jewelry since the mid-1970s. Most of those early stones would get cloudy with time. They started to eventually take on a milky white coloring that made it obvious that the stones weren’t diamonds. Buyers hated the color change, and manufacturers scrambled to find ways to address the issue. They eventually found stabilizing agents that could be used during the manufacturing process to solve the problem.
Today, quality CZ still doesn’t cloud with age, but buyers of extremely low-quality CZ stones sometimes still complain that they have problems with clouding as months and years pass. That happens because ultra-low-cost providers cut corners on their materials in order to minimize manufacturing costs. It’s one of those instances, where you get what you pay for. The clouding problem with some poorly produced Cubic Zirconia stones is a manufacturing issue, but it’s not something that plagues all CZ stones.
Those that have owned cloudy Cubic Zirconia might be nervous that something similar might happen with a Moissanite stone too, but, again, unlike some CZ, time won’t cause a Moissanite to go cloudy, regardless of how much time has passed.
While AGE won’t make Moissanite cloudy, some oils and chemicals can. Oils and dirt can build up on the surface of stones, blocking light from entering and sometimes making them appear to be a little cloudy. When that kind of thing happens to a Moissanite stone, it isn’t a permanent condition. We’ll talk in a moment about how to fix the issue if you notice the sparkle of your ring diminishing, or it appears less clear than it had previously.
Moissanite has really high dispersion and refraction, that make it sparkle like crazy, even when the stone isn’t super clean. Because of this characteristic, it usually takes A LOT of build-up before you notice any impact. It’s one of the things that my wife LOVES about her Moissanite wedding ring—it just isn’t a very fussy or high maintenance stone!
There are lots of gems, simulants, and colored stones that look beautiful when they’re brand new, but they will look pretty beat up within just a few days if you aren’t super vigilant to guard them and keep them absolutely clean. Fortunately, Moissanite isn’t like that! It isn’t a fragile stone that you have to overly baby. That doesn’t mean that you should juggle rocks or fist bump brick walls with your ring on—let’s not tempt fate!
Even though Moissanite is extremely scratch-resistant, it isn’t scratch-PROOF. If you somehow collect a lot of scratches on the surface of your ring, something I’ve never actually seen, that can also sometimes cause a bit of a clouding effect. That’s because scratches impact the way light goes, and out of, the ring. The scratches also provide another place for natural skin oils and dirt to collect, further impacting light.
How to Prevent, or Fix, a Cloudy Haze on Your Moissanite
The solution for clearing most cloudiness that’s noticed on Moissanite is a good washing. It’s fairly quick, inexpensive, and easy to do. The total process should only take a few minutes.
Grab a small bowl of warm water. Add a little mild dish soap (like Dawn) to the water. Allow your ring to soak for a few minutes to loosen some of the buildup. Use a child’s soft-bristled toothbrush to gently scrub the stone. If you don’t have one handy, you should be able to find one at a local dollar store. Make sure to get around each of the prongs and all the way under the stone (scrubbing each exposed surface, and getting in every crevice that you can.
Thoroughly rings and dry the ring when you’re done scrubbing it. You can dab it dry with a clean towel, but it’s also helpful to use a blow dryer to ensure that all corners and crevices are fully dry too.
Another cleaning option, is an ultrasonic cleaner. You can pay a jeweler to use their ultrasonic cleaner, or you can purchase your own to use at home. A quality, home use, machine can be purchased for less than $50 if you find the right model. This is the Ultrasonic cleaner that we recommend. Buyers have raved about the time and money it saves them—and at less than $40, it’s an incredible bargain.
To keep your ring as clean and protect as possible throughout your daily routines and activities, it’s best if you remove your ring before doing any of the following:
- Cleaning your home
- Working in the yard
- Participating in physical hobbies
- Working out
- Swimming
- Hot Tubbing
- Showering (also bathing children or pets)
- Playing in the ocean
- Washing Dishes
- Washing your hands
- Using gels, mousse, or hairspray
- Applying sunscreen
- Using bug spray by hand
All of these activities elevate the chances for impact damage, build up, or loss. I’ve gotten a bunch of questions recently about the safety of wearing Moissanite in water, so I posted an article about a week ago that addresses the risks of wearing Moissanite in the pool, shower, or hot tub. It covers the ways that both your stone and setting can be affected.
While removing your ring for certain activities protects its condition, it introduces a new potential risk—the risk of losing your ring. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard stories of people that set their ring on the edge of a public bathroom sink to wash their hands, and then forgot to put it back on afterward. By the time they realized, and went back to look for it, the ring was gone. Others have had a toddler grab their ring from a nightstand and carry it off while they were in the shower. The ring sometimes gets chucked in the garbage, and is never seen again.
Because the risk of loss is both significant, and real, women tend to address the risk in one of two ways.
- They choose to always wear their ring and NEVER remove it.
- They find a system that ensures they never leave it vulnerable.
When women choose to wear their ring 24/7, and never remove it for ANYTHING (other than occasional ring cleaning and repair), they know that they might attract more dirt or damage as a result, but they would rather have that than risk the loss of their ring. Platinum is the ideal metal for your setting if you choose to almost never remove your ring. It’s extremely durable and isn’t impacted by chlorine or saltwater the way that the alloys used in gold are. You’ll pay for that durability. Platinum is a more expensive option than gold.
If you choose to do things like gardening or cleaning with your ring on, it’s still a good idea to wear gloves to help protect both your Moissy and your setting from scratches, dirt, or strong chemicals. If you have a full Moissanite wedding set, you could remove the bulkier, of the two, ring off, leaving the more flush-fitting ring (your band) to wear under the gloves. It’s certainly a lot easier to get gloves on when you were something low profile like a Moissanite Wedding Band (or an Eternity Band) than it is with a large solitaire, but the added protection that gloves offer is worth the extra hassle.
If you choose to remove your ring before engaging in the activities listed above (like washing your hands, showering, or swimming), here are several potential strategies for making sure you don’t lose your ring as a result.
- Wear a chain, or necklace, that you can hang the ring on when it’s not on your finger.
- Dedicate a small pouch, or pocket, in your purse to holding your ring while you’re not wearing it.
- Put your ring in an empty pocket of your pants (always the same pocket if possible).
- Place it on a high shelf of your bathroom, or on top of something tall (where others can’t see).
- Get a small case that you can put your ring in to protect it and make it more visible.
I found this small waterproof case on Amazon that’s a good option if you’re looking for something compact and protective to put your ring in when it’s not on your hand. At less than $7, it’s a really good option!
Wear an Inexpensive Backup Ring Instead of Your Moissy
Do you hate removing your ring, even for activities that could cause eventual damage, because you feel strange without it on, or want others to know that you’re married (at the gym for example)? You might consider picking up an attractive, but an inexpensive, alternate ring that you can wear in place of your more expensive Moissanite Engagement Ring, or Wedding Ring, on occasion.
Cubic Zirconia probably gives you the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to stone options for your alternate ring. It’s nice-looking, but inexpensive. If it gets lost or ruined at some point, you probably won’t cry your eyes out. You can buy a nice ring with a quality CZ for $100 or less. Think of it as a one-time insurance premium. If you had to take your Moissanite ring to a local jeweler for repair work, the total cost would likely come to $100 or more—so buying an inexpensive backup ring to wear during more risky activities makes good financial sense! Here’s an article I wrote on 4 key reasons for buying a CZ even though it could eventually get scratched or damaged.
These beautiful CZ rings are examples of the type of high-quality (and expensive-looking) rings that you can get for $100 or less (… with most under $60). I bought one of these CZ rings for my wife in January. She loves it, and wears it often. The ring is holding up well and still looking as beautiful as the day it first arrived.
Insure Your Ring for Added Peace of Mind
Ring insurance is something you may want to consider for your Moissanite rings as well, particularly if you choose to just leave them on constantly (rather than removing them for more risky activities). Ring insurance policies, are extremely inexpensive, and can provide real peace of mind. Make sure that you’re familiar with the exclusions (the things NOT covered) of each policy that you consider buying.
Ring insurance is something that’s unfamiliar to many, so I created an article that explains the types of policies available, what they cost, and how to obtain them. You may want to spend a few minutes with the article, learning the ropes of ring insurance, if you’ve never held one of these policies before. The article specifically discusses the process for insuring a lab-grown diamond, but the information and procedure is exactly the same for insuring a Moissanite ring.
In Summary
Moissanite is a low-fuss-stone, that resists scratching and that sparkles right through dirt and oils MUCH longer than other stones typically can. Any precautions you take in removing the ring for high-risk activities will just help to ensure that it remains beautiful for future generations. Ring insurance is an inexpensive backup plan. A frugal alternate ring that you can swap for, and wear, during high-risk activities, will provide a pretty ring as a reminder of your love, while not having to stress about potential, loss or damage—further protecting something with deep sentimental value.