The Darling of the Fashion World, The Diamond Alternative—Moissanite Stone.

Moissanite, hailed as a substitute for diamonds, has garnered considerable attention since its inception due to its captivating fire and striking resemblance to diamonds. However, accurately discerning its differences from diamonds and selecting high-quality products in the market is no easy task. This article explores the characteristics of moissanite, differences from diamonds, and tips on choosing top-notch moissanite, aiming to provide consumers with clear guidance and recommendations.

What is Moissanite

Moissanite, also known as Moissanite Diamond or Square Silicone Moissanite, is primarily composed of silicon carbide. Its appearance is similar to that of a diamond, and it requires at least 10x magnification to observe its inclusions for identification purposes.

In the late 19th century, French Nobel Prize laureate Dr. Henri Moissan discovered these sparkling silicon carbide fragments in the Canyon Diablo meteorite crater in Arizona, United States. Subsequently, this new gemstone was named "moissanite" internationally in honor of Dr. Moissan's contributions to moissanite technology research.

Currently, the majority of moissanite on the market is synthetic, with origins mainly from China, the United States, and Belgium. Natural moissanite is extremely rare, found only in extreme environments such as meteorites and mantle rocks, and its colors are mostly dark green or black.

Moissanite closely resembles natural diamonds in appearance and is one of the hardest gemstones in the world, second only to diamonds. Star Moissanite is a type of moissanite that requires meeting criteria such as D color, Belgian Eight Hearts and Eight Arrows cut, and FL/IF clarity grade. Only moissanite imported from Antwerp, Belgium can be called Star Moissanite.

Differences between Moissanite and Diamond

Differences in Properties: Moissanite exhibits a fire dispersion 2.5 times greater than that of diamonds. The dispersion value for diamonds is 0.044, while for moissanite, it is 0.104. By shining white light directly onto the stone, the differences between the two can be observed.
In equivalent quality, moissanite exhibits stronger fire dispersion compared to diamonds. The fire of diamonds tends towards cooler hues, mainly blue, while moissanite's fire leans towards warmer tones, primarily orange-red.

Different Constituents:

Diamonds consist of carbon (C), while moissanite consists of silicon carbide (SiC), making it impossible to differentiate between them using a diamond tester pen.

Differences in Hardness:

Diamonds have a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale, whereas moissanite's hardness is approximately 9.25. Thus, scratching moissanite with a diamond hardness tester will leave scratches on the moissanite surface but not on the diamond surface.

Different Densities:

Moissanite is lighter than diamonds, with differing specific gravities. Diamond's specific gravity is 3.52, while moissanite's is only 3.22. Using methyl iodide specific gravity fluid (specific gravity 3.32) for unmounted materials makes it easy to distinguish between the two.

Refractive Index:

Moissanite and diamond have different refractive indices and distinct reflective features. Moissanite exhibits birefringence, while diamond is singly refractive. Therefore, when observed under 10x magnification, moissanite appears to have double images, whereas diamonds appear more pure and transparent.

Cut:

Most cut moissanites have rounded edges, while diamond cuts tend to be sharper.

Polish Lines:

During diamond polishing, constant adjustments are made to the polishing direction, while moissanite can be polished along the same direction, resulting in parallel polish lines, particularly noticeable between adjacent facets.

Different Inclusions:

Under magnification, diamond inclusions are mostly cloudy or point-like, rarely needle-like, whereas moissanite inclusions are mostly columnar or platelike.

Electrical Conductivity:

Moissanite exhibits electrical conductivity, while most diamonds are good insulators. The purer the diamond, the better the insulation, with type IIa diamonds having the best insulation properties, while type IIb diamonds, containing trace elements, can conduct electricity.

By understanding these properties, one can better distinguish between diamonds and moissanite, or utilize a moissanite tester for identification. These testers operate based on the principle that diamonds do not absorb ultraviolet light and allow it to pass through, while silicon carbide strongly absorbs ultraviolet light.

How to Choose High-Quality Moissanite

Judging the quality of moissanite follows the 4C standards of diamonds, namely Carat weight, Color, Clarity, and Cut.

Carat Weight:

Measured in carats (ct), with 1 carat equal to 0.2 grams.

Color

Graded from D-Z, with D-F considered colorless, G-J nearly colorless, K-M slightly yellow, and N or lower showing noticeable yellow or light yellow color. The most valuable are D-F grades.

Clarity

Refers to the degree of inclusions (flaws) within the diamond.
Flawless (FL-IF): No inclusions visible under 10x magnification.
Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1-VVS2): Tiny inclusions visible under 10x magnification.
Very Slightly Included (VS1-VS2): Small inclusions visible under 10x magnification but not to the naked eye.
Slightly Included (SI1-SI2): Small inclusions visible under 10x magnification, not visible to the naked eye.
Included (I1-I3): Inclusions visible to the naked eye.

Cut:

The process of cutting diamond raw materials into diamond-shaped granules affects the brilliance and luster of the diamond. It is divided into five grades: Excellent (EX), Very Good (VG), Good (G), Fair (F), and Poor (P).

Currently, most moissanite on the market comes from China, the United States, and Belgium. You may wonder if there is any difference between domestically produced and imported moissanite, and which one is better?

A decade ago, I would have told you that imported ones were better, but now I would say they each have their own merits and depend on individual needs.

In 1988, the American company Charles & Colvard developed the first moissanite and obtained a patent. For over thirty years, they've been using moissanite in the jewelry industry. They've produced top-quality moissanite with excellent fire dispersion, cut, and color.

China embarked on independent moissanite research in 2013. However, during this period, the technology remained immature, leading to moissanite predominantly displaying blue-green hues, yellowing, and cloudy crystals. The quality of Chinese moissanite saw improvement in 2015 following the expiration of technical patent protection from the American CC company, enabling the technology to become public.

Presently, Chinese advancements in moissanite technology have resulted in new breakthroughs, enabling top-quality moissanite to attain a D color grade and find markets abroad. Additionally, domestically produced moissanite consistently boasts lower prices compared to its American counterparts, temporarily displacing American moissanite from the domestic market.

Consequently, certain profit-driven individuals initiated attacks on domestically produced moissanite. They alleged that its quality was inferior, asserted it was merely zirconium dioxide posing as moissanite, or claimed it was coated with a layer of moissanite film that would eventually unveil its true nature.Some even went so far as to claim that domestically produced moissanite is radioactive and carcinogenic. However, all of their claims are obviously groundless. Anyone with a bit of common sense would not believe these assertions.

Nowadays, the domestic moissanite market is becoming increasingly large, with more and more manufacturers, leading to a mixed bag of quality on the market. Moreover

, most of them are packaged with American brands, indirectly affecting the long-term development of moissanite.

However, as long as we start from the 4C parameters, we can still buy high-quality domestically produced moissanite, which is cheaper than foreign ones of equivalent quality.

In conclusion

moissanite, as a diamond substitute, is almost comparable to diamonds in beauty and brilliance. For those with limited budgets but still wanting to buy engagement rings, moissanite diamond rings are also a good choice. Yet, the moissanite market encompasses both high-quality and subpar products.Without professional knowledge, it's easy to fall into the traps set by merchants.

Therefore, Nice City Jewelry conducts repeated comparisons, selections, and tests on moissanites before delivering them to customers. We personally grade each moissanite for D color, VVS1 clarity, and Excellent cut, and we provide stones over 0.50 carats with a GIA certificate.

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Shancheng Jewelry Co, Ltd. passionately designs and crafts exquisite jewelry. Leveraging our extensive experience, we deliver top-notch rings, necklaces, earrings, and more. Our dynamic design team consistently innovates to cater to diverse customer needs.

For inquiries about our products, feel free to reach out to us anytime through the following channels:

• Whatsapp: +86 18927912670
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