1.0 Moissanite History
Moissanite, named after Dr. Henry Moissanite, its chemical name is synthetic silicon carbide. The appearance of moissanite is similar to diamond, and it is often used as a substitute for diamond. It is also a gemstone whose physical properties are closest to those of natural diamonds.
Moissanite was originally developed and researched by European and American companies with an investment of 45 million US dollars. It was a patented product launched in June 1998, and its patent protection expired in 2016.
Moissanite is being produced all over the world. Its chemical composition is SiC, which is nearly colorless, with a refractive index of 2.56-2.69, a dispersion of 0.104, a birefringence of 0.043, a hardness of 9.25, and a density of 3.22 grams per cubic centimeter.
Although moissanites look similar to diamonds at first glance, they’re totally different stones – diamonds are made from carbon, while moissanites are made of pure silicon carbide, a very rare, natural mineral.
Moissanites are super durable, will last a lifetime and are even more gleaming than diamonds! The two stones are slightly different in colour, which can be noticed when placed side by side. You’ll also notice that a moissanite produces more colourful flashes of light than a diamond does and is ranked higher on the refractive index.
2.0 Moissanite Factors
Moissanite itself is colorless. Due to its high refractive index, its fire color will produce different fire effects in different environments with the intensity of light. It has rich fire colors and appears in dimly lit environments. Moissanite diamonds have the best D color and FL clarity.
2.1.1. Growth environment: Diamond is a carbon mineral that naturally grows underground, and its yield is low. Moissanite is a combination of two minerals, carbon and silicon, which have high risks and low yields during the cultivation process.
2.1.2. Fire: The expensiveness of diamonds comes from its unique and attractive fire, with a dispersion index (fire) of 0.044. The charm of Moissanite is that its color index (fire) is higher than that of diamonds as high as 0.104. The sparkle of fire presented in the environment is higher than that of diamonds.
2.1.3. Hardness: Diamond is the hardest gemstone in nature, with a Mohs hardness of 10. Moissanite is second to diamond, with a Mohs hardness of 9.25.
Detection method: use diiodomethane (density 3.32 g/cm3) liquid test, the moissanite floats up and the diamond sinks. Inclusions can also be observed with a magnifying glass and the fire method can be used for auxiliary identification.
3.0 Attributes
Synthetic Moissanite, also known as synthetic moissanite, has a dispersion of 0.104 larger than diamond (0.044), a refractive index of 2.65-2.69 (diamond 2.42), and has the same diamond luster as diamond. The "fire" is stronger and closer to a diamond than any imitation ever made.
Color: Colorless, blue, green, yellow-green, yellow Crystal system Hexagonal system
Hardness: 9.25
Transparency: Transparent to opaque
Density: 3.218 - 3.22g/cm³
The color determines the yellow-white degree of the moissanite. Moissanite color is divided into 11 grades, in order: D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N. The closer it is to the D color, the more transparent the moissanite is, the G-H color is almost invisible to the naked eye, and the J color is more yellow.
4.0 Flawless Moissanite
Moissanite is a hexagonal crystal system, which can be crystallized to 2-3 inches of columnar crystals. Some materials can achieve IF (Internally Flawless) grade (internally Flawless). Most of the synthetic silicon carbide has fine white line-like inclusions composed of white spots, and the detection is mostly micro-defect level VS or defect level SI. The direction of its inclusions is roughly perpendicular to the tabletop, not completely parallel to each other (with a difference of a few degrees); very few have dark metallic spheres.
The internal structure, value and appearance of Moissanite diamonds are surprisingly similar to diamonds. Even if they are detected with a diamond pen, they will be judged as diamonds, which are difficult to distinguish. But Moissanite can shine brighter than diamonds, with more amazing fire, and the price is only 1/10 of diamonds.
The fire of Moissanite diamonds is so beautiful because of the physical, chemical and optical properties of the crystal. This synthetic gemstone has a very high refractive index of 2.65-2.69 (2.42 for diamonds), a dispersion index of 0.104 (0.044 for diamonds) and a luster of 20.4 (17.2% for diamonds).
At the same time, Moissanite has a Mohs hardness of 9.25, which is only lower than that of diamonds (10), higher than that of other gemstones.
4.1 Hardness
Of all gemstones similar to diamonds, moissanite is the closest in hardness. On the Mohs scale, Moissanite has a hardness of 9.5, making it the second hardest gemstone in the world. This means Moissanite is tough and durable; it won't scratch or crack easily, even with everyday use. If you want to buy an engagement ring that will stand the test of time.
Moissanite engagement rings will not crack or scratch and are your best option. It can be worn every day like a diamond without worrying about scratching, tarnishing or breaking. Robustness is the first characteristic of any engagement ring that your partner wear for a long time to come. Feel free to browse through the different gemstone engagement rings to make sure you choose the right one.
4.2 Flawless Precise Cut
One of the standout features that really sets a Moissanite engagement ring apart is its flawless cut. Moissanite rings will shine in any setting. Precise, sharp, and balanced cuts make moissanite rings a piece of jewelry that can elevate any wedding proposal. Flawless means that a typical moissanite ring has no scratches, blemishes or inclusions, even when viewed at high magnification.
When a gemstone is flawless, it has a greater sparkle than normal. Moissanite rings are perfect for any occasion or event. Whatever your personal style, go ahead and order moissanite engagement rings online as it blends beautifully with any outfit.
4.3 Variety of colors
Moissanite rings come in a variety of colors for you to choose. The best by far is usually colorless moissanite. Other color options include green, grey and yellow moissanite rings. The colorless variant is the most popular and will look great for a long time to come.
If you want to get an engagement ring in a different color, colored moissanite engagement rings are beautiful and perfect for what you need. Other colored gemstone options include ruby, emerald, sapphire, topaz, amethyst, aquamarine and opal.
4.4 Carat Size
Moissanite rings are sold by size. The larger the size, the higher the carat counts, and the smaller the size, the lower the carat counts. Unlike diamonds, the carat size of a moissanite ring does not depend on weight.
4.5 Incredible Clarity
Moissanite is lab-made, which means it's man-made. Hence, it is expected to have blemishes in its makeup. There are bound to be mistakes in the creative process, which is completely to be expected. However, the famous moissanite ring maker only releases perfect stones with flawless clarity to the public. Lab-made moissanite takes about 60-90 days to be made from pure silicon carbide.
Naturally occurring moissanite is made from meteorites. Interestingly, both types of moissanite are very rare. Moissanite has incredible clarity and brilliance that rivals diamonds in this regard. Fortunately, it costs far less than a diamond.
4.6 Dispersion and Brilliance
Moissanite gemstones set in engagement rings have a very high dispersing power. This means that Moissanite emits as much light as a diamond; in fact, it is taller than a diamond. Dispersion is the ability of a gemstone to reflect and refract light. Moissanite has a highly dispersed flame, which means your Moissanite ring will sparkle for a long time to come.
5.0 Ethically Acceptable and Environmentally Sustainable
Moissanite is either lab-created or extracted from meteorites, which means they are extremely rare. Moissanite is morally associated with any negative associations with conflict or suffering like diamonds. In addition to this, moissanite gemstones do not affect the environment during mining like other gemstones.
6.0 Affordable and Budget-friendly
When you buy a moissanite ring online, you can save a lot of money compared to buying a diamond ring. If you want to save money and not spend too much on an engagement ring, a moissanite ring is the beautiful ring you want.
With a bit of Planderful searching, jewelry shoppers can find many stores that sell amazing moissanite rings online at very affordable prices. Usually, any moissanite ring you buy comes with the brand logo and looks as beautiful as any diamond. Interestingly, no one can tell whether it's actually a diamond or not, at least to the naked eye.
7.0 Who Made the Best Moissanite in the World
As the world's most brilliant gem®, Forever One™ moissanite outshines all the rest. As unique as you are, Forever One embodies beauty and elegance in its own way. This incredible white gemstone is full of fire and perfect for those who want the highest quality responsibly sourced gemstones at an accessible price.
Planderful sells amazing flawless stones available in various shapes and sizes, from a classic 0.50ct (6.0 x 4.5mm), right up to a whopping 5.00ct (12 x 10.0mm)!
