Is moissanite as good as a diamond?
However, moissanite doesn’t fall far behind. “Moissanite is the second hardest to diamonds on the Mohs hardness scale,” O’Connell says. “Based on rankings from one to 10, diamonds are a 10 and moissanite is a 9.25-9.5.”
Is moissanite as sparkle as a diamond?
While moissanites do create sparkle, it is not as clear and vibrant as those of a diamond. Interestingly, moissanites have a higher refractive index — a measure of the speed at which light travels through the material — than diamonds. The refractive index of moissanite is 2.65, versus 2.42 for diamonds.
Can you tell the difference between moissanite and diamond?
The most effective way to tell Moissanite apart from a diamond is to use a loupe to look through the top, or the crown, of the jewel at an angle. You will see two slightly blurred lines that indicates a double refraction, an inherent quality of Moissanite. Double refraction is easier to see in some shapes than others.
Why is moissanite not so popular?
It isn’t because Moissanite is a newly discovered gem, but Moissanite simply couldn’t become popular until recent years, due to its extreme rarity, they do not occur naturally on Earth and can only be found in meteorites (more on that below).
What is moissanite?
Moissanite is the name given to a naturally occurring and laboratory-grown mineral made up of silicon carbide. Its occurrence in nature is extremely rare and has only been found in upper mantle rock and meteorites. Discoveries have shown moissanite occurs naturally as inclusions in diamonds, xenoliths, kimberlite, and lamproite.
How hard is moissanite on the Mohs scale?
On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness moissanite is rated as 9.25, with diamond being 10 (by definition). In contrast to diamond, moissanite exhibits a thermochromism, such that heating it gradually will cause it to temporarily change color, starting at around 65 °C (150 °F).
What is the rainbow effect on moissanite?
Moissanites have what is known as the ‘rainbow effect’ which is a fiery and colorful flash of color when the stone is viewed under light, especially natural light. This is due to moissanites very high Refractive Index (2.65). While this is often not very visible in smaller stones, large moissanites can exhibit a strong rainbow effect.