What is Moissanite?
Moissanite is a naturally occurring mineral, silicone carbide. It was discovered in 1893 by Henri Moissan in a meteor. There is a limited amount of this mineral on earth. Most of the moissanite that you see is lab created.
Moissanite can be treated like any other fine jewelry. They can be cleaned the same way your would clean other fine jewelry using a jewelry ultrasonic cleaner or commercial (non-acid based) jewelry cleaner.
Mohs Hardness Gems
Mohs Hardness rating of 9.25. The scale reads as follows, (with the hardness and) mineral given from softest to hardest:
- 1 - Talc: easily scratched by the fingernail
- 2 - Gypsum: just scratched by the fingernail
- 3 - Calcite: scratches and is scratched by a copper coin
- 4 - Fluorite: not scratched by a copper coin and does not scratch glass
- 5 - Apatite: just scratches glass and is easily scratched by a knife
- 6 - Orthoclase: easily scratches glass and is just scratched by a file
- 7 - Quartz (Amethyst, Citrine, Tiger’s Eye and Aventurine): not scratched by a file
- 8 - Topaz
- 9 - Corundum (Sapphires & Rubies)
Check it out.: Moissanite?
ABC News recently dubbed synthetic moissanite “a scientific miracle. It’s more brilliant than a diamond, it’s as hard as a diamond, and if you place it under a jeweler’s electronic diamond tester, it will pass for a diamond.”
An easy way to distinguish synthetic moissanite from diamond is to look for double refraction, or ‘doubling’. Diamond is an isotropic (singly refractive) material, so it does not exhibit ‘doubling.’ To detect doubling (i.e. single facet edges, scratches, or other objects seen as double images when looking through a doubly refractive gem) use at least 10-power magnification, such as a standard jeweler’s loupe, look in a bezel facet, and focus throughthe stone onto the gem’s pavilion facet junctions.
A quick way to determine whether a parcel of diamonds is mixed with synthetic moissanite is to use a heavy liquid, such as methylene iodide (which has a specific gravity (S.G.) of 3.32). Diamond’s S.G. is 3.52, so it sinks in this liquid, whereas synthetic moissanite, with an S.G. of 3.22 floats.
Negatives of Moissanite
Some wearers say that Moissanite can be slightly green or gray rather than colorless, especially in bright daylight. Make sure you examine a potential moissanite stone under a variety of lighting conditions, and that you know your store’s return policy.
Moissanite can be a pricey alternative. While cheaper than diamond, it is still more expensive than cubic zirconia. Also, although incorrect, some still characterize moissanite as a “fake” diamond, giving it a cheap feeling.
Properties of Moissanite
Synthetic moissanite has the following physical properties:
refractive index 2.648-2.691,
birefringence 0.043,
specific gravity 3.22
dispersion 0.104, and
hardness 9.25.
Moissanite Versus CZ
Moissanite and cubic zirconium (or CZ) are very different from each other. While they both are near-colorless and are worn in lieu of diamonds. Moissanite has unique chemical, optical and physical properties which easily identifies and separates it from CZ.
Cubic zirconium is widely synthesized by a number of companies, for use as an inexpensive diamond look-alike or simulant. Sellers of Moissanite say that it is a unique jewel, unlike any other.
Cubic zirconia (c.z.)can become hazy, and not brilliant. The hand-cut ones are a suitable diamond substitute, but still don’t have the brilliance of true diamonds. They also are less durable; c.z.’s register about a 9.0 on the Mohs hardness scale and moissanite about a 9.25, compared to 10 for a diamond.
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