Moissanite diamond is a common name for synthetic silica carbide. In terms of appearance, pure moissanite diamond is a colorless and transparent crystal. It can also be light yellow, green, blue, or even black because of different impurity types and contents.
According to Professor Wang Tongchen’s article in the “expert forum” magazine, the Moissanite has excellent basic physical properties – up to 2220c decomposition point, high thermal conductivity (10 times of refractory mud). Low thermal expansion coefficient, excellent thermal shock resistance, and high hardness. High chemical stability. Therefore, Moissanite can also be used in industry, such as improving the machine’s service life, as high-grade refractory, or as a deoxidizer, etc. Of course, its main application direction is as advanced as “imitation diamond jewelry.”
Q1. Is “Moissanite diamond” a diamond?
No
“Moissanite diamond” is a term used by some businesses to confuse consumers. Its correct business name should be “moissanite stone.” The real Moissanite diamond is a mineral discovered in the Arizona crater by the French chemist Dr. Henri Moissan, who won the Nobel Prize in the early 20th century. This new gem is named after Moissan internationally.
Note that the number of natural Moissanite is rare and can only be found in extreme environments, such as meteorites, mantle rocks, and other special places. And its color is mostly dark green, black, not suitable for making jewelry. Even you have money; you can’t afford it!!!
Moissanite is an excellent diamond substitute (imitation) in recent years. Its professional name is “synthetic carborundum” or “synthetic silicon carbide, ” divided into SiC.
Q2. How did the name “Moissanite” come from?
Moissanite was found in ancient meteorites. Fifty thousand years ago, a meteorite cut through the sky and fell into Arizona, forming a giant crater 570 feet deep and a mile in diameter. Some debris was scattered in the desert.
In 1893, Nobel Laureate French chemist Dr. Henri Moissan discovered these sparkling silicon carbide fragments in the Diablo Canyon.
In 1905, this new gem was named after Moissan internationally as an honor for Henri Moissan’s contribution to the scientific and technological research of Moissan. Mosan, a natural gem, is rare and can only be found in extreme environments, such as meteorites, mantle rocks, and even inclusions in small diamonds.
Due to the scarcity of natural Moissanite, C3 company, after three years of research, artificially cultivated a single crystal carborundum in the laboratory, brought the Moissanite to ordinary consumers.
Q3. Is there natural Moissanite on the market?
No.
Since natural Moissanite is extremely rare and has small particles, no matter its for industrial applications or as a substitute for diamonds. All Moissanite with practical value is artificially synthesized in the laboratory.
In recent years, there are many imitations of diamonds in the market. They are cut into the same shape as diamonds to conceal people’s eyes and ears, and they are often cheap. It is easy to give consumers the illusion of finding cheap.
Q4. What are the advantages of Moissanite compared with other diamond imitations?
High hardness. Diamond is the hardest material on earth. Its Mohr hardness value is 10, while the hardness value of Moissanite is 9.25, second only to diamond, higher than Ruby and sapphire. The high hardness makes the Moissanite have excellent durability. At the same time, compared with other diamond imitations, the high hardness also makes the edge line of Moissanite more straightly, sharp, and better cutting.
High refractive index, high dispersion value. Because of its higher refractive index and higher dispersion value than diamond, Moissanite can be more flashy and colorful than diamond.
Q5. What is the difference between Moissanite and diamond in appearance?
Due to different quality, the appearance of Chinese and CC moissanite is quite different. But on the whole, there are several differences between the appearance of Moissanite and diamond.
Due to the high refractive index, the same size Moissanite will be cut thinner than diamond to ensure no light leakage.
The color of Moissanite mostly corresponds to the “nearly colorless” area of GIA diamond color classification. G-J color, most of which can be seen in yellowish tone, and some can be seen in grey-green and grey tone.
Moissanite is not as transparent and clear as diamond on the whole, and some poor quality moissanite has obvious milk-white.
Moissanite stone has a very high dispersion value. It has a very strong fire color under the light. It has a large area of flash and anti-fire and is colorful. Still, it lacks the flexibility of diamond fire color.
Q6. Can Moissanite pass the “diamond detector pen” test?
Yes.
The principle of “Diamond detection pen” or “Diamond authenticity detector” on the market is that the thermal conductivity of diamond is higher than that of other gemstones and imitations. However, the thermal conductivity of Moissanite is close to that of the diamond. Therefore, the diamond test pen can not distinguish between Moissanite and diamond.
Q7. Can Moissanite be distinguished from diamonds with a 10x magnifying glass?
Sure.
It is not a difficult job to distinguish the Moissanite from the diamond at 10x magnification.
Moissanite has extremely high birefringence through the table under the magnifying glass. The diamond is homogeneous and has no ghost.
Although the hardness of Moissanite is higher than that of other diamond substitutes, it is still lower than that of diamonds. Therefore, the faceted edges of Moissanite are not as straight and sharp as diamonds.
Moissanite often contains white linear inclusions.
Q8. Is the “GRA” international Moissanite grading certificate popular in the market true?
According to the author’s verification and data collection, the so-called Moissanite classification certificates on the market are all Copycat certificates.
The so-called international certificate of moissanite diamond is issued by the manufacturer and can be bought with money. With a copy of the certificate (GRA) matching, the anti-diamond is not equivalent to the diamond GIA certificate.
Q9. How much 1 carat Moissanite?
The price of Charles&Colvard Moissanite is not cheap. It is about the US $100-$500 per carat.
China moissanite will be cheaper. The quotation of 1ct synthetic carborundum (Moissanite) loose stone is between $30-$100. The moissanite diamond sold on the market is a synthetic handicraft, which is indeed similar to diamond in appearance.
Q10. What is the relationship between Moissanite and Nepal?
Without any connection!
Nepal is poor. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. 80% of its population is engaged in agricultural production. They have no money and the ability to synthesize moissanite diamonds. Nepal does not produce natural Moissanite, nor does it have the synthetic technology of Moissanite.
Q11. The strong fire of the moissanite diamond lacks the softness and aura of the diamond.
Compared with diamond, the biggest characteristic of synthetic carborundum is its high dispersion value, making its fire stronger than diamond. Many businesses said “better than diamond fire color,” which aims to highlight that this kind of stone can completely replace or even better than diamond. Professionals who often see diamonds can distinguish diamonds from synthetic carborundum with the naked eye. Although the latter has a strong fire color, the whole fire is gorgeous but not soft. On the contrary, it has a false feeling.
Q12. What’s the difference between Moissanite and diamond?
1. Hardness:
Diamond is the hardest material known at present, Mohs hardness reaches 10, and the mode hardness of Moissanite is 9.25. With a diamond hardness pen, you can leave scratches on the surface of Moissanite. But you can’t leave scratches on the surface of the diamond. Of course, this is a destructive test, which is generally not advocated.
2. Specific gravity:
The density of diamond is 3.5-3.53g/cm? And that of moissanite is 3.18-3.22g/cm? Respectively. Using Diiodomethane specific gravity (density 3.32g/cm? You can easily distinguish the two. Diamond will sink to the bottom, and Moissanite will float on the particular gravity. Diiodomethane can be washed away without damaging gems, but Diiodomethane has certain toxicity. Non-professionals should not operate by themselves.
3. Heating method:
If the gem is heated in the oven, electric furnace, or incandescent lamp, the color of the diamond will not change, while the Moissanite will turn bright yellow. You can also put the ash beater’s flame under the gem, turn yellow into diamond, and return to its original state after annealing. After heating, The traces left on the gemstone’s surface after heating can be easily erased, with no damage to gems.
4. Color:
Silicon carbide often presents a slightly green-yellow, mostly equivalent to the I-J color of the diamond.
5. Luster:
Diamond luster, similar to diamond;
6. Fire:
The fire color of silicon carbide is stronger than that of the diamond.
7. Specific gravity:
Moissanite is lighter than diamond; that is, their specific gravity is different. The specific gravity of diamond is 3.52, while that of Moissanite is only 3.22. It is easy to distinguish the two materials with Diiodomethane (specific gravity 3.32).
8. Refractive index:
Silicon carbide 2.65, diamond 2.42, it is easy to test and distinguish with a digital refractometer.
9. Conductivity:
According to GIA’s report, 80% of Moissanite is an electrical conductor (only blue and blue-gray type IIb diamonds are conductive in natural diamonds). Common white/light yellow diamonds are non-conductive, so we can use a conductivity meter or Moissanite tester to distinguish diamonds from Moissanite.
10. Birefringence:
Moissanite has birefringence, so the double image of the edge line and the bottom tip of Moissanite can be seen by careful observation with a magnifying glass.
11. Polishing lines:
The polishing lines on the waist of Moissanite are parallel to each other, completely different from diamonds. Moreover, due to the difference of different directions, the polishing direction should be adjusted continuously in the polishing process of the diamond. At the same time, Moissanite can be polished in the same direction. It is especially obvious between adjacent facets.
12. Inclusion:
The inclusion of diamond is different from that of Moissanite. At present, there are some inclusions in all the identified Moissanite, which are arranged in needle-like parallel. In some moissanite, thin parallel lines of reflection can be seen.
13. Other methods
That most of the professional instruments can detect are recommended to go to the professional identification agency. To sum up, most of the identification methods provided above are bare stone. If it has been processed into jewelry, you need to go to a professional organization for identification to avoid damaging the jewelry.
