What is
Moissanite?
Possessing fire, brilliance, and luster that
far surpasses even that of a diamond, Moissanite twinkles and sparkles unlike
any gemstone on earth. Composed of carbon and silicon, the Moissanite crystal
is one of the hardest and toughest known
elements on earth, making it extremely resistant to scratching, chipping and
breaking.
Moissanite, also known as silicon carbide, was first discovered in minute quantities from particles carried to earth by a meteorite 50,000 years ago. It is now available as faceted gemstones in a large array of shapes and sizes.
Unlike other brilliant stones that cloud and dull with time, Moissanite is guaranteed to never lose its optical properties. Therefore, it will be every bit as beautiful, fiery and brilliant generations from now as the day you purchase it.
Moissanite, also known as silicon carbide, was first discovered in minute quantities from particles carried to earth by a meteorite 50,000 years ago. It is now available as faceted gemstones in a large array of shapes and sizes.
Unlike other brilliant stones that cloud and dull with time, Moissanite is guaranteed to never lose its optical properties. Therefore, it will be every bit as beautiful, fiery and brilliant generations from now as the day you purchase it.
Moissanite's
characteristic sparkle is more than just a show of beauty - it's a testament to
the superior science behind the jewel, boasting more fire, brilliance and
luster than any gemstone on earth. This is not merely a sales line, but a
scientific and quantifiable fact.
Moissanite is known for its high refractive index of 2.65, which is notably higher than diamond, sapphire, CZ and other gemstones known to be very brilliant. Brilliance is the flashes of white light exiting the top and sides of a gemstone. The higher the refractive index of a gemstone, the more brilliance the jewel emits. Moissanite's superior refractive index makes Moissanite the most brilliant fine gemstone on earth.
Moissanite's fire, the flashes of colored light, is even more impressive, being more than twice that of a diamond.
Luster is the amount of light that is reflected back to the observer from the surface of the gemstone. In addition to superior fire and brilliance, Moissanite has 18% greater luster than a diamond and 50% greater luster than CZ.
Moissanite is known for its high refractive index of 2.65, which is notably higher than diamond, sapphire, CZ and other gemstones known to be very brilliant. Brilliance is the flashes of white light exiting the top and sides of a gemstone. The higher the refractive index of a gemstone, the more brilliance the jewel emits. Moissanite's superior refractive index makes Moissanite the most brilliant fine gemstone on earth.
Moissanite's fire, the flashes of colored light, is even more impressive, being more than twice that of a diamond.
Luster is the amount of light that is reflected back to the observer from the surface of the gemstone. In addition to superior fire and brilliance, Moissanite has 18% greater luster than a diamond and 50% greater luster than CZ.
Summary:
- Optical Properties: Moissanite has superior fire, brilliance and luster than diamond
- Physical Properties: Moissanite is tougher. The
hardness of Moissanite, although less, is comparable in the sense that it
is easily sufficient for daily wear and to last for generations. Moissanite is the 2nd hardest
gemstone on earth.
- Durability: Moissanite has higher heat tolerance
than diamonds making damage from heat during jewelry manufacturing and
repair very unlikely
- Clarity and Quality of Cut: diamonds vary widely whereas Moissanite has consistently high
clarity and cut
- Color: diamonds vary widely although
the most popular colors for diamond jewelry are G - J in the
- Attraction to Dirt/Oil: the pure carbon composition of diamond make it so attractive to oil and grease that it is used to seperate rock and diamonds at diamond mines. Due to the mixed carbon and silicon composition of Moissanite it has a much lower propensity to attract dirt and oil.
