With its very similar appearance, some will call Moissanite a ‘fake diamond’.
Although this is untrue and Moissanite is its own, unique stone, the question still remains:
How can you actually tell the difference?
How To Tell Moissanite From Diamonds
The two stones may look identical to the untrained eye, but there are subtle differences that can allow us to tell them apart.
For example, Moissanite is usually more brilliant than a diamond due to its higher refractive index.
Moissanite gemstones exhibit a double refraction property, which means that when light hits the surface of a Moissanite stone at a certain angle, it will split into two rays and refract.
Diamond, on the other hand, has single refraction.
The result of this is an unmatched sparkle.
Moissanite has a higher dispersion of light than diamond, meaning it reflects light in a more colourful display.
This can create a "disco ball" effect as the light reflects out of the stone in rainbow flashes.
These indistinct differences lessen when comparing larger stones because more light and colour is dispersed.
Regardless, distinguishing between Moissanite and Diamond still proves to be a challenge even for experienced jewelers, let alone friends and family.
Diamond Testing
The aforementioned distinction alone is not enough to definitively identify a Moissanite stone.
To check for authenticity, you may need additional testing using specialized gemological equipment that can detect heat and other features associated with diamonds.
Introducing the Diamond Tester.
A Diamond tester is a small and portable device that is used to test the heat conductivity of gemstones.
This type of testing is essential for distinguishing diamonds from other types of gemstones or fake Diamonds, since diamonds are widely known as exceptional conductors of heat.
Can Moissanite Pass A Tester?
Yes! Moissanite can pass as a Diamond when a typical diamond tester is used because Moissanite also conducts heat just like Diamonds do.
For this reason, a more advanced tester is necessary to avoid these false positives.
The most reliable testers are able to test the thermal conductivity AND electrical conductivity of diamonds and Moissanite.
So, How Can You Test Moissanite?
To find out the truth about your gemstone, you’ll need another kind of tester.
Since Moissanite is slightly electrically conductive, specialised Moissanite testers were developed.
Seeing that diamonds are not electrically conductive, this method is able to accurately distinguish between a Moissanite and Diamond.
If you’re looking for a way to test your gemstone, you’ll need a more advanced Diamond tester.
A slightly electrically conductive stone like Moissanite will register differently on this specialised tool than a Diamond will, as Diamonds do not conduct electricity at all.
This will ultimately reveal the type of gemstone at hand.