Moissanite FAQs
Is Moissanite a Real Gem?
Yes. Moissanite is a beautiful, naturally occurring mineral called silicon carbide. It was first discovered in 1893 in a meteor crater in Arizona. As it is exceptionally rare in nature the only way to supply gems to the jewellery market is to recreate it in a lab setting. Moissanite made in a lab has identical properties to its natural counterpart. Just because the moissanite on the market has been made in a lab does not make it fake.
Is Moissanite a Fake Diamond?
Definitely not. A fake diamond is something that looks similar to a diamond, isn’t a diamond, but is being sold as one anyway for financial gain. Moissanite is sold and marketed as moissanite. It shares many qualities with a diamond, but crucially has its own advantages (extra sparkle, ethical provenance etc) which means that there is no need to pretend it is a diamond.
Do Moissanite Rings Look Fake?
No. They have more sparkle than a diamond, but not so much that they look fake. Moissanite’s greater sparkle is actually one of its most attractive qualities.
Fire refers to a gemstone’s ability to split white light into the rainbow colours of the spectrum: moissanite’s dispersion rate is twice that of a diamond, which means that it produces far more of the eye-catching colourful sparkles that give a stone life.
Brilliance refers to the amount of white light reflected back through a gemstone. Moissanite’s refractive index is slightly higher than a diamond which means that it has slightly more brightness.
Add moissanite’s superior fire and brilliance together and you have a spectacular looking stone that is incredibly vibrant and vivid, but not at all fake looking.
Is Moissanite the Same as Cubic Zirconia?
No. Moissanite is made of silicon carbide, while cubic zirconia is made of zirconium dioxide. An exceptionally cheap, man-made stone, cubic zirconia entered the jewellery market in the 1970s. It looked so similar to a diamond that it was soon used to dupe unsuspecting customers into thinking that they had bought a diamond. In recent years cubic zirconia has gotten a rebrand as CZ and is often sold as itself as a cheap diamond alternative on fashion jewellery sites.
Is Moissanite Better than Cubic Zirconia?
Absolutely! At first glance they may appear pretty similar: both give you the wonderful clear sparkle of a diamond. However, while moissanite will retain its same brilliance, colour and clarity for a lifetime (and beyond!) cubic zirconia starts to lose its sparkle after just a few years. Cubic zirconia gets irreversibly cloudy over time as it is a porous stone that absorbs oils from the skin and chemicals and dirt from exposure to everyday life. Cubic zirconia is also less scratch resistant than moissanite and its sharp edges have a tendency to become rounded and dull over time. Put simply: a moissanite engagement ring is a forever ring, a cubic zirconia ring is temporary.
How is Moissanite Graded?
Moissanite is graded according to the same scale as a diamond: colour, clarity, cut and carat. Unlike diamonds, however, moissanite is sized by mm instead of carats. This is because moissanite weighs around 15% less than a diamond, which means that a 1 carat diamond is actually bigger than a 1 carat moissanite.
Is a 1 Carat Diamond the Same Size as a 1 Carat Moissanite?
No. Carat weight does not measure the size of a stone, rather its weight. Different gems have different densities which is why two different gemstones of identicial size can in fact have different carat weights. Since moissanite is 15% lighter than a diamond a 1 carat moissanite is smaller than a 1 carat diamond.
This means that where a round 1 carat diamond would have a diameter of 6.5mm, a 6.5mm moissanite only has a carat weight of 0.88. To avoid confusion in a market used to a correlation between diamond carat weight and size, moissanite is sold by mm size and its diamond equivalent weight.
Is Moissanite Good Value?
Absolutely! If you compare a moissanite and diamond of similar colour, clarity, cut and carat weight you will find that the moissanite could be up to 90% cheaper than the diamond.
MOISSANITE CARE
How Do I Clean Moissanite?
Easily! Moissanite doesn’t require any special cleaning tools or chemicals. All you need to do is let your ring soak for a few minutes in lukewarm soapy water. Gently brush it with a soft toothbrush until all the dirt has been removed. Rinse, then dry and buff with a lint-free cloth. For extra sparkle consider taking your ring to a jewellery store for an ultrasonic cleaning.
Can I Shower with a Moissanite Ring?
Yes. As moissanite is a non-porous stone any soaps or chemicals that it comes into contact with in the shower will not damage it. Over time these may build up and cause your ring to look slightly dull. A simple cleaning will clear this up and have it looking as good as new in no time.
Can I Reset My Moissanite Gemstone?
Yes. As moissanite is an extremely durable gemstone it is highly unlikely to be damaged during any work done by an experienced jeweller.
Can I Resize My Moissanite Ring?
Yes. Moissanite’s high heat tolerance means that it can withstand the heat required to repair most jewellery without being damaged.
Does Moissanite Change Colour Over Time?
No. Moissanite is an extremely stable gemstone. It is resistant to household chemicals and extreme changes in temperature so its colour will not change over the years.
Does Moissanite Lose its Sparkle?
No. Take a little care of your moissanite and it will look as good as the day you bought it for many years to come. It is a non-porous gemstone which means that any dirt or grime that accumulates on the surface stays there and will not enter the stone. If your moissanite starts to look cloudy all you need to do is give it a gentle clean and it will regain its sparkle in no time!
Can Moissanite Be Scratched?
The Mohs hardness scale is used to measure the relative ability of one mineral to scratch another. Moissanite rates a 9.25, second only to diamonds at 10. This means that the only thing that can scratch a moissanite is a diamond or another moissanite. In addition moissanite is actually less likely than a diamond to chip or break. It is still important to take good care of your ring though, as no gemstone is completely indestructible.