FIRE AND BRILLIANCE
Moissanite has created an entirely new and unique category of gemstone for jewellery……exceptionally brilliant and amazingly unique. Moissanite produces the most fire and sparkle you’ve ever seen and to give you comfort, is sold with a limited lifetime warranty assuring that its brilliance will never fade. Moissanite is not a diamond simulant, but an entirely unique gemstone with highly desirable qualities and an affordable alternative. Moissanite was first discovered in minute quantities from particles carried to earth by a meteorite 50,000 years ago.
WHAT MAKES MOISSANITE SPARKLE?
The fire, brilliance and sparkle that are so characteristic of moissanite is due to its high refractive index of 2.42. The higher the refractive index of a gemstone, the more fire it emits. Measuring moissanite’s fire of 0.104, it is more than twice that of a diamond, which measures 0.044. Simply, when comparing them side by side, moissanite emits more fire, or flashes of rainbow coloured light, than a diamond.
DISPERSION AND FIRE
As light passes through an object, the light is spread out according to its wavelengths (colour). This dispersion of light can be scientifically measured. A gemstones fire is caused by its dispersion. The exceptional sparkle of moissanite is due to moissanite’s high RI. The higher the Refractive Index of a gemstone is, the more sparkle and brilliance it will display. Moissanite has a higher RI and displays more brilliance when compared to a diamond or any other popular gemstone, such as rubies and sapphires.
WILL MOISSANITE’S BRILLIANCE EVER FADE?
No. Charles & Colvard provides a Limited Lifetime Warranty with all moissanite which guarantees that every Charles & Colvard Created Moissanite gemstone will maintain its brilliance and fire for its lifetime.
MOISSANITE VS CZ
Compared to moissanite, cubic zirconia is substantially softer. Cubic zirconia scratches and abrades easily. This is why it loses its lustre after a relatively short time. Frankly, there simply is no comparison between cubic zirconia and moissanite. Moissanite’s properties are far superior to cubic zirconia. Moissanite is one of the hardest and toughest known elements on earth, making it extremely resistant to scratching, chipping and breaking.
HOW TO IDENTIFY MOISSANITE
Moissanite will test positive as a diamond when using a thermal diamond tester, therefore a standard diamond tester cannot be used to determine if the gemstone is a moissanite or a diamond. There are five methods to distinguish moissanite from other near colourless gems.
- By using a tester specifically designed to distinguish moissanite from diamond
- Using a 10 x magnification loupe, determine if you can see the doubling of facet junctions. This is quite difficult and will require some practice.
- Examine the girdle of the stone using a jeweler’s loupe to examine the girdle of the stone. Forever One™ and Forever Brilliant® moissanite stones are laser engraved on the girdle for easy identification.
- Examine for specific refractive and gravity indices.
- Using a 10 x (or higher) magnification loupe look for needle-like or micro-pipe type inclusions that typically are perpendicular to the table facet. These inclusions are visible only under magnification.
WHAT IS MOISSANITE?
Moissanite is also known as silicon carbide (SiC) which is created in a laboratory using a patented thermal process. Only recently, following years of scientists trying to recreate moissanite, through advances in technology, Charles and Colvard developed a process where moissanite could be grown in a laboratory to produce large gem like quality crystals. Finally, these gems could be faceted into unique jewels and made available for sale.
Charles and Colvard created moissanite is truly a unique and beautiful blend of art and science.
WHERE DOES MOISSANITE COME FROM – IS IT A NATURAL STONE OR IS IT MAN MADE?
Natural moissanite does occur, but found in tiny, limited quantities or as minute particles in the earth and rare crystals. The amount of naturally occurring gem quality moissanite is so rare that there would not be enough material to create one pair of solitaire earrings.
WHERE DID THE NAME MOISSANITE COME FROM?
Discovered in 1893 by French Nobel Prize-winner, Dr. Henri Moissan, the jewel was later named in his honour.
HOW IS MOISSANITE MADE?
Charles and Colvard have patented and developed a proprietary and patented thermal growth process which is very involved, technology intense and expensive process which prevents mass production of moissanite. Charles & Colvard is the sole source and global distributor of Charles & Colvard created moissanite.
HOW I DO I KNOW THAT THE MOISSANITE I PURCHASED IS PRODUCED TO A HIGH QUALITY SPECIFICATION?
All moissanite produced and distributed by Charles and Colvard comes with a Charles & Colvard Certificate of Authenticity and a Limited Life Time warranty. This ensures that every moissanite gemstone has been manufactured in controlled facilities by highly-skilled specialists using the latest technology. Charles & Colvard moissanite gemstones are released for sale only after having met stringent quality control standards.
CAN THE COLOUR OF MOISSANITE CHANGE?
No. There are no known situations in which the colour of moissanite has been permanently changed. A temporary colour change will occur when moissanite is exposed to torch heat during jewellery repair techniques. However, with proper bench techniques, there is no resulting damage and moissanite returns to its normal colour after the gemstone cools to room temperature.
DOES MOISSANITE HAVE INCLUSIONS?
All moissanite sold have no eye visible inclusions. When using magnification, one can see characteristic needle like inclusions which are typical and inherent to crystal growth process.
HOW IS MOISSANITE CUT AND POLISHED?
All gemstones are precisely hand-cut by a master gem cutter. This allows the gem to display the beautiful fire and brilliance and creates the maximum sparkle which intensifies its ultimate fire.
IS MOISSANITE GRADED FOR QUALITY?
Each gemstone is examined individually for inclusions that may affect moissanite’s optical performance, using a 10 x magnification loupe.
WHAT COLOURS ARE AVAILABLE?
Most moissanite sold today is near-colourless.
DOES MOISSANITE SCRATCH EASILY?
No. Moissanite is extremely scratch and abrasion resistant. Moissanite is 9 ¼ on the Mohs scale and is the second hardest gemstone used in jewellery, after a diamond.
CAN MOISSANITE BREAK EASILY?
No. Moissanite is one of the toughest jewels known and is harder than all other gemstones (excluding diamond) including ruby and sapphire. Based on measurable scientific studies in high pressure research, moissanite is extremely resistant to breaking and chipping.
CAN MOISSANITE TOLERATE HIGH HEAT?
Yes. Moissanite has been tested to temperatures higher than 1000 degrees centigrade. At this temperature, moissanite remains intact and remains as brilliant as the day it was created. Moissanite’s heat resistant properties are excellent.
HOW DO I CLEAN MY MOISSANITE?
Moissanite can be cleaned the same way as you would clean your diamond and other fine jewellery. Normal ultrasonic cleaning is perfectly safe and advisable. Do not place more than one piece of jewellery in the ultrasonic cleaner as this can damage or chip any jewellery due the high frequency and vibrations. You can also clean moissanite with a commercial (non-acid based) jewellery cleaner or mild soap and water using a soft toothbrush.