Moissanite Knowledge & History

What is Moissanite?

Moissanite or simply NEO is a lab-grown, exceedingly hard crystalline compound made up of silicon and carbon. NEO will test like a diamond with a diamond tester, it has a shelf life of 50,000 years, and it absolutely can be handed down from generation to generation. In addition, NEO has exceptional durability and a tiny carbon footprint. The NEO is Ethically Sourced, Super Environmentally Conscientious, and one of Earth’s rarest crystalline mineral substances.

How is Moissanite made?

Through a thermal growing process that consists of an equal number of cubic and hexagonal bonds with a stacking sequences of ABCB. The process is complex and expensive, therefore restricting mass production

Where did the name Moissanite come from?

Discovered in 1893 by French Nobel Prize-winner, Dr. Henri Moissan, the combined non earthly mineral compound of silicon and carbon was later named in his honor.

How do you ensure the quality of your Moissanite?

The gemstones are produced within precise specifications and the highest quality control standards. The Certificate of Authenticity ensures that every gemstone is an original product that has been made in controlled facilities by highly skilled professionals using the newest technology. Every single gemstone is only released for sale after having met rigorous quality control standards.

How do you ensure the product and quality in the production of Moissanite?

Moissanite gemstones are produced within exacting specifications and high quality control standards. The Certificate of Authenticity ensures that every gemstone is an original product which has been manufactured in controlled facilities by highly skilled specialists using the latest technology. Moissanite created gemstones are released for sale only after having met stringent quality control standards.

Where can I learn about Moissanite?

You can read and learn about moissanite here. 

What characteristics of Moissanite give it such exceptional brilliance… OR Sparkle?

The Refractive Index (RI) of a gemstone is the most important optical property affecting its potential brilliance (sparkle). With an RI of 2.65 – 2.70, moissanite displays more brilliance than diamond (RI 2.42) or any other popular gemstone, such as ruby (RI 1.77) and sapphire (RI 1.77). (See Chart below):

Description	Refractive Index	Dispersion	Luster	Hardness (Mohs Scale)	Toughness
Moissanite	2.70	0.104	20.4%	9.25-9.50	Excellent
Diamond	2.42	0.044	17.2	10	Excellent *
Ruby	1.77	0.018	7.7%	9	Excellent **
Sapphire	1.77	0.018	7.7%	9	Excellent **
Emerald	1.58	0.014	5.1%	7.5	Good to Poor
* In cleavage direction, toughness is “good”	** Except twinned stones

Will moissanite’s brilliance ever fade?

NO! More than that, A few brands, like; NEO and C&C come with a form of Limited Lifetime Warranty which guarantees that every gemstone will preserve its brilliance and sparkle for its lifetime. Which means, Anything you buy from this site will come with a certificate of authenticity and limited lifetime warranty that will enable you to replace your gemstone at a minimal cost per carat IF the gemstone ever faded. For your lifetime, Guaranteed.!

Clarity

Does moissanite have any identifying characteristics such as inclusions?

Inclusions are visible in poor quality moissanite from Asia and India. If the prices are too good to be true, you will end up with an extremely poor product. The products on this site are the best of the best in the world. All moissanite sold on this site have a VVS or Internally Flawless clarity. Poor quality moissanite will have eye-visible inclusions, needle-like inclusions, burn and water spots on the surface of the stone and some are also faceted on the wrong axes creating a kaleidoscope effect, trapping light which creates internal dark spots in the gemstone.

How is moissanite graded for clarity?

Moissanite is graded exactly the same way diamonds are graded, by using the Gemological Institute of Americas standards for  certifying top grade diamonds. Each individual jewel is examined for inclusions that may affect gem’s optical performance using a 10x loupe

Color

Is moissanite available in different colors?

Yes. like diamonds, Moissanite is available in D, EF colorless and GH near colorless color grades. There are 2 colors, Green & Faint to Medium Blue that are naturally colored during the growth process. Both are hard to source without a special order.  All other colors; Like, Pink, Yellow, Orange & Purple are made by a process called ION INDUCTION. This process does not ensure that the color is permanent and there fore we do not offer these colors.

Is moissanite graded on the GIA diamond color grading scale?

The Moissanite NEO does grade on the GIA color grading scale.

Can the color of moissanite change?

No. There are no likely situations in which the color of moissanite will be permanently changed. A temporary color change will occur when moissanite is exposed to heat (torch) during jewelry repair techniques. However, with proper bench techniques, there is no resulting damage and moissanite returns to its normal color after the jewel cools to room temperature.

Are moissanite jewels hand-cut or mass produced?

Moissanite gemstones are precisely hand-cut by a master gem cutter to create maximum brilliance which intensifies its ultimate fire.

What shapes are available?

While round brilliant continues to be the most popular cut for moissanite, fancy cuts such as castle, cushion, heart, marquise, octagon, oval, pear, princess, radiant, square brilliant, triangle and trillion are also available in limited quantities.

Fire (Dispersion)

What gives moissanite its fire?

A gemstone’s “fire” is caused by dispersion – the property by which light is spread out according to its wavelengths (colors) as it passes through an object. Moissanite’s dispersion is 0.104 and can be calculated scientifically.

How does moissanite’s fire compare with that of other popular gemstones?

Moissanite displays 2.4 times more dispersion or fire than diamond (0.044) and much more dispersion than ruby (0.018), sapphire (0.018) and emerald (0.014).

Will a moissanite jewel ever lose its fire?

Moissanite comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty which guarantees that every Moissanite will maintain its fire and brilliance for its lifetime.

Hardness (Resistance to Scratching)

Is moissanite resistant to scratching?

Yes. Moissanite is durable and tough. It is extremely resistant to scratching and abrasion. Diamond is the hardest gemstone used in jewelry but moissanite, with a hardness of 9.25, is harder than all other gemstones including ruby and sapphire.

Toughness (Resistance to Breaking)

Can moissanite break easily?

No. Based on measurable scientific studies in high pressure research, moissanite is extremely resistant to breaking and chipping. In fact, moissanite is one of the toughest jewels known to man and can stand the test of time.

Is moissanite heat tolerant?

Yes. Moissanite has heat resistance properties superior to many other jewels. Tests prove that at 2000¢ªF, higher than the equivalent intensity of a house fire, moissanite remains intact and as brilliant as the day it was created. High heat tolerance makes moissanite less likely to experience heat damage during jewelry repair.

Identifying Moissanite

How can moissanite be distinguished from other colorless jewels?

There are) methods for distinguishing moissanite:

• Determine if doubling of facet junctions is visible through magnification.
• Unique needle-like or micropipe type inclusions that typical are perpendicular to the table facet are visible only under magnification in a percentage of moissanite.
• Specific gravity and refractive index are important attributes in gemstone identification useful for a gemologist with appropriate equipment to identify moissanite.

Is it true that created moissanite can test positive as diamond using conventional testing equipment?

Yes. Near-colorless created moissanite has many similar physical properties to those of diamond and will test positive for diamond when using a thermal diamond tester.

Sales & Customer Service

Why is moissanite sold by millimeter and not by carat weight?

Moissanite is listed in millimeters because it is easier for a jeweler to order moissanite in millimeters to be able to determine the size needed for mounting. Also used is diamond equivalent weight (dew). This is the method by which most retailers are used to selling and consumers are used to buying.

Carat is the traditional measuring unit of a diamond’s weight. Moissanite stones are slightly lighter than diamonds. For example, a 6.5mm round diamond would weigh 1.0 ct, while a 6.5mm round moissanite would weigh 0.88 ct. The two stones would be the same size – 6.5mm in diameter. All stones on Moissanite.com are listed with their actual size in mm and/or the diamond equivalent in carats.

Does moissanite retain its value over time?

Because of its rarity, unmatched beauty, and patent protection, Moissanite is expected to retain or increase in value over time.

Jewelry Repair & Care

How do you clean moissanite?

You can clean moissanite the same way you would diamond or any other fine gemstone. As with any fine jewelry item, you would not want to dump all of your jewelry into an ultrasonic cleaner at once to guard against possible chipping, but your moissanite jewel is perfectly safe under normal ultrasonic cleaning. You can also clean moissanite with a commercial (non-acid based) jewelry cleaner or mild soap and water using a soft toothbrush.

How does moissanite hold up in repairs and sizing?

Moissanite is a highly stable material. It is durable and tough, extremely resistant to scratching, abrasion, breaking, or chipping. In addition, high heat tolerance makes moissanite less likely to experience heat damage during jewelry repair.