Moissanites and diamond - what is a difference?

Natural Moissanite

Moissanite is a mineral that was first discovered in fragments of the meteorite at Canyon Diabolo or Meteor
Crater in Arizona. It was named in honor of its discover Dr. Ferdinand Henri Moissan. The Nobel Prize-winner was the first to
find tiny amounts of this natural silicon carbide within a meteorite.Natural moissanite is very rare and is limited to iron-nickel
meteorites and a few other rare ultra-mafic igneous occurrences. Initially there were skeptics to the original meteorite
findings and were attributed to the silicon carbide
blades that may have been used to saw the type specimens. But this has been disputed because Dr Henri Moissan did not
use silicon carbide blades to prepare the samples. In the meteoritic material, moissanite is associated with tiny diamonds.

Moissanite producing

Moissanite grown in laboratories is now being cut as gemstones and they are used as diamond simulates. Moissanite brings
to the jeweler's table a similar index of refraction and better than twice and a one half the fire of diamond, but is only slightly
less expensive due to the difficulty in growing the crystals. Moissanite is causing quite a stir in the jewelry markets.
Synthetic moissanite is also known as silicon carbide after its chemistry and by the trade name, carborundum. Because of
this Moissanite reflects more light and consequently displays more sparkle than a diamond. Also, natural flaws are absent in
Moissanite -- replaced instead by tiny, white, needle-like structures that are a result of the growing process (difficult to see
with 10x magnification).

Moissanite and diamonds

As a diamond simulator, artificial moissanite is very hard to differentiate from diamond and can fool many gemologists. It does have many
similarities. It is hard at 9.25 (diamond is 10). Moissanite is considered sturdier than diamond because it has no natural fractures that can
crack if the stone is subjected to an impact of some kind. Also, Moissanite, at \n9.25 Mohs, is second in hardness only to diamond and
incredibly tough. This is the reason that Moissanite maintains its clarity and sparkle throughout a lifetime. It will not look like a piece of
rock salt, like cubic zirconia (CZ), after two weeks. It is highly refractive with an index of refraction of \n2.6 - 2.7 (diamond\'s IR is slightly
lower at 2.42). Moissanite is not separated into grades (like diamond) because its manufacturer has set strict specifications that each stone
must meet before being released to distributors. Those specifications are comparable to diamonds which have been graded VS1-VS2 (Very
Slightly Included - Minor inclusions somewhat easy to locate at 10x magnification).
However, you need to know that Moissanite cannot compare in color to a colorless diamond. Moissanite has a slightly darker
(approximately I-K color) but really cannot be differentiated from a diamond in the same setting. You would probably be able to see a
difference in color if you compared loose Moissanite stones and loose diamond stones. Moissanite and diamond are thermally conductive
unlike other diamond simulators and unfortunately it is this property that is used as the test for the authenticity of real diamonds.
Differences however are clear and other tests can be used to differentiate the two. Moissanite is hexagonal, not isometric and therefore it is
doubly refractive unlike diamond. Moissanite is also slightly less dense than diamond and is rarely perfectly clear of color, having pale
shades of green. Moissanite has a variety of color saturation\'s. These colors may be light yellow, green, teal or gray. Various lighting
conditions bring out different vibrant color saturation and fire: which will increase appeal and desirability. Unlike ideal diamond cut
specifications, Moissanite is cut to precise specification by hand. These cut specifications bring out maximum fire and brilliance that are
superior to those of diamond.

Moissanite cannot compare in color to a colorless diamond. Moissanite has a slightly darker (approximately I-K color) but really cannot be
differentiated from a diamond in the same setting. Moissanite and diamond are thermally conductive unlike other diamond simulators and
unfortunately it is this property that is used as the test for the authenticity of real diamonds. Differences however are clear and other tests
can be used to differentiate the two. Moissanite is hexagonal, not isometric and therefore it is doubly refractive unlike diamond. Moissanite
is also slightly less dense than diamond and is rarely perfectly clear of color, having pale shades of green. Moissanite has a variety of
color saturation's. These colors may be light yellow, green, teal or gray. Various lighting conditions bring out different vibrant color
saturation and fire: which will increase appeal and desirability. Unlike ideal diamond cut specifications, moissanite is cut to precise
specification by hand. These cut specifications bring out maximum fire and brilliance that are superior to those of diamond. Moissanite
uses

Mostly the synthetic SiC known as carborundum has seen many uses in high-tech ceramics, electrical components, abrasives, ball
bearings, semi-conductors, extremely hard saws and armor. Some jewelers cannot tell the difference between the colorless moissanite
being sold today and a colorless diamond, so there's worry that fraudulent or inaccurate sales could take place after an initial moissanite
purchase. Synthetic moissanite can be grown in labs, but some gemologists do not feel that current synthetic versions used in jewelry are
true moissanite.

Moissanite uses

Mostly the synthetic SiC known as carborundum has seen many uses in high-tech ceramics, electrical components, abrasives, ball
bearings, semi-conductors, extremely hard saws and armor. Some jewelers cannot tell the difference between the colorless moissanite
being sold today and a colorless diamond, so there's worry that fraudulent or inaccurate sales could take place after an initial moissanite
purchase. Synthetic moissanite can be grown in labs, but some gemologists do not feel that current synthetic versions used in jewelry are
true moissanite.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is light yellow, green, teal, grey
Luster is adamantine.
Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is hexagonal, trigonal and isometric.
Crystal Habits include tiny six-sided plates and grains in meteorites.
Hardness is 9.25
Specific Gravity is 3.1 - 3.2 (average)
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Index of refraction is 2.6 - 2.7, crystals are thermally conductive and highly double refractive.
Associated Minerals include iron meteorites and olivine.
Notable Occurrences include Diablo Canyon or Meteor Crater in Arizona and as a trace in several kimberlitic deposits and placer deposits
eroded from them.
Best Field Indicator is crystal habit, color, index of refraction, density, thermal conductivity and especially hardness.