All About Moissanite
To Know Moissanite is to LOVE Moissanite...
and to Love it is to buy it, time and time again!
| The Jewelry Factory’s incredible collection of Moissanite jewelry gives you the sparkle & look of fine diamonds at a fraction of the cost. Moissanite (Moy-zan-ite) is a beautiful gem on it’s own, don’t blame it for being mistaken for diamond! Whether your thinking of a Pendant, ring, necklace, bracelet or earrings, Moissanite has taken the fashion world by storm, and will take your heart, too! The Jewelry Factory exclusively uses Charles & Colvard’s brand of Moissanite, backed by warrantees unlike any other gem! Read on & learn all there is to know about one of our newest family jewels!
Is Moissanite a "simulated" diamond or a diamond substitute? The answer is a resounding NO - Moissanite is not a substitute for diamond scientifically or emotionally. The Jewelry Factory’s created Moissanite is a unique near-colorless jewel (SiC) that stands on its own when it comes to superb fire and brilliance. From a scientific standpoint, the Moissanite used in jewelry today is a created jewel that was originally discovered in its natural state in the Canyon Diablo meteor center located in Arizona. To its prime consumer market, self-purchasing women, Moissanite is an entirely new option in affordable luxury. Charles & Colvard created Moissanite offers the value, quality and fashion that self-purchasing women demand, without the emotional heft of diamond. Women don't buy Moissanite instead - they buy it because they love it. What is Moissanite? Moissanite, also known as silicon carbide, is a naturally occurring mineral found in limited quantities or as small particles in the earth. The rarity of large natural Moissanite crystals prohibits their use in jewelry making. For years, scientists tried in vain to re-create this extraordinarily brilliant material. Only recently, through the power of advanced technology, Charles & Colvard developed a way to duplicate this unique and near-colorless jewel by producing large, gem-quality crystals. Moissanite is truly a unique and beautiful blend of art and science. 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 honor. How is Moissanite made? Single-crystal Moissanite is manufactured through a patented thermal growing process, the specifics of which are proprietary. The process is very difficult and expensive, thus preventing mass production. Are there restrictions and/or guidelines in place that ensures the quality production of created Moissanite? Every Charles & Colvard created Moissanite jewel is produced within exacting specifications and high quality control standards. The Charles & Colvard Certificate of Authenticity ensures that every Charles & Colvard created Moissanite jewel is an original product which has been manufactured in controlled facilities by highly-skilled specialists using the latest technology. Moissanite jewels are released for sale only after having met stringent quality control specifications.
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What makes Moissanite "sparkle"? What characteristics of Moissanite give it such exceptional brilliance?
The Refractive Index (RI) of a gemstone is the most important optical property affecting its potential brilliance (sparkle).
With an RI of 2.65 - 2.69, 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).
Will the brilliance ever fade?
No. The Jewelry Factory’s Moissanite stones feature Charles & Colvard’s Limited Lifetime Warranty that every Charles & Colvard created Moissanite jewel will maintain its brilliance and fire for the lifetime of the owner.
Does Moissanite have any identifying characteristics such as inclusions?
Though Moissanite is not sold with eye-visible inclusions, very tiny needle-like inclusions are inherent to the crystal growth process and can be seen under magnification.
How is Moissanite graded for clarity?
Using a 10x loupe, each individual jewel is examined for inclusions that may affect the optical performance of the jewel.
Is Moissanite available in different colors?
Yes. Most Moissanite sold today is near-colorless. However, a limited quantity of green Moissanite (light, medium and dark) is also available.
Is Moissanite graded on the GIA diamond color grading scale?
No. The standard GIA diamond color grading scale is not designed to rate Moissanite. Unlike diamonds, which range from colorless to brownish to fancy yellow, Charles & Colvard created Moissanite can have slight undertones from green to yellow to gray. It is a beautifully brilliant, highly dispersive jewel that stands on its own, creating a unique jewelry category.
Can the color of Moissanite change?
No. There are no known situations in which the color of Moissanite has been permanently changed.
Are Moissanite jewels hand-cut or mass produced?
Every Charles & Colvard created Moissanite jewel is precisely hand-cut by a master gem cutter to create maximum brilliance and to spark the 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. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, contact us atsales@jewelryfactory.com
What gives Moissanite its fire?
A gemstone's "fire" is caused by dispersion - the property by which light is spread out accordingly to its wavelenghts (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?
No. All Moissanite’s sold by The Jewelry Factory are shipped with a Limited Lifetime Warranty that certifies every Charles & Colvard created Moissanite jewel will maintain its fire and brilliance for the lifetime of the owner.
Is Moissanite resistant to scratching?
Yes. Moissanite is durable and tough. It is extremely resistant to scratching and abrasion. Of course, a diamond is the hardest gemstone used in jewelry but Moissanite, with hardness of 9.25 is harder than all other gemstones including ruby and sapphire.
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 resistant properties superior to many other jewels. Tests prove that at 200°F, 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.
| Brilliance (RI) |
Dispersion (Fire) |
Luster | Hardness | Toughness | |
| Charles & Colvard created Moissanite |
2-65-2.69 | 0.104 | 20.4% | 9.25 | Excellent |
| Diamond | 2.42 | 0.044 | 17.2% | 10 | Good* |
| Cubic Zirconia | 2.17 | 0.060 | 13.6% | 8.5 | Good |
| Ruby/Sapphire | 1.77 | 0.018 | 7.7% | 9 | Excellent** |
* in cleavage direction, otherwise excellent ** Except twinned stones
How can Moissanite be distinguished from other colorless jewels?
There are three (3) methods for distinguishing Moissanite:
- Test using a specialized detection device.
- Determine if doubling of facet junctions is visible through magnification
- Look for needle-like or micro-pipe type inclusions that typically are perpendicular to the table facet and are visible only under magnification.
Is it true that created Moissanite can test positive as diamond using conventional testing equipment?
Yes. Believe it or not, most jewelers have a difficult time identifying Moissanite from Diamond. Many of the standard diamond detector devices confuse the two gems, so additional testing equipment needs to be used. Whenever you bring a piece of Moissanite jewelry in for repair, always let the jeweler know that it is Moissanite, they may just assume it’s a diamond and lead to confusion.
Why is Moissanite sold by millimeter and not by carat weight?
In order to fit available settings. By having standard millimeter sizes Moissanite can be used in a greater variety of jewelry designs without having to have pieces customized. The specific gravity of Moissanite is 3.21 grams per cubic centimeter, so 6.5 mm round brilliant Moissanite jewel is approximately 0.88 carats. In our descriptions of Moissanite jewelry, “CT” or “CT TW” is meant to show that this Moissanite Jewel is equal to the size of a diamond of this size. We use millimeters “mm” to show the sizes. (Since Moissanite is a bit less dense than Diamond, a 1.0 CT TW is 6.5mm, but the Moissanite would weigh about .88 CT.) The brilliance & sparkle will amaze you! See our conversion chart below.
Does Moissanite hold its value over time?
Because of its rarity, unmatched beauty, and patent protection, Charles & Colvard created Moissanite is expected to retail or increase its value over time.
Moissanite/Diamond Size Graph
3.0mm round = 0.10 ct tw
3.5mm round = 0.15 ct tw
4.0mm round = 0.25 ct tw
5.0mm round = 0.50 ct tw
5.5mm round = 0.66 ct tw
6.0mm round = 0.75 ct tw
6.5mm round = 1.00 ct tw
7.0mm round = 1.25 ct tw
7.5mm round = 1.50 ct tw
8.0mm round = 2.00 ct tw
8.5mm round = 2.50 ct tw
9.0mm round = 3.00 ct tw
9.5mm round = 3.50 ct tw
10mm round = 4.00 ct tw
11mm round = 5.00 ct tw
12mm round = 6.00 ct tw
13mm round = 8.00 ct tw
14mm round = 10.00 ct tw
15mm round = 12.00 ct tw
16mm round = 15.00 ct tw
How do you clean Moissanite?
You can clean Moissanite the same way you would diamond. 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. The Jewelry Factory’s “Brilliant” brand jewelry cleaner is the best solution for keeping your gems sparkling.
How does Moissanite hold up in repairs and sizing?
Moissanite is a highly stable gemstone. 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.
