Moissanite FAQ
WHAT IS MOISSANITE?
Moissanite is a rare, naturally occurring mineral also known as silicon carbide, which was first discovered by the Nobel Prize-winning chemist, Dr. Henri Moissan, at the site of a massive meteorite strike in Arizona. This intriguing new stone was named “moissanite” in his honor.
It wasn’t until the late 90s that scientists–working in a research laboratory located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina–developed the innovative thermal growing process that creates silicon carbide crystals. These crystals are fashioned into moissanite gemstones that rival any natural gemstone for fire and brilliance. These man-made gems are more durable than any other popular gemstone such as diamond, sapphire, ruby or emerald.
IS MOISSANITE AN IDEAL CUT STONE?
Carefully and precisely faceted, each VK created moissanite gemstone is cut according to exact angles and proportions specific to moissanite. When cutting moissanite, precision is critical to maximizing its brilliance and enhancing its incredible fire.
HOW DOES MOISSANITE COMPARE TO OTHER GEMSTONES?
Moissanite is comparable to other popular gemstones including diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald on key characteristics such as hardness, fire and brilliance. On the Brilliance Refractive Index, moissanite is more brilliant than any other gemstone, ranging from 2.65-2.69 on the scale. Its fire dispersion is over 4x greater than any other popular gemstone. On the MOHs hardness scale, moissanite comes in second only to a diamond, measuring at 9.25. In addition, moissanite's durability is excellent, meaning it will survive daily wear and tear.
WHAT PROPERTY OF MOISSANITE MAKES IT SPARKLE WITH SUCH EXCEPTIONAL BRILLIANCE?
The most significant optical property affecting a gemstone’s brilliance, or sparkle, is the brilliance refractive index or BRI. The BRI of moissanite ranges from 2.65 to 2.69, meaning it displays more brilliance than diamond (with a BRI of 2.42) or any other popular gemstone.
WILL THE BRILLIANCE OF MOISSANITE EVER FADE?
No. VK Diamonds provides a Limited Lifetime Warranty which guarantees that every VK created moissanite gemstone will maintain its brilliance and fire forever.
WHAT GIVES MOISSANITE ITS FIRE?
A gemstone’s fire is determined by a gemological property called dispersion. Dispersion refers to the prism effect that occurs when pure white light enters a non-opaque object, breaks into spectral (rainbow) colors, and reflects back to the viewer. Moissanite’s dispersion is 0.104, which exceeds that of any gemstone including diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald.
DO OTHER GEMSTONES HAVE MORE FIRE THAN MOISSANITE?
Moissanite's fire exceeds that of any popular gemstone, including diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald. Fire can be measured scientifically; with a dispersion of 0.104, moissanite has 2.4 times the fire of diamond. No other gemstone or jewel compares to VK Moissanite with regard to fire.
WILL A MOISSANITE GEMSTONE EVER LOSE ITS FIRE?
No. VK Diamonds provides a Limited Lifetime Warranty which guarantees that every VK moissanite gemstone will maintain its fire and brilliance forever.
WILL MOISSANITE FADE OR CHANGE COLOR OVER TIME?
No. There are no likely situations in which the color of moissanite will be permanently changed. Moissanite does undergo a temporary color change when exposed to extreme heat from a jeweler’s torch during jewelry repair, but with proper bench techniques there will be no lasting damage and the stone will return to its normal color once it cools.
IS MOISSANITE GRADED ON THE GIA DIAMOND COLOR GRADING SCALE?
Moissanite grading uses a color grading scale that is based upon the GIA diamond color grading scale. There are three grades of moissanite available today: colorless (D-E-F range), near-colorless (G-H-I range) and with faint hues of color (J-K range).
DOES MOISSANITE HAVE INCLUSIONS?
Yes. Moissanite can have needle-like inclusions that can be seen under 10x magnification. They are not visible to the naked eye and do not affect the clarity of the stone. It’s worth noting that nearly every gem has some sort of inclusion. They are unique to each gemstone and occur in the formation of the crystalline structure.
IS MOISSANITE RESISTANT TO SCRATCHING?
Yes. Moissanite is durable, tough and extremely resistant to scratching and abrasion. With a hardness of 9.25-9.50, moissanite is harder than all other gemstones except diamond. VK Diamonds provides a Limited Lifetime Warranty that protects against damage to the stone.
DOES MOISSANITE BREAK EARLY?
No. Moissanite is one of the toughest known gemstones. VK Diamonds provides a Limited Lifetime Warranty that protects against damage to the stone.
IS MOISSANITE HEAT RESISTANT?
Yes. Moissanite exhibits more heat resistance than many other gemstones, including diamond. Tests prove that at 2000ºF—higher than the equivalent intensity of a house fire—moissanite gems remain intact and as brilliant as the day they were created. This heat tolerance makes moissanite unlikely to suffer damage during jewelry repair.
HOW SHOULD I CARE MY MOISSANITE JEWELRY?
You may clean moissanite the same way you would diamond or any other fine gemstone. As with any fine jewelry item, an ultrasonic cleaner can be used. However, it is best to be gentle with your valuable treasures. You can also clean your moissanite jewelry using a commercial (non-acid based) jewelry cleaner or with mild soap and water using a soft toothbrush.
ARE RHERE ANY CHEMICALS I SHOULD AVOID WHILE WEARING MY RING?
VK created moissanite gemstones can be cleaned with any typical jewelry cleaner or cloth. You can find jewelry cleaner or clothes in many drug stores or big box retail stores such as Walmart, Target, etc. Further, moissanite gemstones may be placed in ultrasonic cleaners for cleaning as long as the jewelry setting will allow for such cleaning.
Typical jewelry settings designed with 14K gold can be cleaned with the typical jewelry cleaner for gold jewelry. Plated jewelry, such as Platineve or silver plated with gold or platinum, should be cared for as per the designer’s instructions. Further, plated jewelry should not be cleaned in a heated ultra-sonic cleaner, soaked in jewelry cleaner for extended amounts of time, exposed to harsh chemicals (bleach, ammonia, etc.), pools or hot tubs.
CAN MOISSANITE WITHSTAND REPAIRS AND SIZING?
Yes. Moissanite is an extremely stable material. It is durable, tough and highly resistant to scratching, abrasion, breaking and chipping. Its high heat tolerance makes moissanite very unlikely to experience damage during jewelry repair.
CAN MOISSANITE GEMSTONES BE RE-SET INTO NEW JEWELRY?
Yes. Resetting your moissanite gemstone(s) into a new piece of jewelry can be done by an experienced jeweler. Jewelry designers and manufacturers create their jewelry collections featuring VK Diamonds created moissanite using techniques very similar to those practiced by bench jewelers.
CAN I ENGRAVE MY MOISSANITE STONE?
Yes. You can engrave your moissanite stone after your purchase, after all, it is now a part of your personal story. Please be aware that any engraving done post-purchase on the stone will void VK Diamonds Limited Lifetime Warranty.
COLORED MOISSANITES.
Moissanites come in varying colors nowadays. The different colors available in the market are blue, emerald green, red, dark gray, champagne, bright yellow, purple, and even black. The fancy colors are created through a unique heating process with ion induction displaying beautiful colors on the surface of the gem. Is the color permanent or temporary? As our lab testing indicates, the color treatment is permanent for as long as they are not exposed to excessive heat greater than 1020° F. This is close to the temperature of the surface of the sun.
The only color of Moissanite that we are still experimenting on is Pink.
Pink Moissanite gemstones tend to change in color over time. The only ones available in the market are created through a coating process instead of the normal ion induction heating. This special coating may come off during the normal wear and tear process or may become dull with the introduction of regular skin products or perfume. The special coating may also come off during the ultrasonic cleaning process.
Does Colored Moissanite Look Like Colored Diamond?
Moissanite’s physical appearance and heat index is extremely similar to a diamond. This is why Moissanite is detected as a diamond even with a high-accuracy diamond tester. The fire and brilliance of Moissanite stones are some indicators to a trained eye that they are not diamonds because the fire in Moissanite is more brilliant than a diamond, producing a rainbow of colors which appears to be a beautiful effect to many people.
Moissanite is not a fake diamond, just like Sapphire is not a fake diamond. Moissanite is an entirely different gemstone. A beautiful gemstone in its own right.
Clean and care tip:
If you have colored Moissanite jewelry, we suggest servicing it when it comes time to clean it deeply. If you wear the jewelry daily, gently scrubbing it with a soft-bristled toothbrush with warm water and dish soap every week is a great way to maintain its new and shiny appearance.
Note. Moissanite demonstrates a carat weight approximately 12% lower than a diamond of equivalent size.