Moissanite is considered to be an artificial stone which closely resembles diamonds, and a difficult diamond substitute to identify.
Moissanite was developed by a company called CREE, which also invented special equipment to distinguish between moissanite and diamonds. This equipment is called “Tester Model 590.” Today there are several more devices that differentiate between a moissanite and a diamond.
Moissanite is sold to wholesalers for $178 per carat, It is available in sizes ranging from 0.10 carats to 2.00 carats.
Differences between Moissanite and diamonds:
- Hardness – Moissanite’s hardness is 9.25; diamond’s is 10. This is a very small difference and therefor is not effective.
- Specific Gravity – Moissanite’s specific gravity is 3.32; diamond’s is 3.52, therefor is also not effective.
- Brilliance – Moissanite is less brilliant than a diamond.
- Girdle Surface – In Moissanite, the girdle is frosted, polished or striated in appearance.
- Needles – Moissanite contains needle-like inclusions which are parallel to one another, sometimes in a very large amount. However, this inclusion doesn’t exist in all moissanites.
- Fluorescence – Moissanite is usually not fluorescent. When it is, it is usually an orange fluorescence.
- Roentgen Rays (X-rays) – Diamonds are transparent to roentgen rays; Moissanites are not.
- Double Refraction
When Moissanite is viewed through the pavilion (in the position used to check for polish lines), the lines that connect the star-facets to the table look doubled.