Moissanite Characteristics
HOW DOES MOISSANITE COMPARE TO OTHER GEMSTONES ON KEY GEMOLOGICAL PROPERTIES?
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.
Brilliance
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. Monte Lab Diamond provides a Limited Lifetime Warranty which guarantees that every created moissanite gemstone will maintain its brilliance and fire forever.
Fire (Dispersion)
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 Monte Lab Diamond Moissanite® with regard to fire.
WILL A MOISSANITE GEMSTONE EVER LOSE ITS FIRE?
No. Monte Lab Diamond provides a Limited Lifetime Warranty which guarantees that every Monte Lab Diamond created moissanite gemstone will maintain its fire and brilliance forever.
Color & Clarity
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.
WHY ARE YOU NOW OFFERING MONTE JEWELRY WITH COLORED STONES?
Based on consumer demand on certain online channels, Monte Lab Diamond introduced a limited assortment of moissanite jewelry with lab created colored stones. These lab grown colored gemstones include lab grown blue and pink sapphires, as well as lab grown rubies. Just like moissanite, these colored gemstones are identical to those that are mined from the earth, chemically, optically and physically. The only differences are in cost and environmental impact.
Hardness (Resistance to Scratching) & Toughness (Resistance to Breaking)
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. Monte Lab Diamond provides a Limited Lifetime Warranty that protects against damage to the stone.
DOES MOISSANITE BREAK EASILY?
No. Moissanite is one of the toughest known gemstones. Monte Lab Diamond 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.