Moissanite is an interesting gemstone, because it is both synthetic, and a diamond simulant. It is not, however, a synthetic diamondUnlike diamond simulants (imitations of diamond made of superficially-similar non-diamond materials), synthetic diamonds are composed of the same material as naturally formed diamonds – pure carbon crystallized in an isotropic 3D form – and share identical chemical and physical properties.https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Synthetic_diamond
Moissanites or white sapphires are most comparable to a diamond. While there are visible differences, these gems will look the closest to a diamond while offering a more affordable price. These stones are also high on the Mohs scale of relative hardness, making them suitable for everyday wear.
In terms of the price, cubic zirconia is possibly the most affordable alternative to diamonds. To compare, a 1-carat diamond with flawless clarity and an excellent cut can set you back $11,000, while a 1-carat cubic zirconia will cost you about $20.
kimberlite, also called blue ground, a dark-coloured, heavy, often altered and brecciated (fragmented), intrusive igneous rock that contains diamonds in its rock matrix. It has a porphyritic texture, with large, often rounded crystals (phenocrysts) surrounded by a fine-grained matrix (groundmass).
If you want a diamond alternative but don't want to lose out on sparkle, moissanite will be your best bet. Moissanite has a refractive index from 2.65 – 2.69, which is higher than a diamond. These stones exhibit a fiery, rainbow brilliance, making for superior sparkle.
Arguably the best faux diamond in existence, moissanite comprises silicon carbide, which means it is almost of the same hardness as a natural diamond. It also has reasonable colorlessness, although the glow is far more colorful than what you would see in a real diamond.
Simulated diamonds are also known as diamond simulants and include things like cubic zirconia (CZ), moissanite, and YAG.
cubic zirconia. Cubic zirconia is a type of simulated diamond that is not a natural stone but a man-made replica. It's the cheapest alternative to a diamond but does not compare in quality to the real thing. A cubic zirconia stone costs $30 or less on average and is often used in costume jewelry.
A diamond will usually have more facets than a clear crystal. This is because diamonds are more elongated than crystals, and therefore it is easier to achieve multiple angles on them to make sure cuts are possible. A diamond has a hardness rating of 10, while a crystal is usually rated at around 7-8.
Scratch the Diamond Crystal on a Corundum
In order to use corundum to test the authenticity of the diamond, hold the corundum up against the suspected diamond and see the diamond to scratch a line on the corundum by rubbing the two gems together. If your gem does scratch corundum, it's definitely diamond.
In general, moissanite may have more brilliance than a diamond. “It has more fire and brilliance than any other gemstone, meaning it has more sparkle,” reveals O'Connell. “Because moissanite is double refractive, it is cut differently than diamonds to enhance the sparkle.”
The most effective way to tell Moissanite apart from a diamond is to use a loupe to look through the top, or the crown, of the jewel at an angle. You will see two slightly blurred lines that indicates a double refraction, an inherent quality of Moissanite. Double refraction is easier to see in some shapes than others.
Place the gemstones in a glass of water and watch. If it floats, then it is probably a fake stone. Real diamonds will sink to the bottom of the glass, while cubic zirconia will float to the surface.
The most common mineral that looks like a diamond is quartz and it is hexagonal form. When looking down on the crystals from the top, with the point of the crystal aimed at your eye, quartz will have six sides and a diamond will have four sides. If you see six sides than you probably found quartz.
If you have a loose diamond to test, fill a regular glass about ¾ of the way full with water. Gently drop the diamond into the glass. If the diamond sinks to the bottom, it's real. If it floats at the surface or just underneath, it's likely a fake.
This involves taking the diamond and attempting to scratch a mirror. If it leaves a mark on the mirror, it's a real diamond. However, the quality of false stones like cubic zirconia and moissanite has increased, and many can pass this test due to their durability.
Cubic zirconia is very inexpensive, since it's synthetic and mass-produced. A cut and polished one carat cubic zirconia stone will cost $20 and a similar two carat stone will cost about $30. This is far cheaper than diamonds, which start at $1800 for one carat and increase considerably as size goes up.
Currently, lab-made cubic zirconia (CZ) is the most popular diamond lookalike. At a fraction of the price, it can rival diamond in brilliance (the light it reflects) and dispersion or fire (the colorful flashes that seem to come from within the stone).
Yes, some diamond simulants can pass a diamond tester.
For example, moissanite, a man made gem, may pass as a diamond on a standard tester pen. This is because moissanite also has very high thermal conductivity! Other diamond simulants, such as CZ, will not pass the tester.
Moissanite is an extremely durable stone, in fact in terms of gemstones it's number two on the moh's scale right behind Diamonds. It fairs just as well under pressure and strength being just as scratch resistant as a Diamond and it deals with heat even better than a Diamond.
"A cubic zirconia is typically less than $30 per 'carat.
With a brilliance refractive index of 2.65 to 2.69, moissanite is the world's most brilliant gemstone. This means the speed of light refracting in moissanite is 2.65 to 2.69 times slower than the speed of light in the air.
Emerald. Rarer than diamonds, emeralds are also more expensive than the same quality diamond.
The fact that jewellers acquire diamonds in bulk at wholesale prices far lower than retail pricing is the primary reason why resale prices for diamonds are so much lower than retail prices.