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What is the difference between cubic zirconium and
Moissanite?
Moissanite and cubic zirconium have very little in common
except that they are commonly compared because they are both
categorized as "diamond simulants" or "artificial
diamonds." The biggest and most important difference is
that cubic zirconium is soft. The reason cubic zirconium
becomes dull and appears clouded is because it can be scratched during
routine wear. The scratches are responsible for making a cubic
zirconium stone look like a piece of salt rock over time.
Moissanite, on the other hand, is second in hardness only to
diamond. In fact, the only thing that can scratch a Moissanite is
another Moissanite or a diamond. That's it. So the
Moissanite stone you buy today, regardless of who you buy it from, is
guaranteed to look as brilliant and clear 50 years from the day you
bought it.
How can I be sure that I am purchasing
Moissanite?
All jewelers who sell Moissanite are required to provide a Charles
& Colvard Certificate of Authenticity with all of the stones they
sell. I would suggest you make sure that this will be included with
your order, along with a guarantee offered by the actual jeweler. My
guarantee provides for a full refund if my customer is not happy with the
stone(s) for whatever reason. I ask that the stone(s) be returned to
me within ten days of the date that my customer receives the order.
If this is not possible, I ask that my customer give me a call to let me
know the stone will be returned so that I can know when to expect
it.
How is Moissanite
graded?
Moissanite is not separated into grades because its manufacturer
has set specifications that each stone must meet before being released to
distributors. Those specifications are comparable to diamonds which have
been graded VSI (Very Slightly Included - Minor inclusions difficult to
locate at 10x). All Moissanite stones are manufactured in the same
laboratory at Charles & Colvard and, contrary to some advertising I've
seen on the internet, a jeweler cannot purchase either Moissanite rejects
or Moissanite jewels that are said to be superior to other Moissanite
jewels. The Moissanite jewels I sell are the same jewels you find in
physical stores but I don't have the overhead so I can sell for
less.
Can I get a Moissanite stone which is comparable to a
colorless diamond?
The color of Moissanite stones can and do vary -- anywhere from G
through J on the diamond color grading scale. Color is the
biggest concern and complaint that I receive from my customers. I'm
sure this is because everybody wants a completely colorless stone but even
completely colorless diamonds are rare and very, very
expensive. You will not find a completely colorless Moissanite
stone. Some people see a yellow cast to Moissanite stones and
others see a green cast. I've seen a green cast but can't say I've
ever seen a yellow cast. In its primitive state, Moissanite is
green and I suspect that Charles & Colvard will one day perfect the
process of producing a perfectly colorless stone. Unlike
diamond, Moissanite does not increase in price with increased absence of
color.
Most diamonds you see in jewelry stores fall into the diamond color
G category and really cannot easily be differentiated from Moissanite.
Most jewelers do not keep many truly colorless diamonds in their inventory
because of the enormous expense.
Can I purchase a Moissanite stone based on its carat
weight?
Moissanite is lighter in weight than diamond so when you are
dealing with Moissanite, it is better to refer to it only in
millimeters.
This means that if you have a 3 carat
diamond, which follows the accepted diamond dimension requirements below,
and an identical Moissanite stone, the Moissanite is not going to weigh 3
carats. It is going to weigh approximately 2.72 carats. The
physical size is the same. The weight is different. This is
why its best to refer to Moissanite in terms of millimeters.
Moissanite stones have virtually the same dimension
requirements set by the diamond industry for optimal reflection of
light. This is a mathematical formula based on the depth and
diameter of the stone. Moissanite stones fall within the optimal
parameters.
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Member of Charles & Colvard Jewelers Program
Copyright Moissanite-Mania 2006
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