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What is a Moissanite Stones and
Where to Buy Moissanite Jewelry in Australia?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WHAT IS A MOISSANITE?
Moissanite is a gemstone born from the stars. Fifty thousand years ago a meteorite crashed into the Arizona desert creating what is now known as "Meteor Crater." Fragments of this meteorite were scattered across the desert. Hidden in these fragments was a brilliant secret waiting to be discovered. It was first discovered in 1893 by a French scientist named Henri Moissan, who later won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He discovered microscopic particles of the gem that would eventually bear his name in Arizona, in a crater created by a meteorite that fell to Earth. He initially thought that he had discovered diamonds, but later determined that the crystals were composed of silicon carbide.
Natural moissanite is incredibly rare, so moissanite available today is laboratory-created. After many years of trial and error, the particles Moissan discovered were successfully synthesized to produce what is now one of the world’s most scintillating gemstones.
Moissanite, referred to as a diamond simulant, is engineered to give the illusion of similarity to diamonds, but is compositionally and visually quite different from a real diamond. The durability, brilliance, and color of the two gems are quite distinct. One common property of both diamonds and moissanites is that they are both very good thermal conductors.
MOISSANITE ORIGIN
Because they are grown in controlled environments using advanced technology, moissanites require absolutely no mining to produce. Therefore, their origins are easily traceable.
Compared with natural gemstones, lab-created moissanites have a smaller carbon footprint and result in less environmental impact. Fine jewelry made with moissanites and recycled metals is a responsible choice.
MOISSANITE COLOUR
We sell Moissanites in the colorless range. GIA has developed a color grading scale which is commonly used in diamonds, and the same scale can be applied to Moissanite. According to the GIA scale
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Grades D, E, F: colorless
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Grades G, H, I: near coloress
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Grades J, K: faint color
So what does that mean in practical terms? Grades D, E, F and even G are colorless and can be described as \icy\" white. Grade H and I still look white but its a slightly warmer or steely white. When you get into the J and K range you will start to see a bit of yellow.
Considering moissanite jewelry as your next statement piece? Where to buy moissanite jewelry in Australia? Shop now at Diamond Lab. Australia!
MOISSANITE CLARITY
Clarity is a measure of the surface blemishes and internal inclusions of a gemstone. For the purpose of comparison to diamonds, experts agree the clarity of Moissanite is on average the equivalent to VS clarity on the GIA scale. What this means, in reality, is inclusions can only be seen under magnification, and under a jewelers loupe (10x magnification) are difficult to see. Less than 10% of faceted diamonds have this level of clarity.
MOISSANITE CARAT
The carat is the traditional unit of measurement for a diamond's weight. Moissanite is typically not described in its actual carat weight because it weighs approximately 10% less than diamond. For example, a 6.5mm round diamond would weigh 1.0ct while a 6.5mm round moissanite weighs ~0.88ct. The two stones, Moissanite and diamond, are the same size, but two different carat weights. To minimize the confusion this causes, Moissanites are listed with their size in millimeters and the diamond equivalent weight in carats. This way, a 1ct round diamond and a 1ct round Moissanite are the same size.
OPTICAL: FIRE, BRILLIANCE & LUSTER
Moissanite's characteristic sparkle is more than just a show of beauty - it's a testament to the superior science behind the jewel, boasting more fire, brilliance, and luster than any gemstone on earth. This is not merely a sales line, but a scientific and quantifiable fact.
Moissanite is known for its high refractive index of 2.65, which is notably higher than diamond, sapphire, CZ and other gemstones known to be very brilliant. Brilliance is the flashes of white light exiting the top and sides of a gemstone. The higher the refractive index of a gemstone, the more brilliance the jewel emits. Moissanite's superior refractive index makes Moissanite the most brilliant fine gemstone on earth.
Moissanite's fire, the flashes of colored light, is even more impressive, being more than twice that of a diamond.
Luster is the amount of light that is reflected back to the observer from the surface of the gemstone. In addition to superior fire and brilliance, Moissanite has 18% greater luster than a diamond and 50% greater luster than CZ. Where to buy moissanite jewelry in Australia? Shop Now at Diamond Lab!
TOUGHNESS OF MOISSANITE
The ability of a gemstone to remain intact, withstand force (pressure) and resist breaking or chipping is known as toughness. Determined by a substance's atomic and chemical structure, toughness can vary directly within a gemstone. While both Moissanite and diamond are rated excellent in toughness, Moissanite has a different atomic structure than diamond which does not have a direction of cleavage (which sometimes is considered as a direction of structural weakness). Simply said, Moissanite outranks diamond in overall
MOISSANITE IS ONE OF THE HARDEST GEMSTONE ON EARTH
Hardness refers to a gemstone's resistance to being scratched or abraded and is commonly expressed as a number ranking (1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest) on the Mohs relative hardness scale.
Moissanite ranks 9.25 on the Mohs scale making Moissanite one of the hardest gemstones on earth. It's unusually high hardness makes scratching and abrasions very rare, even after many years of daily wear and tear.
Moissanite's ability to resist abrasion and scratching easily outranks and is more than double (120%) the hardness of any popular diamond simulants such as Diamond Nexus (CZ), Russian Brilliants (CZ), or Asha Diamond Simulants (CZ).
MOISSANITE IS CUT TO MAXIMISE FIRE & BRILLIANCE
Unlike diamonds which are most commonly cut to maximize carat weight, Moissanite gemstones are cut and faceted to maximize the superior fire and brilliance of the gemstone. The ideal Moissanite cut patterns were established after years of studying the angles of light refraction through Moissanite. The Moissanite gems are faceted to take full advantage of the crystal's inherent superior fire and brilliance. Where to buy moissanite jewelry in Australia? Shop Now at Diamond Lab!
THE PROCESS
Moissanite begins as a raw crystal form. Each crystal is first evaluated for quality, color, and clarity. Only the crystals that meet the highest quality standards are allowed to be cut and faceted. After the initial quality evaluation, a team of Diamond Lab experts determine what shapes and sizes of Moissanite gemstones will be cut from the crystals.
The crystals are then routed to a team of 24 cutters, technical experts, and faceters; each of whom plays a role in bringing the gemstone to its ideal display of brilliance. Along each stage of this involved 24-step process, from crystal evaluation to faceting the finished gemstone, experts evaluate Moissanite against strict quality standards and specifications. The last step is final grading for color, cut, and clarity. Only the most desirable gemstones that meet Diamond Lab's standards are chosen to be sold.
Choosing a Moissanite
Moissanites are assessed exclusively on color, as opposed to diamonds, which are graded on the four C's (Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat). The cut and clarity grades of moissanite are similar across the different qualities. Brilliant Earth provides both Premium and Super Premium moissanites. Premium moissanites are virtually colorless and can be compared to a G or H on the 4 C's color scale, whereas Super Premium moissanites are colorless and lie within the D-F range.
When shopping for moissanite, many people wonder if it will go well with real diamond accents. Moissanites look stunning when set in rings with diamond embellishments. Here are some of our moissanite jewelleries. Where to buy moissanite jewelry in Australia? Shop Now at Diamond Lab!
CZ is just a simulated diamond
In the 1970's with the invention of the cubic zirconia (CZ), it was widely speculated that this new diamond look-a-like would alter the diamond and engagement ring market. However, this prediction did not come true. Many jewelers believe the principle reason is that CZ is considered a "fake" gemstone due to it being lab-grown, and therefore not "natural". Many have called it an "imposter".
Moissanite doesn't simulate, it surpasses diamond
We agree that CZ is nothing more than a gemstone that simulates a diamond. However we believe the reason it didn't significantly change the diamond market is not that it wasn't natural, but because it failed to live up to the hype. If the optical and physical properties of a CZ more closely matched or even exceeded that of a diamond, the diamond market would look much different than it does today.
Moissanite doesn't try and simulate a diamond, it surpasses it in many important ways including brilliance, fire, luster, toughness, resistance to heat, without even mentioning the obvious: price. Below is a chart which compares the properties of Moissanite to diamond.
The Brightest Gem in the World
Moissanite is a unique jewel with more fire, brilliance, and sparkling luster than any other jewel or gemstone including a diamond. All moissanite is sold with a Diamond Lab certificate, ensuring that its glistening fire and brilliance will never fade. Its beauty and brilliance will last in perpetuity. It will be just as lovely, displaying its fire and brilliance for generations from the day you buy it.
In the creation of its moissanite, Diamond Lab prioritizes environmental and ethical responsibility. The beauty and premium quality of their gems, paired with their commitment to their principles, makes Diamond Lab moissanite a superior, sustainable and conflict-free gemstone.
The pinnacle of moissanite is diamond lab-created gems. The silicon carbide material used to create Diamond Lab gemstones is created using a patented process that yields unparalleled clarity. As the original creators of moissanite, Diamond Lab has years of experience cutting and polishing moissanite gems.
Diamond Lab developed its unique cut specifications to maximize the fire and brilliance of these exceptional and rare gemstones through progressive technology and relentless innovation.
Diamond Lab is the original creator of moissanite. The process is time-consuming, complicated, and expensive, limiting output—creating a single gem takes two to three months. Diamond Lab's manufacturing process and years of expertise in creating the gemstone have elevated them to the position of the leading source and global distributor of created moissanite.
Frequently ask questions
Why should I buy from Diamond Lab? You want to make a wise purchase that provides you with quality, service, and value. We understand, which is why we are committed to always providing you with the best - the best in fine jewelry featuring the most beautiful jewel Moissanite stones and premium Lab-grown diamonds, backed up by the best service and the best value. We have introduced some services to make your online purchase less stressful and more rewarding. This isn't just a promise; it's how we've done business for years.
What exactly is Moissanite Stone? Moissanite is the world's most brilliant jewel. It has greater radiance, fire, and luster than a diamond. Moissanite is ideal for an engagement ring because it is higher in quality, more affordable, and better for the environment than mined diamonds.
Why should I get a lab grown diamond ring? You select lab grown diamond because you are drawn to it for environmental and social responsibility reasons. Furthermore, the worth is unquestionable. You can get a larger look for the same price or simply save money on the same diamond quality and size.
Diamond vs. Moissanite? Moissanite is more beautiful than diamonds because it has more brilliance, fire, and luster. A jewel's beauty is defined by its brilliance, fire, and luster. Moissanite is the world's most beautiful jewel. Find out more about Moissanite here.
How do I determine my ring size when shopping online? Because some of the designs are not resizable, it is critical that you know your ring size. Simply let us know if you are unsure of your ring size by visiting our Ring Size Guide page or searching 'Ring Size Guide' on the Diamond Lab website.
Do you sell wedding rings for men? We do, indeed. We make our rings in Australia and can have them to you in 10 days or less if necessary. Once you know your metal type and ring size, width, and thickness, you can get an instant quote online. For more information, please contact us.