Moissanites History and Facts
WHAT IS MOISSANITE?
Moissanite is a rare, naturally occurring mineral also known as silicon carbide, which was first discovered by the Nobel Prize-winning chemist Dr. Henri Moissan at the site of a massive meteorite strike in Arizona. This intriguing new stone was named moissanite in his honor.
It wasn’t until the late 90’s that scientists— working in a research laboratory located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina—developed the innovative thermal growing process that creates silicon carbide crystals. These crystals are fashioned into moissanite gemstones that top any natural gemstone for fire and brilliance. These gems are more durable than diamond, sapphire, ruby or emerald.
IS MOISSANITE A BRAND OF DIAMOND OR A SIMULATED DIAMOND?
No. Moissanite is not a substitute for diamond, either scientifically or chemically. Moissanite is a unique gem with its own set of chemical and optical properties that exhibit more fire and brilliance than any other gemstone.
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.
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. Lucce provides a warranty which guarantees that every moissanite gemstone will maintain its brilliance and fire forever.
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 a moissanite with regard to fire.
WILL A MOISSANITE GEMSTONE EVER LOSE ITS FIRE?
No. Lucce provides a warranty which guarantees that every moissanite gemstone will maintain its fire and brilliance forever.
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). Our SUPERNOVA Moissanite has a color grade of F, the perfect color for a fine jewellery.
IS MOISSANITE RESISTANT TO SCRATCHING?
Yes. Moissanite is durable, tough and extremely resistant to scratching and abrasion. With a hardness of 9.25, moissanite is harder than all other gemstones except diamond.
DOES MOISSANITE BREAK EASILY?
No. Moissanite is one of the toughest known gemstones. Studies in high pressure research have shown that moissanite is highly resistant to breaking and chipping.
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.
WILL MOISSANITE RETAIN ITS VALUE OVER TIME?
Due to its rarity and unrivaled beauty, a Moissanite is expected to increase its value over time.
HOW SHOULD I CARE FOR MY MOISSANITE JEWELRY?
You may clean moissanite the same way you would a diamond or any other fine gemstone. As with any fine jewelry item, an ultrasonic cleaner can be used. However, it is best to be gentle with your valuable treasures. You can also clean your moissanite jewelry using a commercial (non-acid based) jewelry cleaner or with mild soap and water using a soft toothbrush.
CAN MOISSANITE WITHSTAND REPAIRS AND SIZING?
Yes. Moissanite is an extremely stable material. It is durable, tough and highly resistant to scratching, abrasion, breaking and chipping. Its high heat tolerance makes moissanite very unlikely to experience damage during jewelry repair.