Benefits of Moissanite
Although often compared to a diamond for its similar appearance, there is no such thing as a moissanite diamond. In the same way that an emerald or a sapphire is different to a diamond, moissanite is a real gemstone with its own unique beauty and chemical properties. As a sparkly, affordable and responsible choice, moissanite is rapidly becoming a gemstone of choice for those who want a break in tradition, or just simply love the unique sparkle that this gemstone has to offer.
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Mining Free
Moissanite is lab created with minimal environmental impact.
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Value
Moissanite is less expensive per carat than many other gemstones.
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Durability
Moissanite is a 9.25 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so it’s suitable for everyday wear.
Moissanite is Its Own Unique Gemstone
Natural moissanite particles are extremely rare but luckily for us, modern science allows them to be beautifully replicated in controlled laboratory environments. As a lab grown stone, this makes moissanite both an affordable option, as well as one that is responsible for the planet. Since moissanite does not require mining, you can be rest assured that your stone’s source is easily traceable and was created without the concerns associated with traditional gemstone mining.
Chemical Makeup
Unlike diamonds, which are made from carbon, moissanite is made from silicon carbide. As an extraordinarily rare, naturally-occurring mineral, moissanite in today’s jewellery is grown in controlled laboratory environments. Moissanite is grown using the Physical Vapour Transport (PVT) process. This intricate method involves sublimating silicon carbide in a vacuum, transforming it into a vapour that delicately deposits onto a seed crystal. The process starts by heating silicon carbide powder in a graphite crucible at high temperatures, causing it to sublime in a vacuum. The silicon carbide vapour then moves to a cooler part of the crucible, where it settles onto a seed crystal, forming a brilliant moissanite gem.
Brilliance and Fire
Moissanite has a higher refractive index than a diamond, meaning that when light enters a moissanite stone, it will bend more than within a diamond. This means there will be more small flashes of white light (brilliance) and greater levels of dazzling colour (fire). When exposed to sunlight, a moissanite stone will sparkle brightly and may exhibit a rainbow, almost “disco-ball” effect. Compared to a diamond’s subtle blue, grey and white light pattern, moissanite’s sparkle is more colourful – often the very quality that our clients fall in love with!
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