Dreaming of a moissanite engagement ring but worried it will go cloudy? In the diamond vs moissanite debate, cloudiness is often brought up as a factor against moissanite. However, the dreaded moissanite cloudiness, also known as oil slick, is easily avoided with a little care and regular cleaning, and should not count against this brilliantly sparkly gemstone. Read on for the finer details.
What is Moissanite?
First discovered in 1893 by a French scientist named Henri Moissan, moissanite is a gemstone that fell to earth in a meteor. At first, Moissan mistakenly identified the crystals as diamonds. It wasn’t until 1904 that the crystals were correctly identified as silicon carbide – making this a whole new gemstone: moissanite! Since natural moissanite is understandably rare, scientists have reproduced this stunning gemstone in labs.
With a similar appearance to diamonds , moissanite is a fantastic choice of gemstone for those who want the look of a diamond but with greater fire (flashes of colour when viewed in the light).
How Long Does Moissanite Last?
Moissanite is one of the hardest substances on earth. With a 9.25-9.5 rating on the Moh’s hardness scale, moissanite is the second hardest gemstone in existence (second only to diamonds at 10). A gemstone’s hardness determines how easily it can be scratched. With such a high score, this means moissanite is extremely scratch-resistant, making it a great choice for your engagement ring stone .
Since your engagement ring will be subject to daily wear and tear, you want your stone to be able to survive this without losing its sparkle.
Will My Moissanite Ring Go Cloudy?
Over time, some gemstones may take on a milky-white haze, creating a “cloudy” look and dimming the sparkle of the stone. This cloudy look is created by the build-up of dirt, oils and grime from everyday use. For soft stones such as cubic zirconia (which score an 8 on the hardest scale), this build-up is damaging to the stone and creates an irreversible cloudy look.
Due to its hardness, moissanite will not be damaged by the normal build-up of dirt and oil and is extremely scratch-resistant. Grime will only gather on the surface of moissanite rather than filling it and can be easily washed off .
In serious cases, your moissanite will regain its sparkle after a professional clean, which can be added to your regular setting check.
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