So you’ve stumbled across moissanite: the mysterious gemstone that has a similar sparkle to a diamond at a more affordable price point. Moissanite, while its own unique gemstone, is often the first choice for those looking for an alternative to a diamond. However, can moissanite actually be passed off as a fake diamond? And could it go so far as to deceive a diamond tester? Read on to find out.
What is Moissanite?
Since first being discovered by scientist Henry Moissan in a meteor crater, experts have been able to replicate this exquisite gemstone in a lab and offer it to the world as a masterfully cut, affordable and eternally brilliant gemstone. As more and more people discover moissanite, one of the first questions that cross their minds is “So, what’s the catch?”. It feels too good to be true – but it’s certainly not! Moissanite has a hardness rating of 9.25-9.5 and is a close second to diamond which ranks a 10. This means that moissanite is extremely durable and will last just as long as a diamond, maintaining its clarity, fire and brilliance for a lifetime. Unless you know what to look for, it is difficult to tell the difference between moissanite and diamond at first glance, and especially from a distance, even when placed side by side. So whilst your friends and family are unlikely to pick up on it, how can you actually tell the difference?
How to Tell Moissanite From Diamond
When placed side-by-side, these two gemstones will appear similar at a first glance, with the smaller the size you are comparing meaning the harder it will be to distinguish the two. Though subtle, the main visible difference is moissanite’s different properties when it comes to its brilliance and sparkle.. Compared to a diamond, moissanite has a different sparkle and exhibits more rainbow, colourful fire. This is due to moissanite’s higher refractive index and double refraction property. We won’t delve too far into the science behind it but, put simply, when a single beam of light enters the crown of a doubly refractive gemstone, two beams of light will exit. A singly refractive gemstone such as a diamond will see one beam of light enter and remain intact as it exits, unbroken. This is neither a good or bad thing, but simply comes down to the inherent crystal structure of the gemstone. Moissanite’s double refraction accounts for the higher dispersion of light – or, in other words, moissanite’s more colourful display of sparkles (fire). This heightened brilliance can create a “disco ball” effect as the light reflects out of the stone in rainbow flashes. Again, it is quite difficult to detect this difference in person but it will become more noticeable in larger stones, as more light is reflected and more colour is displayed. That being said, unless they know what they are looking for, this difference is unlikely to be observed by your friends or family.
Diamond Testing
To a trained professional, moissanite can be identified by its distinctive fire. However, this is not an exact science and professional gemological equipment is often used to truly tell the difference between a moissanite and diamond. This is where a diamond tester comes in. First introduced into the jewellery industry as a way to distinguish natural diamonds from cubic zirconia (a very common diamond simulant), a diamond tester is used to test the heat conductivity of a gemstone. Since diamonds are known for being exceptional conductors of heat, this distinctive feature can be used to distinguish them from other gemstones such as moissanite, or faux diamonds. By looking at the way heat moves through the stone, the tester can detect whether the stone is a diamond or not.
Can Moissanite Pass a Tester?
The answer to this question depends on the quality of the diamond tester. Because unlike faux diamonds and other gemstones, moissanite is an effective conductor of heat, moissanite can often pass as a diamond on basic, cheaper diamond testers. For this reason, when using a diamond tester that detects thermal conductivity, moissanite will pass as a diamond. Basic diamond testers generally only test thermal conductivity, so though they will be able to tell your diamond or moissanite apart from other stones, they typically won’t be able to pick up the slight difference in conductivity between moissanite and diamonds and will often give false readings. The more expensive and higher quality the tester, the more likely it will be able to differentiate between moissanite and diamond. When it comes to distinguishing the origin of diamonds, whether lab grown or mined, one such machine is the advanced spectroscopic device offered by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) that can distinguish these minute spectrometric differences, as well as other simulants, but will set you back upwards of $8,250 AUD.
So, How Can You Test Moissanite?
To find out the truth about your gemstone, specialised moissanite testers were developed based on the idea that moissanite is ever so slightly electrically conductive. Seeing that diamonds are not electrically conductive, this method is able to accurately distinguish between a moissanite and diamond. However, many of today’s diamond testers are multi-testers, meaning they will detect both the thermal and electrical conductivity of a gemstone in a single test.
If you are unsure of your diamond’s authenticity or would simply like to have your gemstone tested, unfortunately there aren’t any easy or reliable at-home methods to give you a reliable result. We would suggest taking your stone to a trained jeweller to be examined or having it analysed by a gemological laboratory.
So, can moissanite pass a diamond tester? In short, yes. And could it be passed off as a diamond? To the majority of people in your life, yes. If they don’t know what they’re looking for, moissanite can most certainly pass as a diamond if that is your intention. However, for it’s lasting beauty, extra sparkle and attractive price tag, we would argue that moissanite deserves to be appreciated and valued for its own unique qualities. Regardless of whether you’re a lover of moissanite’s dazzling properties or its affordability, we’d love to help you learn more about this incredible gem and assist you in your journey to find your dream ring!
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