The Unique Properties of Moissanite

Moissanite created by Charles & Colvard has unique physical properties that truly make it unlike any jewel ever seen. It is generally accepted that the most important characteristics of a jewel are its beauty, durability and rarity. The following information explains how a jewel can have these characteristics.

Moissanite is a stunning new jewel which offers intense beauty, durability, and rarity. Moissanites superior brilliance, fire, and lustre; along with its incredible hardness, make it unlike any jewel ever seen.

Beauty

The beauty of a jewel is determined by its colour, brilliance, "fire" and lustre . . . view more information

  • Brilliance - The brilliance of a jewel is created by cutting designs that use the jewel's refractive index and is measured by the amount of light that enters the jewel and is reflected back to the viewer.
  • Fire - The dispersion of a jewel combined with the cutting design results in the "fire," or the breaking of light rays into the spectrum of colours and is measured by the amount of coloured flashes viewed when the jewel is moved in various lighting conditions.
  • Lustre - Lustre is the amount of light that is reflected back to the observer from the surface of the jewel.

Durability

The durability of a jewel is determined by its hardness, or resistance to scratching, and its toughness, or resistance to chipping or cleaving. The jewel's hardness also determines the extent to which brilliance and "fire" can be highlighted by cutting with sharp, highly polished facets . . . view more information

Rarity

Rarity is the availability or perceived availability of a jewel.

These important characteristics are determined by a jewel's physical properties. The table below compares the physical properties of created Moissanite and four of the most popular natural jewels.

Jewel Comparison Chart

 BEAUTYDURABILITY
 Brilliance
Refractive Index
Fire
Dispersion
LustreHardness
(Mohs)
ToughnessSpecific Gravity
MoissaniteMoissanite 2.65-2.69 0.104 20.4% 9.25 excellent 3.21
DiamondDiamond 2.42 0.044 17.2% 10 excellent * 3.52
RubyRuby 1.77 0.018 7.4% 9 excellent ** 4.00
SapphireSapphire 1.77 0.018 7.4% 9 excellent ** 4.00
EmeraldEmerald 1.58 0.014 4.8% 7.5 good to poor 2.72
MoissaniteMoissanite
BEAUTY
Brilliance Refractive Index 2.65-2.69
Fire Dispersion 0.104
Lustre 20.4%
DURABILITY
Hardness (Mohs) 9.25
Toughness excellent
Specific Gravity 3.21

DiamondDiamond
BEAUTY
Brilliance Refractive Index 2.42
Fire Dispersion 0.044
Lustre 17.2%
DURABILITY
Hardness (Mohs) 10
Toughness excellent *
Specific Gravity 3.52

RubyRuby
BEAUTY
Brilliance Refractive Index 1.77
Fire Dispersion 0.018
Lustre 7.4%
DURABILITY
Hardness (Mohs) 9
Toughness excellent **
Specific Gravity 4.00


SapphireSapphire
BEAUTY
Brilliance Refractive Index 1.77
Fire Dispersion 0.018
Lustre 7.4%
DURABILITY
Hardness (Mohs) 9
Toughness excellent **
Specific Gravity 4.00

EmeraldEmerald
BEAUTY
Brilliance Refractive Index 1.58
Fire Dispersion 0.014
Lustre 4.8%
DURABILITY
Hardness (Mohs) 7.5
Toughness good to poor
Specific Gravity 2.72

*In cleavage direction, toughness is *good*
**Except twinned stones

 
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