One noticeable characteristic of moissanite is its high level of dispersion. This allows it to showcase more "fire" or the spectral flashes of color you would see when rocking and tilting the stone under light. moissanite possesses a dispersion rate of 0.104, compared to diamond's lesser dispersion rate of 0.044. We can see through these numbers alone that moissanite's fire would most likely show up stronger than an equivalent quality of diamond. Now, to some this is a good thing, but there are also many jewelry lovers who describe moissanite's fire to have a "disco ball" effect, which might mean that its fiery appearance is too flashy for their taste. Personal preference has a major hand in the present moissanite demand on the market.

Moissanite is a Diamond Simulant / Imitation. It is Very Different from Natural OR Man-Made Diamond, Because it Possesses an Entirely Different Chemical Structure and Composition.

The stone's refractive index is also higher than diamond's, being at 2.65 to 2.69. Moissanite is actually a doubly refractive stone, unlike diamond or Cubic Zirconia. This means that once light enters its interior, it bends and changes direction slightly.


Moissanite can sometimes show "doubling", especially when viewed under a microscope. This can be observed by looking through the stone in magnification, and staring at either the back-facets or inclusions. Be careful though when testing this way, as the stone will have certain directions that will not showcase the doubling effect. This would be called an optic axis direction, and all doubly refractive gems (anisotropic gemstones) have at least one, depending on their crystal symmetry.

Hardness is another trait that moissanite scores well in. It belongs to the rate of 9.25 on the Moh's scale, which is even higher than ruby or sapphire. Diamond still reigns as the hardest mineral though at a Moh's rate of 10.

Virtually all moissanite you would see in the jewelry trade is man-made. The natural counterpart was discovered by a man named Henry Moissan back in 1893. These crystals are usually quite small and incredibly rare, so their usage in the jewelry trade would not merit much following. The stone's brilliance and optical properties though, gave scientists the motive to create synthetic versions using a process called sublimation.

Despite moissanite's diamond-like qualities, many specimens also tend to look a little greenish or grayish, depending on the quality of their production. This is one of the more negative observations regarding moissanite as a diamond simulant, however the best batches of man-made moissanite do not possess such a degree of color overcast, and instead can look very much similar to traditional colorless diamonds.

Today, the industry often uses "moissanite testers" to scan for these gems, as the standard electronic diamond testers can miss them (due to moissanite's high thermal conductivity).

Buyers who are familiar with diamonds and the way that they are color-graded, may have noticed slight visual differences in some stones of similar letter grades. Many factors can influence how a diamond appears after it is set into metal by an experienced jeweller.

For one thing, a diamond that is set into a piece of yellow gold jewellery will appear to be of a higher (less color) grade than it actually is. This is because the stone is seen in stark comparison to the bright yellow of the metal next to it. Many people appreciate this when buying stones that range in the K,L and M colors.




Whiter stones like those that belong to the D,E, and F colors can also be set into yellow gold jewellery as well, although they might fare equally well when mounted against the cold whiteness of platinum metal. The other yellowish stones (K,L,M) may look even more yellow when set into platinum or white gold mounts, purely because of the nearby visual comparison between the stone's color and the metal's absence of it.

Diamond Color Can be Sometimes Seem Affected by Factors Outside of its Color-Causing Trace Elements. The Presence of Fluorescence and the Chosen Jewelry Metal Type Can Also Change How We Evaluate a Stone's Color, Especially at First Glance.

Metals aren't the only thing that can make a diamond seem to possess more color than it actually has. Another property called fluorescence can also affect how we evaluate diamond color with our eyes. The presence of fluorescence in a stone means that it will also emit some amount of visible light when exposed to a source of radiation (including daylight). Most diamonds that possess fluorescence showcase it in a bluish tinge, which can sometimes make yellowish stones look less yellow, but can also allow whiter stones to look as if they possess a greater amount of color.



While fluorescence can make some stones look less colored, and others more colored, the general majority seems to side more with the absence of fluorescence as a better trait in diamonds today. Dealers may sometimes give a percentage discount for stones that have very strong fluorescence, and likewise put pricing priorities on those with a total absence of it.

The percentage can vary, we've seen many that range from about 3 to 6% off of industry price sheets (without yet factoring in dealer discount), but it's different from a case to case basis.

Many people also prefer the colored glow that fluorescence provides. Some diamonds with a very strong bluish fluorescence can have a slight ethereal feel to their appeal.

A lot of buyers out there are surely familiar with the infamous Cubic Zirconia gemstones, also known simply as "CZ" by most in the trade. These little brilliant gemstones are pretty much always a result of man-made endeavors. The material itself is actually the cubic form of crystallised zirconium oxide. Scientists have noted that natural zirconium oxide was discovered in the year 1892, as the mineral called baddeleyite, however its yellowish form was hardly comparable to the brilliant CZ specimens manufactured by thousands of companies today.

CZ in its own right, is a brilliant gem that displays a very beautiful luster and vivid dispersion. Perhaps these traits are among the reasons why many people confuse CZ with diamond at first glance. The proper knowledge can help everyday people differentiate between these two stones quite easily, and therefore avoid being swindled by any dishonest merchants that don't fully disclose their product's actual identity.

So today, let us examine the property differences between cubic zirconia and the world's hardest gemstone; diamond.

First off, diamonds are much harder than CZ, with a Moh's scale rating of 10 versus 8. Most CZ stones are also packed together, so watch out for surface scratches and the presence of abrasion marks. This can be a hint that the stone you are viewing could be CZ rather than diamond. Usually diamonds of a half carat size or bigger,  are kept safe in individual containment cases. This prevents them from getting scratches from contact other diamonds.

Cubic Zirconia gems have a specific gravity rating that is about 1.7 times diamond's, thus they may feel slightly heavier when you bounce them lightly on your palm. Doing the specific gravity test using a hydrostatic scale would be a more accurate way to measure this property.

Many people notice how colorful CZ's dispersion can be when you rock and tilt a stone. What they don't usually know is that CZ's dispersion rate of 0.058 - 0.066 is actually higher than that of diamond's, which is at 0.044.

This doesn't mean that CZ is more beautiful, it simply tells us that more 'fire' can be seen when viewing CZ gemstones, especially under spot-illumination.

Fire is only one of the many factors that contribute to both gems' visual appeal. Diamond's luster is much stronger than CZ's because of its tightly knit atomic structure. This fact allows diamonds to reflect more light back to our eyes, hence making the reflections brighter and stronger. This trait is linked to the stone's superior hardness as well.

Diamond also has a refractive index value of 2.42, compared to CZ's RI of 2.15 to 2.18.
Most refractometers used in gemology cannot see these RI values in their scale (too high), however the difference in each gem's optical density can be observed using other methods.

CZ is the Most Commonly Known Diamond Simulant Today, Apart from Ordinary Glass. Its Properties Make it Difficult to Differentiate from Diamond, but Certain Tests Can Help You Tell if Your Stone is Actually a CZ or Something Else Entirely.

One easy-to-do test is called the read-through exam. This takes advantage of the different optical densities possessed by two different gem species. Placing a business card with 'small font' text (2 to 3 mm-tall text) under a faceted CZ stone will still allow you to make out the letters (although rounded significantly). Doing the same with a diamond will only show you a gray or murky area if you try to read the text through the gem. Do this with both stones pavilion up and observe the difference. Most people actually find this simple exam very useful for round brilliant cut stones, although of course there are always better scientific ways of separation done in a laboratory.

If you possess a microscope, you can check for an 'orange pavilion flash' on CZ stones by viewing them pavilion-up in darkfield illumination. On the contrary, diamonds will usually display a spectral-looking range of colors in this position, rather than an orange flash.

Some other simulants may be a bit more confusing though. Moissanite, Yttrium Aluminium Garnet and Diamond Coated CZ may all show a different result when subjected to these basic tests, so be vigilant and open to other conclusions.

There are many other ways of differentiating these two famous stones from each other, and from other common imitations as well. The fact also remains that newer and newer simulants are being discovered every day. Always be aware of this ever-present possibility, and stay curious in your journey to uncover more about the rewarding world of gemstones and gemology.