Moissanite Engagement Ring ” An Excellent Diamond Simulant
Saturday, 17. October 2009
The Moissanite to the casual observer is a diamond simulant is nearly indistinguishable from real diamonds. It is more durable and more brilliant than a diamond. It offers the mystique of having one of the rarest jewels in the world, the Moissanite.
Moissanite is sometimes called silicon carbibe or carborondum. Its colors range from grayish to a greenish tone. Moissanite is a rare mineral with a hexagonal crystal structure that occurs in iron nickel meteorites.
Moissanite was discovered in 1893 by a French chemist, Ferdinand Frederick Henri Moissan, who mistakenly identified the crystals as diamonds. But in 1904 he identified the crystals as silicon carbide (SiC), which was later named after him. But it wasn’t until 1995 that jewelers used moissanite as a gemstone.
Moissanite is a quite similar to a diamond, making it an excellent diamond simulant. Its crystalline structure is held together with strong covalent bonding, or the attraction-to-repulsion stability, similar to diamonds. It is nearly as hard as diamond. It can feature the brilliance same as a diamond.
Aside form looking alike, moissanite and diamonds have other similar features. They are both great conductors of electricity making them both ideal for use in the electronic field. Moissanites are thermally conductive like diamonds and can even match the heat conductivity of diamonds.
Although there are gemstones that are used as diamonds substitute, the moissanite can give even more.
Moissanite is one of the hardest substances known. On the Mohs hardness scale, it rates 9.25 to 9.5 with diamond being 10. It is harder than cubic zirconia another diamond substitute which rates 9 on the Mohs hardness scale. Such hardness of the moissanite is important for an engagement ring to last as it will be worn daily.
Moissanite is more brilliant than cubic zirconia which is common alternative for diamonds. Moissanite is actually twice as refractive as the diamond and is double-faceted, giving the moissanite more brilliance and fire than either a diamond or cubic zirconia. Hence, it is indeed more brilliant than a diamond.
Moissanite is not a fake diamond. It is a genuine gemstone that looks like a diamond. It should not be passed off as a diamond but should be valued for its own unique properties.
Here are some tips when buying a moissanite engagement ring.
1. Examine the stone under a variety of lights before buying a moissanite engagement ring. Check its carat weight, color, purity, clarity and cut intricacy.
2. Before choosing a moissanite engagement ring, inspect different sizes and shapes.
3. Know the return policy store. Ask to see the stones certification and other documentation.
4. Most moissanite engagement rings are more affordable than diamond engagement rings but they are also more durable. Some moissanite can even be more expensive than a poor quality diamond, depending on stone quality. Moissanite engagement less expensive than diamond engagement ring, but slightly cheaper than real diamonds.
5. Between cubic zirconia engagement ring and moissanite engagement ring, moissanite engagement ring is more expensive.
6. A cut with multiple points of refraction displays the best shine, so choose a marquise or princess cut moissanite engagement ring.
Whatever you’re looking for in an engagement ring, you can find it in moissanite. moissanite-ringsdiscount.com offers excellent quality moissanite engagement rings that are very affordable. We even offer discounts on selected items which you can avail of on eBay and Amazon. Moissanite engagement ring is very ideal for couples on a budget as its biggest advantage is the cost.
Author Fred Gagnon is an expert on providing tips and information on jewelries. He owns a wide collection of stunning, glamorous and chic jewelries. To learn more about jewelries, accessories, precious metals and gemstones, visit Peridot Rings and Turquoise Rings.