What fool\u2019s gold is to gold, one might say Moissanite is to diamonds.<\/p>\n
While pyrite (fake gold) crushed the dreams of gold prospectors in the days of the California gold rush, moissanite, so too, has deceived some of the most knowledgeable men into thinking they had discovered a real fortune.<\/p>\n
That said, moissanite has managed to play a valuable role in history. In fact, one could argue that had it not been for the discovery of moissanite, the lab diamond may have never been created.\u00a0 But what exactly is Moissanite and how does it compare to a lab created diamond?In this article, we\u2019ll discuss:<\/p>\n
Moissanite was first discovered in 1893 by Henri Moissan, a French chemist examining rock samples in a meteorite. Although he first thought he had found diamonds, he eventually identified the material as silicon carbide (SiC)<\/a> in 1904.<\/p>\n Moissanite in its natural form is very rare. Until the 1950\u2019s no source of moissanite other than meteorites, was known.<\/p>\n In fact, so scarce is the occurrence of moissanite in nature, that today all applications of moissanite are synthetic ones. In 1995, Cree developed a process for producing single crystals of moissanite. A master diamond cutter suggested its potential as a beautiful jewel to Charles and Colvard, and soon came the birth of synthetic moissanite.<\/p>\n Today, Charles and Colvard, in partnership with Cree are the exclusive makers of synthetic moissanite.<\/p>\n Like diamonds, silicon carbide relies on carbon bonds for its strength, and is the third hardest material known to man. Its physical and electrical properties make it one of the foremost semiconductors for high temperature and radiation resistant devices. It\u2019s made into moissanite using a combination of heat and pressure.<\/p>\n The first step in producing Moissanite is to cut the silicon carbide crystals into preforms, or preliminary shaping\u2019s of the stones. These preforms are then sent overseas to be hand cut and polished to create fire and brilliance.<\/p>\n The preform is then attached to a dop to aid in the grinding process. The dop holds the moissanite in place while the faceting machine spins around it to create the friction necessary to shape the stone. The faceting machines are made of aluminum or steel with diamond chips in them to cut and polish as they shape. Here\u2019s a video of that process:<\/p>\n Next, the lower portion, or pavilion, of the stone is formed through a grinding process, and the girdle (the part of the stone used for setting) is cut and polished. After it is removed from the dop, the lower part of the stone is reattached to the crown and returned to Charles and Couvard for a final inspection.<\/p>\n Since the discovery was made in 1797 that diamonds were made of carbon, man has made numerous attempts at recreating the process of natural diamond growth. Perhaps, the most celebrated one was conducted by Moissan himself in 1893. Since than others have followed suit, but it wasn\u2019t until 1955 that General Electric employee Tracey Hall successfully produced the first lab created diamonds.<\/p>\n The idea behind lab created diamonds is to simulate the way the earth makes diamonds in a more efficient fashion.<\/p>\n Like the earth, lab created diamonds are made from carbon, exposed to extreme heat and highly pressurized conditions to achieve a crystal structure. The only difference is that the growth process of lab created diamonds occurs in a lab, while the growth process of natural diamonds occurs in the earth.<\/p>\n There are two ways of creating the lab created diamond: The HPHT (High Pressure\/ High Temperature method, and the CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method.<\/p>\n In the HPHT method, a press is used to create the proper amount of pressure and temperature.<\/p>\n The HPHT method<\/a> begins by placing a diamond seed at the bottom of a cylindrical capsule, the carbon source at the top on the capsule, and a metal slug in the center, with pressures reaching between 50,000 and 70,000 atm. Heat ranging from 12,000 to 15,000 degrees is applied to the capsule using an electric current. When the pressure and temperature reach the ideal levels, the carbon from the top of the capsule dissolves into the metal which drips on the seed to form a diamond.<\/p>\n In the CVD method<\/a>, more commonly used today, a diamond is produced from a hot mixture of hydrocarbon gas (usually methane) and hydrogen placed in a vacuum chamber at low pressure. Energy supplied by electric discharge or microwave energy is applied to the mixture causing the hydrogen to react with the methane, and the hydrogen is released, leaving behind pure carbon, a.k.a.: a diamond.<\/p>\n The first thing that needs to be clarified when comparing lab diamonds to moissanite is that neither are fake diamonds.<\/p>\n Lab created diamonds are diamonds grown in a lab, and moissanite is moissanite grown in a lab, which means that they\u2019re really just two different rocks which happen to look alike.<\/p>\n Lab created diamonds are sourced from pure carbon, while moissanite is sourced from silicon carbide, which means lab diamonds are identical in chemical composition to real diamonds, whereas lab grown moissanite is identical in chemical composition to moissanite.<\/p>\n In addition, when naturally occurring, moissanite comes from the sky. The silicon carbide from which it is formed is most commonly in meteorites, or meteors that fall to the ground from outer space. <\/p>\n Diamonds, when naturally occurring, come from the earth. The carbon that eventually becomes diamonds forms first in the earth\u2019s very deepest layers until a series of events and conditions occur to bring it to the surface.<\/p>\n In laymen\u2019s terms, however, the difference is quite clear.<\/p>\n While the moissanite is a sturdy and attractive stone, it is just that. If you\u2019re looking for a practical, low maintenance stone that will make an elegant statement, moissanite is a fine gemstone in its own right, but if you are looking for the real thing, the lab created diamond is it.<\/p>\n When we talk about the durability, or hardness of a gem, we are usually talking about the Moh\u2019s Scale<\/a>. The Moh\u2019s scale is the scale used to measure the relative hardness of a mineral in terms of its resistance to scratching. The diamond sets the standard in this scale, receiving the golden status of a ten; confirming its definition as the \u201chardest material known to man.\u201d<\/p>\n The lab diamond, having been grown under the same extreme conditions as a diamond, also earns this top-ranking notch. It is just as durable and resistant to scratches as the natural diamond.<\/p>\n Moissanite is extremely durable as well. In fact, with a Moh\u2019s scale ranking of 9.25, it is second only to the diamond when it comes to toughness and endurance. It\u2019s extremely resistant to chips and breakages and has an even higher heat resistance than the lab created diamond, making it excellent for usage in thermal conductivity in industrial applications.<\/p>\n However, while both of lab created diamond and moissanite come very close in durability, this distinction is just one of many that sets the moissanite apart from a real diamond. <\/p>\n In gemologist terms, clarity in gems refers to the flaws or inclusions in gemstones. The GIA rates<\/a>the clarity of gems<\/a> on a scale from FL, or flawless to I or included with flawless gems being the highest in value and the most sought after. There are also VS ratings, indicating very slight inclusions, and S rating indicating slight inclusions.<\/p>\n With the extreme conditions a diamond is subjected to, the production of a flawless diamond is so rarely found, that it increases the stone\u2019s worth exponentially. The same is true of a lab diamond. It is grown under identical conditions and the likelihood of flaws are equal to that of a natural diamond, even though it\u2019s grown in a lab.<\/p>\n In the case of moissanite, every stone is produced to meet at least VS, or very slightly included standards. Moissanite flaws can only be seen with magnification; and are even hard to spot under a jeweler\u2019s loupe. Less than 10 percent of diamonds actually achieve this level of clarity.<\/p>\n However, while you may be able to find a higher level of clarity in moissanite than in real diamonds, it is an artificial clarity. While flawlessness in a lab diamond is rare indeed, it is common in moissanite, making the flawless moissanite stone less valuable, while the flawless lab diamond is a rare and treasured creation.<\/p>\nWhat are Lab Created Diamonds?<\/h3>\n
What is the Difference?<\/h3>\n
Difference in Durability<\/h3>\n
Difference in Clarity<\/h3>\n
Difference in Color<\/h3>\n