Used in the place of comparatively expensive diamonds, moissanite is a form of Silicon Carbide. It is rare to find and bears quite a lot of similarities to diamonds.
The property in which moissanite is closest to diamond is its hardness. While the former measures 9.5 on the Mohs scale, the latter is 10 on the same scale. Moissanite, being an almost perfect imitation of diamond is used as a replacement quite a lot, and since it is rare in its naturally occurring form, the synthetically produced moissanite is used more.
(Courtesy: Taylor & Hart)Now coming to your question, let me tell you some differences between moissanite and diamond.
1. Moissanite is more brilliant than diamond. It is, however, similar to the latter in color, cut, and clarity.
2. Moissanite has “double rarefaction”. This means if you see the opposite side of the moissanite, you will see it be doubled. This is a phenomenon which does not take place in diamond.
3. Another phenomenon that moissanite does better than a diamond is that of “dispersion”. Alternatively, it can be said that moissanite has better “fire” that . What this means is moissanite splits the light into its color components more effectively than diamond. So the light passing through it comes out to be more intense and more colorful.
Despite all these differences, both the stones could be difficult to differentiate. The best way to differentiate between the two to use a diamond tester or a moissanite tester. Both the testers use the substance’s electricity and heat conductivity to determine their purity.
While the diamond tester will tell you if it’s not a diamond, the moissanite tester can ensure of it being the one.
Best is to use the electronic testers as the heat conductivity of both the substances are quite close.
