With bare eyes, one will get confused after seeing a diamond and moissanite in the same place. It happens because both have a bright outlook that can easily confuse people. One can detect diamonds using a diamond tester. But does Moissanite pass diamond tester?
The simple answer is “Yes”. Regular diamond testers have the function of detecting heat conductivity. And Moissanite is a gemstone that conducts heat, unlike other alloy stones. So, naturally, moissanite passes regular diamond testers, so it is hard to differentiate between these two stones.
Table of Contents
- Does Moissanite Pass Diamond Tester?
- How to differentiate between a Moissanite and a Diamond
- In-Depth Explanation To Understand The Differences Between A Moissanite And A Diamond
- What makes Moissanite so Special?
- Cost-effectiveness of Moissanite
- What is the downside of Moissanite?
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
Does Moissanite Pass Diamond Tester?
Both moissanite and diamond are thermally conductive, and, as mentioned above, a regular diamond tester differentiates real diamonds according to thermal conductivity characteristics. So, a diamond tester can detect all other faux diamonds except a Moissanite.
Regular Diamond Tester
A regular diamond tester is used for detecting heat conductivity in gemstones. Diamonds are rare stones that produce heat because of the solid covalent bonding’s and low phonon scattering.
So, testing this unique feature allows one to easily differentiate between real and fake diamond-like cubic zirconia. A diamond tester can detect an authentic diamond by observing the heat pathway on the gemstone. You can get one just for under $20 to check the gems at the comfort of your home.
How to differentiate between a Moissanite and a Diamond
Moissanite is a reflective material that reflects twice and causes all the light junctions to appear twice. Because of this light reflection, a Moissanite looks silkier than a diamond.
But general people like us cannot differentiate them based on their looks. If you want to distinguish between a diamond and moissanite, you will need a different kind of tester other than a diamond tester.
This tester functions based on the electrical conductivity of materials. As we know, diamonds can’t pass electricity within them because of structural reasons, which is unlikely to be another solid carbon, “Graphite.”
But Moissanite is electrically conductive, making it easier to differentiate real and fake diamonds. You can also test with multi-testers that detect both the thermal and electrical conductivity of gemstones.
In-Depth Explanation To Understand The Differences Between A Moissanite And A Diamond
Basic knowledge about diamond and moissanite is not enough to understand their differences. So, it is a must to go in-depth into the topic to understand how they are different from each other.
What is a Diamond?
A diamond is a solid form of Carbon forming a crystal structure, often called a cubic structure. It is a mineral composed of pure carbon. It is the hardest form of Carbon and has a bright outlook; for this reason, it has value in industrial use.
A diamond usually is a thermal detective, but unlike Graphite, they are not electrically conductive. The heat conductivity of diamonds is higher than any other gemstones, especially from fake diamonds like-cubic zirconia, clear quartz, etc. These gemstones look closely like a diamond but are alloy substances of Carbon.
What is Moissanite?
Moissanite is one of the faux diamonds that looks exactly like a diamond but is an alloy of Silicon and Pure Carbon. Scientists discovered Moissanite in the early 1990s, using Silicon and Carbon; naturally, it’s cheaper than a diamond as it’s alloy metal.
Although moissanite is cheaper than diamond, its durability is very long compared to other faux gemstones. The reason behind its durability is the hardness of Moissanite. Moissanite is almost as hard as Diamond based on the hardness scale.
The characteristics that make Moissanite different from other faux diamonds are durability, toughness, and resistance to scratching and abrasion. Moissanite has a scale of 9.25-9.50 in the case of hardness. That’s why it is harder than most gemstones except diamonds, as a diamond’s hardness scale is ten by 10.
Moissanite is an eco-friendly, affordable, and hand-polished gemstone that outstands many other gems.
Moissanite Vs. Diamond
Toughness
In the case of toughness, Moissanite outstands diamond as a moissanite’s luster is 20.4%. On the other hand, the luster of a diamond is 17.2%.
Hardness
Moissanite is harder than any other faux gemstone. Despite being made in the lab, it has a near scale of hardness with diamond. A diamond’s hardness scale is 10 by 10, while a moissanite’s hardness scale is almost 9.50.
Durability
Moissanite is quite durable compared to other gemstones but is not as durable as pure diamond. Diamond is a hard mineral made of carbon and scored 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. That’s why diamond is more durable.
Light Refraction
Moissanite can refract the light within them twice; that’s why jewelers can see two strains on this material. Diamonds cannot refract light as much as a moissanite can. That’s why moissanite looks more colorful than diamond.
Murkiness
Moissanite may get murky after a particular usage, but a diamond will not get that because of its natural compounds. But you can remove the murkiness of moissanite by simply washing it.
Price
A diamond is 10x pricey than moissanite. For example, a moissanite 2-3 carat piece is worth $1000-$2000. But the exact same amount of diamonds cost ten thousand dollars.
What makes Moissanite so Special?
Some facts help Moissanite to withstand other faux diamonds or gemstones:
Cost-effectiveness of Moissanite
Moissanite is cheaper than Diamonds because it’s made in a lab. A diamond is 10x pricey than moissanite. For example, a moissanite 2-3 carat piece is worth $1000-$2000. But the exact same amount of diamonds cost ten thousand dollars. So, moissanite usually is 10x cheaper than a diamond.
Related: Best cut for Moissanite.
What is the downside of Moissanite?
There are some downsides of Moissanite along with the advantages it holds:
Frequently asked questions
Can a jeweler distinguish between a Moissanite and a Diamond?
An expert jeweler can distinguish between a Moissanite and a diamond without a tester. They use a loupe to look at the diamond at a certain angle, and if they see two blurred lines, it indicates the double refraction of Moissanite. But this test is not 100% right as experts can make wrong assumptions too.
Can Moissanite be GIA certified?
Moissanite can be GIA certified because this shining bright gemstone is likened to GIA H color. Like other white gemstones, moissanite doesn’t make yellow stains after certain use times.
Is Moissanite a fake Diamond?
Moissanite is a faux diamond which means it’s not made of pure Carbon, which is unlikely for diamonds. Even though Moissanite is a fake diamond, it will pass diamond testers because of its high thermal conductivity, a rare characteristic of faux diamonds or gemstones.
Moissanite is the only faux diamond with durability and hardness levels almost closer to real diamonds. That’s why it is a good option for those who want a shining, durable gemstone but can’t afford a diamond.
What diamonds will pass the diamond tester?
Real diamonds will pass the diamond tester naturally, but lab diamonds will also pass this test because they are made with the same compounds found in nature. It happens because a usual diamond tester checks if heat is produced in a diamond but doesn’t check if it’s pure diamond.
How long do Moissanite rings last?
Moissanite rings last forever like a diamond because their hardness scale in Mohs of hardness is 9.25-9.50. To maintain the shiny look you have to clean your moissanite ring timely.
Conclusion
I hope now you have all the answers to your curiosity about does Moissanite passes diamond test. Regular diamond testers have the function of detecting heat conductivity. And Moissanite is a gemstone that conducts heat, unlike other alloy stones.
A diamond tester can see an authentic diamond by observing the heat pathway on the gemstone. The heat conductivity of diamonds is higher than any other gemstone, especially fake diamonds, but moissanite is different. Moissanite also produces heat because of its compound’s covalent bonds.
So, suppose you are short on budget but want something bright and outstanding jewelry like a diamond. In that case, you can go for moissanite jewelry as its hardness and durability are almost identical to diamond.
