If you’re looking at fire gemstones as your next accessory, consider a piece of moissanite fire jewelry. Moissanite is considered one of the most beautiful gemstones across the globe, with its timeless beauty and brilliance. Moissanite gemstones are comparable to a fire brilliance diamond or a fire stone emerald, offering durability and about 2.4 times more fire at a lower price. There are lots of quality options for moissanite jewelers, including Gema&Co and GenStone LLC. We’ll help you sort through the various gems that look like fire to help you select the perfect fire gemstone to fit your style.
What is Moissanite?
Dr. Henry Moissan originally discovered this natural white gem that looks like a diamond in a meteor crater in Arizona back in 1893. The stone was, of course, named in his honor and was considered very rare. Lab-created moissanite is now grown under controlled conditions and is readily available all over the world. Moissanite is an excellent alternative to diamonds as it’s resistant to chipping, breaking, and scratching thanks to its strength and durability.
Moissanite Brilliance and Luster
Moissanite is known for its brilliance, more than any other gemstone in the world. It has a high refractive index of 2.65 — higher than white sapphire, cubic zirconia, and other popular gemstones. Gemstones with higher refractive indexes emit more brilliance, so moissanite’s high refractive index makes it the most brilliant gemstone across the globe. Moissanite also has twice the fire of a diamond.
Luster refers to the amount of light reflected back to someone from a gemstone’s surface. Moissanite has about 50 percent more luster than cubic zirconia and 18 percent more luster than a real diamond.
What is Moissanite Fire?
One of the most important components of moissanite is its dispersion, or its fire. Moissanite has about 2.4 times more fire or dispersion than the fire brilliance a diamond or a fire stone emerald offers. Each and every moissanite stone maintains its moissanite fire or dispersion throughout its lifetime.
Why Choose Moissanite?
But why should you choose a moissanite fire gemstone over diamonds or any other stone when selecting quality jewelry? Because moissanites are artificially created, they’re not sold to the public unless they have a high degree of clarity. It’s uncommon to see moissanite stones that have blemishes or that lack the distinct moissanite fire. Diamonds, on the other hand, often have blemishes or imperfections. Moissanites also have a high level of brilliance and a superior refractive index. If you’re looking for an extra sparkly gemstone, moissanite is the perfect choice.
Here are a few other reasons to choose moissanite:
Color
Diamonds and moissanite often look similar in color when viewed in poor lighting or from a far distance. However, there are major differences in color between diamonds and moissanite that are much more apparent when you look at them up close. Diamonds are typically graded from D through Z on a GIA color scale.
While moissanite stones aren’t categorized by color, they’re not colorless. They usually get a K grade on the GIA color scale and there can be yellow, green, and grey tints seen in moissanite stones, especially when viewed under light. Larger moissanite gemstones are more readily differentiated from diamonds, since the colors are more noticeable.
Price
Diamonds can drastically vary in value, price, and quality because they are natural rather than artificial. However, most moissanite stones tend to cost a lot less. Keep in mind that moissanite stone prices can vary based on the type of moissanite material and the size of the stone.
Moissanite gemstones tend to be significantly less expensive than diamonds, but they also weigh about 15 percent less than diamonds do. Here’s a price comparison of diamonds and moissanites, based on millimeter size for moissanites and carat weight for diamonds. A 0.5-carat diamond would cost about $1,060 on average, while a similarly sized 5-millimeter moissanite stone would cost about $520 on average. A one-carat diamond would cost about $3,890 on average, while a similarly sized 6.5-millimeter moissanite stone would only cost about $850.
Ethical Sourcing
Because moissanite stones are created in a lab, they’re much more sustainable, eco-friendly, and ethically sourced than diamonds are. There can be some huge unethical downsides to purchasing a natural diamond, since diamond miners and the environment are exploited in the process of mining natural diamonds. With the increasing effects of climate change, many have reservations about purchasing real diamonds because miners aren’t treated fairly and diamond mining has a strong negative impact on the environment. That’s why creating a gemstone like moissanite in a lab using innovative technology is a better and more ethical option for many people.
If you want to learn more about moissanite fire and the luxurious quality it can bring to your jewelry collection, contact Gema&Co to learn more about our products and where to get fire stone in emerald, round, or square cuts.
