CARAT* Diamond Simulants vs. Moissanite

History
This page was constructed to answer the many questions we get from customers regarding Moissanite, also known as Silicon Carbide.

Over the past 50 years there were a number of contenders in Diamond Simulants space using materials, such as Strontium Titanate and synthetic Rutile and even lab created White Sapphire. Many of these are no longer in common use as a Diamond Simulant or Fake Diamond due to their unconvincing optical properties.

A more recent Diamond Simulant is a synthetic product called moissanite or Silicon Carbide. It has gained some popularity as a Diamond Simulant, although its high cost and its, sometimes, unconvincing color properties make it a relatively unimportant as a Diamond Simulant.

The Test
While Moissanite is a fantastic gemstone in its own right with unique fire and hardness properties it is not widely regarded by professionals as the best Diamond Simulant on the market. The main problems with Moissanite being:

1. Compare Moissanite Color
One important thing to note when comparing Moissanite with our stones is that Moissanite is in fact a faintly green stone which can be seen in natural daylight conditions. Typically, when compared on the white Diamond GIA color scale, Moissanite comes in at a respectable I,J,K grade (yellowy/green hues can be found in natural diamond) where CARAT* Diamond Simulants rate a much higher D,E grade (top of the scale). In order to see a diamond or Diamond Simulants true color more easily, flip the stone upside down on a white piece of paper and look through the pavilion facets (the bottom of the stone). You will easily see that the many Moissanite stones are faintly green and sometimes yellowy in color.

2. Compare Moissanite Clarity
Moissanite can also appear blurry when examined closely. This is due to the crystal structure altering the velocity of light wavelengths unevenly within the stone causing the internal facets to look burred. A convincing diamond stimulant will have clean sharp facet lines when looking from various angles through the top of the stone. CARAT* Diamond Simulants are more accurate from an optical point of view with ultra clean facet lines when looking from the top of the stone.

3. Compaire the Price
At prices from US$400 to nearly US$800 per carat it is quite expensive for a Simulant. We believe CARAT* offers you the price, convincing optical characteristics, durability and most importantly stunning jewelry designs.

Some Advise
If you absolutely must buy Moissanite, make sure the seller lets you see the color of the stone before you buy. If the stone is loose, flip it upside in the crease of a folded piece of A4 paper next to a loose, D,E or F color natural diamond (or even a CARAT* Diamond Simulant). Look through the pavilion of both stones face down and compare the colors. (A hint for you, the whiter stones are normally found in the round shapes).