Moissanite Loose Stones
and Fine Moissanite Jewelry

Moissanite Properties

Unique Properties

Charles & Colvard created moissanite has unique physical properties unlike any jewel ever seen! Moissanite gemstones rival diamond, ruby, emerald and other fine gemstones in their brilliance, fire, luster and incredible hardness.

It is generally accepted that the most important characteristics of a jewel are its beauty, durability and rarity.

• Beauty: The beauty of a jewel is determined by its color, brilliance, "fire" and luster.
• Brilliance: The brilliance of a jewel is created by cutting designs that use the jewel's refractive index and is measured by the amount of light that enters the jewel and is reflected back to the viewer.
• Fire: The dispersion of a jewel combined with the cutting design results in the "fire," or the breaking of light rays into the spectrum of colors and is measured by the amount of colored flashes viewed when the jewel is moved in various lighting conditions.
• Luster: Luster is the amount of light that is reflected back to the observer from the surface of the jewel.
• Durability: The durability of a jewel is determined by its hardness, or resistance to scratching, and its toughness, or resistance to chipping or cleaving. The jewel's hardness also determines the extent to which brilliance and "fire" can be highlighted by cutting with sharp, highly polished facets.
• Rarity: Rarity is the availability or perceived availability of a jewel.

These important characteristics are determined by a jewel's physical properties. The table below compares the physical properties of Charles & Colvard created moissanite and four of the most popular natural jewels.

Comparison Chart	BEAUTY			DURABILITY		SPECIFIC GRAVITY
	BRILLIANCE Refractive Index	FIRE Dispersion	LUSTER	HARDNESS Mohs	TOUGHNESS
	2.65-2.69	0.104	20.4%	9.25	excellent	3.21
	2.42	0.044	17.2%	10	excellent *	3.52
	1.77	0.018	7.4%	9	excellent **	4.00
	1.77	0.018	7.4%	9	excellent **	4.00
	1.58	0.014	4.8%	7.5	good to poor	2.72
* except good in cleavage direction    ** except twinned stones