If you’re looking for both an affordable and beautiful new piece of jewelry, there’s no better option than a moissanite gemstone. Getting your hands on some affordable moissanite is not only an easy and efficient way to bring some new sparkle to your jewelry collection, but it’s also something you can do without breaking the bank. Read on for a few tips on how to buy moissanite online to ensure that you’re getting the best piece for the price range you have in mind.
What Exactly is Moissanite?
Originally discovered in 1983 by scientist Henri Moissan, moissanite is comprised of silicon carbide crystals. The stone itself is quite hard and is easily shaped into intricate cuts that many softer gemstones can’t hold. Affordable moissanite has become increasingly popular amongst jewelry makers due to the strength of the stone and its resistance to breaks and scratches.
How is Moissanite Made?
While moissanite does in fact have natural origins, most of the affordable moissanite currently on the market is man-made. By using a patented thermal growing process, scientists can replicate the same silicon carbide crystal which is either colorless or more rarely can possess some yellow or green tinting. While often compared to diamonds visually, man-made moissanite is more durable and possesses more sparkle than its diamond counterpart. It takes roughly between 2 to 3 months for a single moissanite gem to be created.
Buying Moissanite Online
As with most online purchases, you’ll get the best results if you put in a bit of research to buy your products. Make sure you’re checking the reviews on the vendors you’re interested in, and don’t forget to do some price comparisons. Moissanite weighs around 10% less than a diamond of similar dimensions when using the traditional carat scale, and most reputable moissanite vendors will use a Diamond Equivalent Weight (DEW) for measurement purposes so you can get an idea of the gemstone size.
Checking for Clarity
Reputable online moissanite sellers will also list details regarding the clarity of the pieces. Similar to a diamond, moissanite uses a 10x jeweler’s loupe to pinpoint any issues that might impact visual performance. Moissanite is usually graded by using the standard Gemological Institute of America’s clarity scale which grades stones from Internally Flawless to Included.
Benefits of Buying Moissanite
Because of its durability and affordability, moissanite makes for the perfect everyday jewelry. It’s easy to clean and take care of by using either a commercial non-acid-based jewelry cleaner or even soap and water. Because you’re saving on the costs of the actual stone, this means you can also invest in pieces with a higher quality of silver or other adornments surrounding the stone on your necklaces, earrings, or rings. The last and most exciting aspect that makes moissanite so worth the investment is the beautiful sparkle you’ll be purchasing. Moissanite has an extremely high reflective index which is the property that makes a gemstone sparkle. Coming in the average range of 2.65 to 2.69 on the refractive index, moissanite displays more brilliance on average than your typical diamond.