Moissanite vs Diamond

Our ‘Moissanite vs Diamond’ article
is being revamped…

 

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by Metal Type


 

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What’s The Difference Between Diamond and Moissanite

This page will be continually expanding in order to include the latest information on moissanite in comparison to diamond.

It’s my aim to help each and everyone of you to find the answers and information that you seek.

If you have specific questions not covered here, or would like to see something else added to this resource, join in the discussion at the bottom of the page.


Quick Comparison Shopping Links


Forever One Moissanite vs Diamond Price Comparison

Shape
Carat Weight
GIA Certified Diamond

VS1 Clarity

F Color

Price in USD
Forever One Moissanite

VS1 Clarity

D-E-F Color

Price in USD
Available for Sale?
Round
0.50ct
$1,300.00
$179.00
Available
Round
1.00ct
$3,700.00
$399.00
Available
Round
2.00ct
$15,000.00
$749.00
Available
Round
3.00ct
$35,000.00
$995.00
Available
Princess
0.40ct
$600.00
$159.00
Available
Princess
1.00ct
$4,000.00
$479.00
Available
Princess
1.70ct
$12,500.00
$779.00
Available
Cushion
0.50ct
$900.00
$219.00
Available
Cushion
1.10ct
$3,700.00
$479.00
Available
Cushion
2.00ct
$15,000.00
$819.00
Available
Cushion
3.00ct
$35,000.00
$1,299.00
Available
Oval
1.00ct
$4,400.00
$379.00
Available
Oval
1.50ct
$10,300.00
$699.00
Available
Oval
2.25ct
$28,000.00
$1,019.00
Available
Asscher
1.25ct
$6,000.00
$529.00
Available
Asscher
2.25ct
$21,000.00
$979.00
Available
Asscher
3.25ct
$48,000.00
$1,359.00
Available

Moissanite vs Diamond Video Side by Side

Forever Brilliant Moissanite (left) and GIA Certified G Color SI2 Clarity Diamond


Moissanite Background and Introduction


When and Where Was Moissanite Discovered

In 1893, moissanite was discovered in the Canyon Diablo in Arizona. The discovery took place while rock samples were being examined at the meteor crash site. Imagine the feeling of examining these moissanite crystals at this meteor site, and for a good while the crystals were actually thought to be diamonds.

It wasn’t until 11 years after the discovery, in 1904, that the crystals were properly identified as moissanite.

Yep! Moissanite Originated from Out of This World

Gemstones from outer space

Image Credit: Ed Sweeney

Who Discovered Moissanite

The Nobel-prize recipient and chemist Dr. Henry Moissan discovered the natural form of crystal silicon carbide, which was later named Moissanite in honor of his last name.

Dr Henri Moissan
Henri Moissan

 

How is Moissanite Made

All moissanite found in jewelry is synthesized and grown in a laboratory setting. In the late 1980’s, the process of growing pure SiC crystals in a lab was perfected.

Who Makes Moissanite

Originally produced by and sold exclusively by C3 Inc, now known as Charles & Colvard, who held a patent for producing moissanite up until 2015 which practically gave them a monopoly on the entire production and distribution of moissanite.

Synthetic lab grown moissanite has been around for almost 2 decades. What was exclusively produced and distributed under patent protection originally, is now available via other laboratories and manufacturers. Many are jumping on the opportunity to produce the gems in the past year which should prove healthy for supply and demand.

I’m a firm believer that competition is a great thing. Now that the monopoly style patent has expired, many producers are starting to reverse engineer the process and already entering the marketplace with competing products. This is great news for availability and supply of stones which was seriously being hindered by only having access to one producer of the gems.

Keep an eye out for more moissanite brands to start hitting the marketplace as time goes on.

Moissanite engagement rings production and requests will definitely be much easier to fill in the coming year, whereas in the past year it was difficult because of little supply and excess demand.

Is Moissanite a Diamond?

Over the years, I’ve often been asked for my opinion on moissanite diamonds.

“Hey Gerry, what do you think of moissanite diamonds?”

“Hey Gerry, can you get moissanite diamonds?”

Moissanite is not a diamond nor should the two be confused.

Both gems are completely different substances.

What is Moissanite?

Moissanite is the crystal form of silicon carbide, a substance that is rarely found in nature.

What is Diamond?

Diamond is crystallized carbon/charcoal.

Investigative Reports Have Shown Jewelers Fooled by Moissanite

The Truth:

‘Fake Jewelers’ have a really hard time distinguishing moissanite from diamond.

I call ‘Fake Jewelers’ those who are jewelers that simply sell jewelry for a living. You know those clerks behind the jewelry counter, sales people without years of jeweler’s bench experience and no real training in the observation and inspection of gems.

Yep! Moissanite looks like a diamond to those people, but to those with true long term technical experience in the business… We need only 2 seconds to call moissanite, or any other gemstone, ‘Not a Diamond’.

That’s the truth.

To the untrained eye, it is very difficult to differentiate diamond from moissanite.


Diamond vs Moissanite: Hardness

Gemstone Hardness is measured on the Mohs scale of hardness which ranges from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).

Moissanite, also known as Silicon Carbide or Carborundum, is a 9.25 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

Diamond is a 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

Moissanite Shown Next to Diamond on Mohs Scale of Hardness
Mohs Scale of Hardness

The Truth About Gem Hardness

Diamond is much harder than moissanite, as such diamond can cut into moissanite with little resistance.

Moissanite is amongst the hardest gems know to man.

It has a rating of 9.25 on the Mohs scale which makes moissanite very suitable to be worn as a jewelry item everyday.

Diamond versus Moissanite Hardness Test, Diamond is Harder Than Moissanite
Diamond is Harder Than Moissanite

Confusing Hardness with Toughness

Just because these gems are rated amongst the hardest surfaces known to man, this does not mean that they are the toughest structurally.

For example, diamond is harder than my steel hammer.

I can cut through my hammer with a diamond. However, I can smash the diamond with my hammer.

This is because of what’s known as ‘cleavability’.

The gemsociety.org website gives this example on hardness & toughness:

Did you know the particles of dust you see floating in the air and settling on tables are mostly silicon quartz? Their hardness on the Mohs scale is around 7 to 7.5. That means those particles can remove the finish from your car, the polish from your table, and actually cut glass. Dust and other everyday hazards make gemstone hardness an important consideration when designing and wearing jewelry.

You may know that diamond, with a hardness of 10, is the hardest material in the gem world. However, there’s an old saying among gemologists:

If you hit a diamond with a hammer, it’ll shatter into a dozen pieces. If you hit a piece of quartz with a hammer, it’ll split in two. If you hit a piece of jade with a hammer, it’ll ring like a bell!”

How is that possible if diamond is the hardest gem?

What Does Gemstone Hardness Mean?

Gemstone hardness is a very misunderstood property. The word “hardness” has a very specific scientific meaning in gemology that differs considerably from its everyday usage. The scientific definition of hardness is the ability to resist scratching, nothing more.

Read full article: Source

The Truth About Toughness

Diamonds and moissanite, though very difficult to scratch or abraid, can be chipped and/or broken.

This breakage and chipping is not a common occurrence in set jewelry, but it’s definitely possible and I’ve witnessed this a number of times over the years.


Diamond vs Moissanite:
Brilliance - Refractive Index - Fire and Dispersion

Gemstone ComparedBrilliance
Refractive Index (RI)
Fire - Dispersion
Moissanite2.650.104
Diamond2.420.044
Cubic Zirconia2.210.066
Sapphire1.770.018

When comparing both moissanite and diamond on the refractometer, we can see that the refractive index of moissanite is greater than diamond.

Lowered sparkle and brilliance, to my understanding, is but a result of a lower refractive index (RI).

All stones get dirty and develop a layer of oils and dirts that stick to the underside of the gem.

The major difference is that the higher RI gems keep sparkling while lower RI gems will look dull under these conditions.

If you own any gemstone ring like white sapphire, morganite or aquamarine, you already know how quickly these stones appear to get dirty.

Some people misunderstand this and believe that lower RI stones ‘attract’ dirt.

I’ve yet to see a stone ‘attract oil and dirt’ more than another.

Lowered sparkle and brilliance is but a result of a lower refractive index (RI)

The Truth About Brilliance:

Comparing the stones with gemological equipment clearly shows that moissanite is the winner in this arena. With a greater RI and great Fire and Dispersion – Moissanite wins this round.

moissanite and diamond, compare brilliance
Moissanite is More Brilliant than diamond

Moissanite Color Grade Comparison


Forever One vs Forever One vs Forever Classic


Forever One
Forever One
Forever Classic
D-E-F
H-I-J
J-K-L
Colorless
Near Colorless
Faint Yellow

 


Video: Forever One vs Forever Brilliant vs Forever Classic Side by Side

 

 


 

Diamond vs Moissanite: Color Grade

 

GIA Color Grading Chart
GIA Diamond Color Grading Chart

 

The Gemological Institute of America devised a certified color grading system for diamonds.

Equipped with a certified master set of color graded diamonds, a trained gemologist can compare any diamond against the master set in order to establish it’s color grade. More accurately, the gemologist can determine the presence of or lack of presence of yellow tint that is apparent in the crystal.

The favored 4H polytype crystal being used to produce Forever One Moissanite, NEO Moissanite, SuperNova Moissanite and other up and coming brands are producing color grades that are between D to H color.

The Truth About Color Grading Moissanite

Summary of Color Comparison:

In my opinion, this ends in a tie. D-E-F color grade of diamond is rivaled in appearance by the newer 4H polytype moissanite.

Color grade comparison
Color Grade Comparison

Conflict Free and Eco-Friendly Comparison

Conflict diamonds, alternatively known as blood diamonds, are diamonds that are mined in or near war zones.

The sale and profit of such diamonds are then used to fund warlord activities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.

If a consumer doesn’t know or understand what conflict diamonds are, once it is explained and understood, that same consumer then embraces the idea ofboycotting the blood diamond business entirely.

In 2006, Hollywood shed some light on the concerning reality that occurs daily in the diamond trade.

If you haven’t yet seen the movie ‘Blood Diamond’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou, I highly recommend it.

Blood Diamond Movie Trailer

The Kimberley Process was initially established to stop the flow of ‘conflict diamonds’ from reaching the market via ‘stringent’ sanctions imposed by the United Nations.

The following is an excerpt taken from the BBC showcasing some of the shortcomings and criticisms of the Kimberley Process which has led to groups like Global Witness to leave the Kimberley Process:

“But Global Witness says the Kimberley Process has failed to break the link between diamond sales and violence.

In the late 1990s, the organization led a campaign to draw attention to the problem of conflict diamonds, and along with other NGOs was instrumental in setting up the Kimberley Process itself.

Now, however, it has become disillusioned with the system.

“Nearly nine years after the Kimberley Process was launched, the sad truth is that most consumers still cannot be sure where their diamonds come from,” Global Witness founding director Charmian Gooch told BBC World Service’s World Business Report.

Read full article…”

With all of the above going on, and the negative impact of un-regulated corrupt mining can have on the environment as seen in the following video, it’s a wonder the diamond business continues on in the way that it does.

Diamond Mining Without Constraints & The Environment

Moissanite on the contrary, is grown in a controlled laboratory environment right in the good old USA with Charles & Colvard products, and overseas for most others.

The Truth About Conflict Free Gems

The truth is, in the case of mined products, we can be told that they are conflict free. But do we know for sure? The answer is no.

In the case of moissanite, it is 100% created in a lab. A big win for eco-friendly and conflict free assuredness.

Moissanite Versus Diamond, Conflict Free Comparison
Moissanite Beats Diamond in Conflict Free Assuredness

Gerry’s Personal Thoughts on Moissanite


Why I Never Sold Moissanite

Year: 2001 – 2013

I didn’t actively promote moissanite as a diamond alternative until the recent improvements in it’s appearance.

Why?

I think that it looked sub-par at best, just my personal opinion.

Seriously, here’s a stone that was being sold as a diamond alternative and it looked like this:

original greenish color of moissanite

Image Credit: Wikimedia

Yellow and green and everything in between. That is not a desirable look. Just my opinion.

Some people loved that classic moissanite appearance and I’m sure many people still do.

In those early days, moissanite customers would come to my shop to have their ‘moissy’ ring cleaned or sized, serviced, etc.

I couldn’t help but notice this greenish, grayish, yellowish hue that was being emitted from the stone. It just isn’t a desirable look to me, nor would I have offered it to my own clients as an option.

If I don’t wholeheartedly believe in the product, I’m not going to sell it. Period.

As a matter of fact, ask me to sell you a Classic moissanite…

I will still refuse to sell ‘classic’ moissanite to this day! First impressions are lasting impressions. Again, my opinion.


Introduction to Forever Brilliant Moissanite

Year: 2013

In 2013, I was approached by a client who had a moissanite ring that she was very excited to show me.

So she lay her hand in front of me, and I was prepared to see the same old stuff as before.

I couldn’t believe it…

I was actually kind of impressed by it’s appearance.

I asked her where she got this?

‘It’s the newer Forever Brilliant Moissanite by Charles & Colvard, isn’t it pretty!’

For the first time in my life, I said ‘Yes’! It looks amazing, and it really did… Even by my fussy standard.

So impressed was I, that I finally started to offer Moissanite, of the Forever Brilliant variety, to my clientele as a viable center stone option for engagement rings.

Important Notes on Forever Brilliant Moissanite

Forever Brilliant brand of moissanite is touted to be in the near colorless range and often compared to H-I-J Color Grade of diamonds.

However, I’ve found this to only be partially true.

As you look at FB moissy’s that are 2 Carat or larger, the larger stones definitely appear to show more yellow than what is claimed. That is my own personal critique on this.

The feedback that I’ve gotten from clients who own larger stones, 2+ Carat, have confirmed this and told me that they ‘wished’ they’re stone didn’t look so yellow.


Forever One Moissanite Hits the Market

Year: 2015

When Charles and Colvard finally rolled out their newest Forever One Moissanite in 2015, I was simultaneously leery and excited.

I became a little bit less skeptical once I saw this video comparing the three qualities of moissanite side-by-side:
What once was a gemstone grown in the lab that I associated with tones of gray and yellow, and even greenish undertones – Is now a serious contender in the brilliant white gemstone department.

I used to think ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if at least moissanite was colorless and not green/gray?’

Finally Moissanite is colorless. This is a stone that I can sell in absolute confidence because of it’s lack of color.


Moissanite vs Diamond – Gerry’s Personal Tests

I’ve never been one to take the word of science as the be all and end all. Even though my own tests confirm their findings, sometimes I just like to get confirmation for myself.

Also, this means I get to do what many guys enjoy doing:

  • Playing with my shop tools
  • Scratching things up with other things
  • Smashing stuff
  • Lighting things on fire with my torch

That’s right, I’m going to be cutting, smashing, burning and conducting my shop tests goldmith shop style on a real diamond and a real moissanite.


Test #1 – How Hard is SiC – AKA Moissanite

I’ve personally worked with silicon carbide for years, but I never imagined that it would end up as a gemstone.

The image below is a picture of silicon carbide discs that I use to cut gold and platinum at the jewelers bench.

These are available to many industries in various forms to cut through extremely hard materials.

Silicon Carbide Discs from Gerry The Jeweler's Bench

Video – 20,000 rpm – Cutting a Gold Ring with SiC (aka moissanite)

 

Test #2 – Diamond vs Silicon Carbide AKA Moissanite

Can You Cut Diamonds with Silicon Carbide AKA – Moissanite?

In this video, I’ll take silicon carbide to the max speed of my drill, 20,000 revolutions per minute, and attempt to cut a diamond with it.


 

Video – 20,000 rpm – Can I Cut a Diamond in Half with SiC (aka moissanite)

 

Test #3 – Smashing a Moissanite with My Hammer

**In Production**

Test #4 – Smashing a Diamond with My Hammer

**In Production**

Test #5 Let’s Burn These Sparkling Gems with the Torch 🙂

**In Production!**


Other Alternatives

If you’re like many who have made the decision to boycott certain diamond sources because of what is going on over in war-ridden areas, there are some great alternatives.

Canadian Diamonds

Canadian diamonds are diamonds that have been mined cut and polished in Canada.

The diamond, to be certified as Canadian, is tracked from mine to market, laser inscribed with a serial number, and completely traceable via an online database.

The Canadian diamond tracking system is still the only marketplace, to my current knowledge, which allows consumers to track their diamond all the way back to its mine of origin.

Laboratory Grown Diamonds

A few companies now have the technology which allows them to grow diamonds in a lab environment.

Lab-grown diamonds are man-made carbon-based creations that are physically and optically equal to genuine diamonds.

As the technology evolves, these diamonds are becoming more readily available. They do however fetch a premium dollar.

The major plus, however, is that these created diamonds are produced in a lab and thus avoid unregulated environment damaging mining activity and potential conflict funding.

Lab Grown Diamonds are 100% Conflict Free diamonds!

Moissanite

Moissanite, regardless of the manufacturer, is a fantastic alternative for many reasons.

Like laboratory grown diamonds, laboratory grown moissanite involves absolutely no mining procedures..

With prices at a fraction of genuine and lab diamonds, moissanite outshines the competition not only in brilliance and refractive index but also in price points.

Today, not only can you have the sparkle, but you can feel good about wearing it too!

All the while completely boycotting the idea of ‘conflict gems’ ?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Forever One Moissanite VS Other Brands

With Charles & Colvard’s patent now expired, other moissanite brands are beginning to make their mark in this rapidly expanding marketplace.

Here I’ll be comparing moissanite brands head to head as time and supply allows. If there’s a comparison that you would like to see, let me know and I’ll do my very best to include it.

Amora Gem VS Forever One Moissanite

In order that I may evaluate any competing gemstone accurately, I always attempt to setup an account with the supplier of the stones in order to get my hands on the supply for comparison.

After reaching out to the supplier of Amora Gem in order to do so, I was told:
“..due to extremely limited inventory currently we are not accepting new requests for Amora Gem resellers… At such time as we are able to accept new reseller accounts, we will get back to you.

This is the second time in the last couple of years that I’ve attempted to setup an account with Amora Gem and have gotten the same reply. Time will tell whether or not I ever get to do a physical examination of these myself.

In the meantime, I’ve found this really nice video comparison of Forever One Moissanite and Amora Gem side by side. I’ve set the video to start at 4:00 minutes because this is exactly how I would examine the Color Grade of the 2 competing stones:

Video Credit: F&B on Youtube

The GIA Certified diamond appears on the left, followed by the Amora Gem in the center and the Forever One Moissanite on the right. Glancing back and forth from Amora to Forever One, the Forever One appears to be a higher on the color scale.

Both gems are touted as colorless when compared to the GIA Color Grading chart. The Amore – F Color, and the Forever One which is most often compared to D-E-F Color grades.

Having said that, and from my observation of this video specifically, Forever One is still a better choice for those of you seeking the highest color grade possible.

Until I’m shown otherwise, this is my current conclusion on this comparison.

In Summary

When it comes to comparing hardness, diamond takes the cake for sure.

However, when comparing brilliance, color, clarity, conflict free assuredness and price, moissanite is the clear leader.

Both stones have their own unique characteristics. Both diamond and moissanite will have their lovers and haters.

Whether you opt to go for diamond or moissanite for your engagement ring, I hope that this info has helped to guide you along.

Moissanite Q&A with Gerry The Jeweler

Would you opt for moissanite instead of a diamond?

Why? Why not?

Do you already own a moissanite? What has been your personal experience?

Feel free to ask questions, and I’ll answer them 🙂

Join the Discussion!

137 thoughts on “Moissanite vs Diamond

  1. Dalene says:

    I’ve lost the center stone in my engagement ring, the insurance won’t cover the loss which makes me sad, and I’m looking for a replacement atm.

    I’m pretty convinced that I won’t be dis-satisfied with the forever one brand of moissanite, but I’d hate to order the stone and then not be happy with it.

    I don’t believe this would be the case, but can I return it if I don’t like it?

    Do you sell just the loose moissanites, or do you only sell the rings?

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      .
      Sorry to hear about the loss of the center stone in your ring. What type of stone was it?

      Check your insurance policy thoroughly, I used to do many insurance replacement claims when I owned a retail store. Many times, insurance companies would deny claims without merit, or even try to pay out half of what the item was insured for.

      Please feel free to email or call me if you’d like some tips on how to deal with the insurance company. More times than not, you are 100% covered against loss or theft.

      You can click here to view Forever One Moissanite Loose Stones.

      If you have other questions, need help with your insurance situation, or for anything thing else – Feel free to reach out anytime.

      Regards,

      Gerry

  2. Marcus says:

    So you answered my question, moissanite is not a diamond. I don’t know why some websites are calling them moissanite diamonds – so deceptive.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      .
      Yeah, some companies and individual sellers refer to moissanite by saying things like ‘moissanite diamonds’.

      It’s pure marketing by deception, I agree with you 100%

      Glad that my post answered your question.

  3. Marj Connell says:

    I didn’t really know what moissanite was but noticed Ross-Simons was now offering rings with this stone. Your tutorial is very informative and I believe I would buy one in place of a diamond. I am a sparkle junkie so CZs don’t impress me much. The guilt wouldn’t be so bad if I lost one earring. Now that I know what they are I will be on the lookout.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Glad you found the article helpful.

      From the moissanite I’ve seen over the years, by far the nicest is Forever One moissanite by Charles & Colvard. Keep that in mind as you shop around, many people sell ‘moissanite’ but in sub-par qualities as I discussed previously.

      Having just checked out the Ross-Simons website, there is no mention of what brand of moissanite they are selling nor are there references to the color grade of the moissanite.

      My guess, from experience and un-confirmed hunch… It’s likely just classic moissanite which not too many places sell anymore due to it’s inferior color grade.

      I’ll contact them to find out more.

      Thanks for visiting and happy shopping!

  4. Ian says:

    Can a Moissanite stone be tension set? I see them available retail. But the jeweler I had make my wife’s ring, says it will shatter like glass. Even went as far as showing me a CZ example, heated it with his torch and clenched it with his plies. That of course shattered. Any input would be awesome!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Ian,

      I personally have never set a moissanite in a tension setting as this is not something that I’ve ever made/sold.

      LMAO at the local jeweler giving an example of a heated cz: “Look at what happens to this cz, this is a perfect example of what would happen to a moissanite!”

      Why not do the demonstration with an actual moissanite?

      That’s like saying: “Watch how I make orange juice by squeezing this apple!”

      I call BS on that test anyways, totally bogus.

      I’ve worked moissanite under the torch at the jewelry bench. It changes color under extreme heat and then cools down to the same/original color again without any damage to the crystal whatsoever.

      I personally don’t foresee the tension setting being an issue as I’ve set many moissanite stones into settings that required a lot of pressure to lock them in place.

      I would recommend finding a jeweler who specializes in tension setting stones, and consulting with them in order to be 100% certain for your specific request.

      It would be interesting to have this confirmed by an expert in the field of tension set ring settings.

  5. Gaby says:

    Hi! How would you compare a forever brilliant moissanite with Amora gem? Which one is your opinion looks closer to a actual diamond? Thanks!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Gaby,

      The video comparison that I’ve personally examined is posted above.

      In my opinion, Amora Gem is a decent looking stone but still doesn’t compare to moissanite – You will see in the video however, that Amora Gem and Forever One Moissanite side by side will show that Forever One has a slight advantage in terms of color grade in my opinion.

      Moissanite blows away the latter in hardness as well.

      If you’re looking for the best that I’ve personally found thus far, Forever One is it – Period.

      I’m always open for other moissanite dealers/brands to send me their moissanite for a side by side comparison with Forever One.

      As soon as I find a better stone, I’ll definitely post it here.

      Currently, from those I’ve seen and reviewed as feasible diamond alternatives, Forever One moissanite is still the leader in the moissanite class.

      Whichever way you decide to go, you’ll no doubt have a beautiful stone.

  6. Rachel says:

    Do you have any experience with the hearts and arrows cut forever one? How does that compare with the regular forever one stone?

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi there,

      It’s truly a question of preference between the original Forever One and the newer Hearts & Arrows.

      When examining the Hearts & Arrows, it is cut to proportions that are more like the proportions of a round cut diamond.

      This renders the Hearts & Arrows to be a little less brilliant/sparkly than the regular Forever One D-E-F moissanite.

      Whereas the regular Forever One is cut to maximize the high refractive index of moissanite which gives it more sparkle than the H&A.

      As I say, it truly goes to taste. Do you want more sparkle (regular Forever One) or a little less sparkle and more diamond like proportions (Hearts & Arrows)?

      • Devin says:

        I saw a Forever One at a jeweler and liked it, but the crown height seemed shallow and I was wondering how the H&A compared.

          • Gerry The Jeweler says:

            Hi Devin,

            I see exactly what you’re referring to in the videos.

            These 2 stones are clearly WAY different in crown angles and total crown height and by no means represent the ‘Best of the Best’ in either arena.

            Which do you prefer? That is the question. I’ve had a client recently request a taller crown height because he wanted the table elevated up and away from the bezel setting.

            If you truly want to compare crown height accurately before purchasing… Then I suggest that you go for stones which are accompanied by a Gem Grading certificate which shows you crown angles/height and all other gemological grading information.

            I really wish that companies would shoot loose stones on white background so that we could somewhat evaluate color and appearance of yellow tint, or lack of yellow, more accurately without concealing it by using a black background. But that is a topic for another discussion 🙂

            With regards to Helzberg, this company specializes in ‘Getting Deals’ on the shelf in order to offer the most attractive price point to their customer base.

            They engage in what I dubbed ‘Marketing by Deception’.

            How do I mean? Well they build a nice fancy store, clerks are dressed nice and friendly (most of the time) thus setting the perception of ‘If it looks good then it must be good.’ However, they specialize in VERY low end diamond and gemstones in the majority of what they sell. Most of their diamond jewelry is I2-I3 Clarity.

            In the jewelry business trade level, those low qualities are the joke of the industry. Yet people walk into the fancy store and buy that lower end stuff everyday because they either don’t know better, or because of the price point or both.

            Why do I elaborate on the low end marketing by deception tactics employed by many large chain stores (nice store – cheap low quality product)?

            The reason is, if they go to such great lengths to market lower end products in a fancy package… It shows me where their mindset is. Profit via lowest cost possible which equals low quality most times.

            It would be safe to say that they likely handle the moissanite selection process of their business the same way. However, I’ve not personally seen that first hand on their moissanite business yet.

            The bottom line:

            * What look do you prefer?
            * Compare Gem Grading Certificates to find the stone with the crown height that appeals to you

            Thanks for coming in and sharing Devin.

            Let me know if anything else.

  7. Arthur says:

    Great information here. Thank you! I am debating between Forever One and a Forever Brilliant. I’m only wondering if Forever One can be seen as “too good to be true”, as the diamond equivalent is much more expensive for that color rating and much more rare, especially with the slightly bigger stones. Is FB a better bet or does FO still win? What are your thoughts on this perspective? Thanks!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Arthur,

      I’m glad that you found the information useful.

      I do understand what you’re saying with the ‘too good to be true’ statement. However, those who don’t know diamonds would not know the difference between an H Color and a E Color if you slapped them in the face with it.

      Having said that, it’s relative to the size of stone that you are shopping for as well. For example, if you’re looking at 5 Carat stones, an H Color would look as unbelievable as an F Color for many people, the H would still look ‘too good to be true’.

      Pick a size of stone that you like, and go with Forever One vs Forever Brilliant.

      If you would like to lower the color a little, Forever One now comes in D-E-F Color and Forever One G-H Color.

      I would definitely opt for the G-H Color if you’re looking for a stone which won’t be ‘Too Perfect’. G-H is still in the higher ranks of the near colorless range on the Color Grading Chart and is a very nice option.

      Food for thought:
      I’ve had clients trade up from Forever Brilliant to Forever One. I’ve never had a client trade down from Forever One to Forever Brilliant.

      Also Forever Brilliant has been discontinued by the manufacturer. Choose Forever One Colorless (D-E-F) or Near Colorless (G-H).

      I hope that helps!

  8. Greg says:

    Hello Gerry! Great information. I been looking for a 2 carat oval diamond for my gf. I have spoken to a jewelry dealer and they recommend a NEO and a SUPERNOVA moissanite. Have you had a chance to see NEO and SUPERNOVA? Do you think forever one has a nice cut for oval moissanite? Thank you!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Greg,

      If you’re going to go with moissanite, in the oval cut, I’ve not yet seen anything nicer than the Forever One – period.

      Having said, if you opt to go for NEO or SuperNova moissanite as an alternate route (I still don’t know why you would in an oval) – They are available as follows:

      NEO – Oval Shape – G-H Color (lower color grade than Forever One D-E-F)
      SuperNova – Oval Shape – F-G Color (half grade lower than Forever One D-E-F) according to rep I spoke with regarding SuperNova)

      In other shapes, where Forever One isn’t yet available, I would say to jump on SuperNova or NEO.

      However, in this case… You’re best to stick with Charles & Colvard in my opinion.

      I hope that helps.

      If you have any other questions – Feel free to reach out anytime.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Juli,

      Thanks for taking the time to comment.

      The answer is… It depends.

      Forever One is the industry leader if you’re looking for true colorless (Compared to D-E-F Color Grade Diamonds) moissanite.

      NEO moissanite has started to produce better color grades in order to compete with Forever One.

      To be clear, if you’re shopping Round shaped moissanite in the higher quality NEO Moissanite VS Forever One Moissanite – It makes no difference in my opinion. Both are gorgeous stones.

      In all other shapes, Forever One is still the clear leader at this time.

      I hope that helps!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Doloris,

      Click on the links in the top navigation, from there you can buy loose moissanite gems or check out the moissanite rings.

      If there’s something specific that you are looking for, let me know via the live chat and/or email: in**@ge*************.com and I will point you in the right direction.

      Have a great day ahead!

      – Gerry

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Isabelle,

      SuperNova moissanite is the newcomer on the scene, after speaking with their own representative for North America, I will be dealing these as well. Contact me for an exclusive price list if interested in pursuing this route.

      By the sound of their own disclosure to me however, it seems as though even they believe that Forever One has a slight color advantage.

      We’re talking D-E-F Color for Forever One vs SuperNova Moissanite at F-G-H Color.

      So far, Forever One D-E-F is still the industry leader in my opinion. I’m anxiously waiting for a competing brand to show me something nicer (this is an open invitation to the competition) – I’ve not seen it yet. Forever One Colorless is still leading the way in my books so far.

      Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help.

      – Gerry

  9. Farah says:

    Thanks for the great and detailed review!
    When will you post the review comparing the Forever One and the Hearts & Arrows version? (please post the link here if possible!)

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Farah,

      I’ll be doing this very soon! People will definitely benefit from seeing the Forever One and Hearts and Arrows side by side.

      Will post the link here for you as soon as it’s available 🙂

      Regards,

      – Gerry

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Gaston,

      The 2 Carat cushion cut Forever One moissanite is actually my best selling size currently, it looks very ‘real’, and I get incredible feedback on it.

      Check out a couple of the videos here:
      https://gerrythejeweler.com/gtj3605-fo-w/

      and here:
      https://gerrythejeweler.com/gtj3604-fo-w/

      I don’t get any complaints about the Forever One, I would recommend to stay away from Forever Brilliant as I’ve had customers complain that Forever Brilliant tends to look slightly yellow’ish in certain light. Some people like that look, some don’t. To each their own, I’m personally not a fan.

      Charles & Colvard has indeed discontinued production of Forever Brilliant. So if you want the Forever Brilliant look, and you find one, I suggest you to buy it because they’re discontinued.

      If you’re looking for the best there is currently, in all that I’ve personally looked at so far – Forever One is it.

      In the near future, I’ll be evaluating the new cushion cut NEO E-F Color as well as a couple of other up and coming brands to see if I’m of the same opinion still. But in the end… The decision is yours.

      If you have any other questions let me know.

  10. Marcela says:

    What should I get a small diamond or a 2ct cushion moissanite? And will normal people notice is not a diamond if a get a moissanite?

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hello Marcela,

      To choose diamond or moissanite is truly a matter of personal preference, that will be different for everyone.

      Individuals who are not trained in the art of inspecting gemstones will not be able to tell that Forever One moissanite is not a diamond.

      To be perfectly fair, the same untrained individuals would also not be able to tell that a cushion cut diamond is real.

  11. Alex says:

    Hi Gerry,

    I’m looking to get a pretty big stone- around 4 carats- and I’ve looked at all different types of gemstones, including diamonds (which are not very budget friendly). At first I was set on a lab grown diamond but I’ve seen lots of users saying that they’ve scratched their diamonds because they’re not as hard as the manufacturer claimed. Will a Forever One moissanite that large likely have the same result and will it look similar to a diamond? I know that larger stones tend to show their color more and I don’t find the yellow hues very attractive.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Alex,

      A 4 carat diamond definitely is not easy on the pocket.

      If you are looking at true lab-grown diamonds, not like the websites who deceptively market cubic zirconia as ‘man-made diamonds’, real lab created diamonds are very expensive as well. Lab-created diamonds are optically and materially the same composition as their mined diamond counterpart, which is crystallized carbon. This means that authentic lab created diamonds are the same hardness as mined diamonds, which is 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

      What you are describing ‘… users saying that they’ve scratched their diamonds because they’re not as hard…’ – These stories are from people who have been misled by deceptive vendors who are not selling true lab-grown diamonds, but rather selling cubic zirconia under a different name. Cubic zirconia will get scratched up like what you’re describing.

      The larger Forever Brilliant moissanite are known to show more of a yellow hue in the larger stones, this is not an issue with Forever One moissanite.

      I honestly wouldn’t be concerned with scuffing or scratching moissanite due to the 9.25 hardness rating. One of the few things that could cut or scratch moissanite would be a diamond. It is highly improbable that you end up scratching it.

      I’ve honestly not seen any moissanite get scratched from the customer side yet.

      I hope that helps you, let me know if there’s anything else.

      • Alex says:

        Thanks for the response! That actually helps me a lot. I was looking specifically at Diamond Nexus, which claims to make lab grown diamonds from carbon. Several people have said that they scratched their stones within a few months of receiving them, so I definitely wouldn’t recommend that company! Thanks for the help again.

        • Gerry The Jeweler says:

          Diamond Nexus = Not lab-grown diamonds 🙂

          I would stay away, period. I’ve seen their product a few years ago when a client came by the shop with one. It was a cubic zirconia with really beautiful packaging.

          The packaging was the only thing that impressed me lol.

          Alternatively if you’d like REAL lab-grown diamonds… I’m adding them to this site within the next couple of weeks.

          It truly is just a question of budget though, moissanite will wear very well, won’t get scratched like ‘Diamond Nexus’ (even the company name is deceiving imo)

          – As a matter of fact!! – Moissanite would scratch & cut the begeezers out of Diamond Nexus cubic zirconias.

          Happy shopping, and feel free to reach out anytime with more questions.

  12. Paula Jamison says:

    Hi Gerry! Your article is very interesting and informative!! Do you know any thing about Moissanite Fire that is exclusive to Jewelry Television? It’s beautiful!!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Paula,

      After a short discussion with a customer support staff member over there at JTV, which went exactly like this:

      Rep:
      Welcome to Live Chat on JTV.com! How may I assist you today?
      Gerry:
      Hello Rep,
      Hi
      Rep:
      How can I assist you today?
      Gerry:
      I have a question about Moissanite Fire, I understand that it is manufactured by Charles & Colvard.
      Rep:
      Yes, that is correct.
      Gerry:
      By the price, I’m guessing that this is the original moissanite, not equal to Forever One moissanite – Would that be correct?
      Gerry:
      Regular moissanite branded as ‘Moissanite Fire’ in other words.
      Rep:
      I am sorry, but I do not have any information about Forever Moissanite. I can not compare the two.
      Gerry:
      Ok, in terms of GIA Color Grade.
      Gerry:
      what is Moissanite Fire equal/compared to?
      Gerry:
      There is no color grade on the JTV product pages, which seems to be the norm to include Color Grade on most moissanite websites online.
      Rep:
      It would be closer to a diamond.
      Gerry:
      Are you familiar with diamond with the GIA color grading scale?
      Rep:
      I am not an expert.
      Gerry:
      Thank you for your honesty, can someone there answer what color grade Moissanite Fire is?
      Gerry:
      By the price, I would guess that it is on the lower end of the color grading scale.
      Gerry:
      I would like confirmation of this, at least then I would know exactly what it is.
      Rep:
      I can send you some information about it, but we do not grade the gems. That would make the it too costly for our customers.
      Gerry:
      The manufacturer, Charles & Colvard can tell you the quality.
      Gerry:
      No grading required 🙂
      Rep:
      Would you like the number to Charles & Colvard?
      Rep:
      Synthetic moissanite is an incredibly durable gem. In fact, the ceramic version of synthetic moissanite, called synthetic silicon carbide, is so hard and tough that it is used for body armor and mirrors in orbiting space telescopes! Fortunately, it also makes a gorgeous gem. Synthetic moissanite has a higher dispersion value (fire) than diamond, making it an impressive jewel. Each lab created gem is faceted by a skilled cutter to maximize its brilliance and enhance its exceptional fire. Second in hardness only to diamond, it is extremely resistant to scratching, abrasion, breaking and chipping.
      Rep:
      Moissanite (Synthetic) Classification Common Name Moissanite (Synthetic) Species Moissanite Variety Colors Near Colorless To Light Yellow, Green, Gray, Possibly Greenish Tint Alternate Names Synthetic Silicon Carbide, Carborundum Gemstone Groups Key Separations Extreme fire, OTL RI reading, strong doubling through crown or pavilion facets and might have green tint. Comments The natural equivalent of moissanite is rare and found as inclusions in other materials. In ceramic form the material is known as the abrasive carborundum.
      Rep:
      Moissanite (Synthetic) Chemistry & Crystallography Chemical Name silicon carbide Chemical Formula SiC Synthesis flux growth Crystal System Hexagonal Classification Nature Synthetic Crystallinity Crystalline Comments
      Rep:
      Moissanite (Synthetic) Optical Properties Transparency Transparent Refractive Index Over the Limit 2.648-2.691 Birefringence 0.043 Optic Character Uniaxial Optic Sign Positive Polariscope Reaction Doubly Refractive (DR) Fluorescence SWUV: Inert to moderate orange or blue
      LWUV: Inert to weak orange or blue CCF Reaction Pleochroism None Dispersion Strength: extreme fire Value: 0.104 Comments
      Rep:
      Moissanite (Synthetic) Characteristic Physical Properties Hardness 9.2 Streak Greenish Gray Specific Gravity 3.17-3.24 Typical:3.22 Toughness Inclusions Synthetic moissanite might contain white or reflective needles, tube like or plate like inclusions, channels and negative crystals. Luster Adamantine Stability Fracture Conchoidal Cleavage None Comments
      Gerry:
      The one important bit of information that is missing…
      Gerry:
      Is it the 4h polytype crystal, which is used in finer quality moissanite like Forever One, or the 6h type which is used for the lower end moissanite like Forever Classic and Forever Brilliant?
      Gerry:
      All of that is very generic and not specific to this product.
      Gerry:
      Thank you for your time anyways, I do appreciate it.
      Gerry:
      The way JTV sells moissanite, without disclosing this crucial Color Grade info… It’s very much like ‘Selling the Sizzle’ in place of selling the actual steak.

      “What cut of meat is this?” – “I don’t know but look at that sizzle on the barbacue! It’s the New Steak Fire!”

      Thank you for your professionalism, I know that I bring tuff questions 🙂

      Have a great day ahead and I will call C&C now.
      Rep:
      Wow! That is a good way to describe it.
      Rep:
      Have a nice day ahead.

      Based on this, I would bet the farm that JTV sells lower end moissanite branded as “Moissanite Fire”.

      Why would a giant like JTV leave out crucial info like color grade?

      This is preying on and marketing to an uninformed clientele… Not my readers 😉

      I would personally stay away from this product line, better yet, show me what you like from there – And let’s get you prices on making the item with Forever One Moissanite!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Kiki,

      I am glad you asked this, because it has been brought up numerous times via email as well.

      It is important to understand this very important distinction.

      #1. “Brands”

      #2. “Gemstone Types”

      Gemstone Types:
      – Moissanite
      – Cubic Zirconia

      Gemstone Brands:
      – Forever One
      – Amora
      – Asha

      Forever One and Amora are different brands of moissanite. Much like Nike and Underarmour are different brands of running shoes.

      Asha on the other hand is merely cubic zirconia with an alleged coating, I have seen it and it looks like plain old cubic zirconia to me.

      I hope that helps you to have a little better understanding now.

      If you have other questions – Feel free to post them here, or contact me.

  13. Elaine says:

    Hi Gerry,

    I love this analysis and comparison of gemstones and brands, but I feel that an important aspect of gemstone purchasing has been left our of the conversation; the investment value has not been discussed at all, and I feel that any significant jewelry purchase should be considered an investment, and the value of such must be viewed as a characteristic of the gemstone. In saying that, I do not believe any lab produced gemstone, despite it’s beauty, will ever be able to compete with the investment value a quality genuine diamond will bring to the owner. Diamonds will always be a finite resource, where any lab-created product can be produced as the market sees fit – supply can be easily controlled. So although I end up spending more on genuine diamonds, I know my jewelry will most likely never lose it’s value, and may increase in value over time, and so it has something more to offer than just a pretty look. The problem of blood diamonds is of course a concern, but hopefully we can still find quality natural diamonds to purchase without guilt. I just hate to spend hundreds of dollars on jewelry that has no lasting value, like any other fashion trend. In your opinion, do you think moissanite has any long term investment value, or is it just for show ?

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Elaine,

      My stance on ‘investment value’ in any type of jewelry is this.

      Jewelry, like any other fashion accessory, is an adornment – Not an investment.

      Investments make you money, adornments do not.

      I’ve seen this investment idea and lie perpetuated throughout the industry my entire life.

      Yes, your gold and diamond jewelry will appreciate in ‘Appraisal Value’ over time, and sentimental value as well since your are ultimately investing in a family heirloom to potentially pass on in the future.

      Take a $10,000 diamond ring, go to 5 ‘buyers’ to see what you can get for it. Depending on where you purchased the item, you may be offered anywhere from $2,000 – $5,000 if you’re lucky.

      The same ring with a moissanite would cost aprox. $1,000.00 – Depending on where you purchased it, selling this same ring off to ‘buyers’ or dealers in moissanite would likely net offers of $200 – $500

      The only time that jewelry should be viewed as an investment, is by a guy like me who is in the jewelry business. I invest money in stones, precious metals, transform them into wearable adornments and sell them to clients at a markup. Investment, plus knowledge and craftsmanship labor equals profit upon sale of said item.

      The more expensive the item, generally, the lower the markup and the less you are likely to loose on your ‘investment’ should you ever need to get money for it.

      Even if a client comes to me for $50,000 – $100,000+ diamonds, and mentions anything about the investment value. My stance is the same.

      To avoid blood diamonds, ask for Canadian diamonds or new Lab-Grown diamonds which are all available and being added to the site.

      All precious metal and gemstone jewelry will have lasting value, the question is how you assess that value.

      Thanks for bringing that to the table Elaine!

      • Kendra says:

        Thank you for this view point. “Investments make you money; adornments do not.” Well said…I have to say after this article and all the Q&A’s, I agree!

  14. brindha says:

    So, it looks like C&C has dropped the FB and FC off their website and offer the FO in two categories now – colorless and near colorless.

    Any thoughts on the new FO-NC ? The price point is almost half of FO-C.
    I am wondering if some jewelers will pass off FO-NC as FO-C.
    Not sure if the C&C authenticity/warranty has the NC vs C indicated on it.

    Thanks for the informative article.

  15. Keila says:

    Well, that was a great read and definitely cemented my decision: moissanites are for me! However, I like jewelry that has tons of little side stones, and it seems like those are all diamonds. I don’t want any diamonds at all. Can my side stones be moissanite? Does nobody do that?

  16. Tim says:

    Hands down the most comprehensive comparison of moissanite and diamond. Thank you! I’d been going back and forth until I found this page and until I read this…

  17. Fatima Alam says:

    Hey Gerry,
    I loved your post! Thanks so much for all of your research and for explaining all the differences so thoroughly!
    I have been looking for a radiant cut moissonite stone since reading your post, but it looks like Forever One collection doesn’t have that cut. Do you know if they can cut stones other ways, or should I just find another dealer? If it is the latter, can you recommend anyone?
    Thanks again!

  18. Serge says:

    Wow, informative article. I came here already well informed regarding the moissanite, but here I learned some more. Also love how well and honest you respond to questions.
    I have just a quick one… Do you know anything about moissaniteco and would you recommend them? I’m looking into getting F1 with natural diamonds palladium ring.
    Still pricey rings but 10% of what it would be if center stone and sides were diamonds!
    Thanks:)

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Serge,

      Thanks for taking the time to post your question.

      The rings are still pricey indeed, keep in mind that you are still dealing with precious metal and genuine diamond sidestones on these products so there is still a premium cost to be paid. Moissaniteco is also a reputable vendor.

      However, I typically recommend steering clear of palladium as many independent bench jewelers still do not work with the metal. This can be a pain in the wazoo if you need the ring re-sized in the future.

      14k, 18k or platinum, those are my suggestions since most skilled goldsmiths work with these fine metals.

      Also, if you’re looking to save a bit more cash… Email me the ring design and I’ll get it priced out for you with the newer/whiter moissanite sidestones which have recently become available.

  19. Ally says:

    With Forever One in a 2 or 3 carat, would you recommend a round or cushion cut? Based on what you think looks better. I’m debating between the two and have only seen a round in person, but not a cushion. Thank you for your time!

  20. Jeff says:

    Hi Gerry,

    I appreciate the in depth info – many thanks! I’m close to making an engagement ring purchase and the only thing preventing me from going forward with FO is this niggling concern that because the “fire” rating is so high, it may pick up TOO much light and have that disco ball look. I don’t want to embarrass my girl! I’ve read that going with smaller sizes (1.5 as opposed to 2+) helps a bit. Frankly, I’d be embarrassed for her to wear something that looked like it cost me $30-40k anyway. Not in line with my values (or income!). So, what are your thoughts about that disco ball question?

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Jeff,

      Thanks for taking the time to comment.

      The ‘disco ball effect’ is like a mythical creature lol.

      CHALLENGE:
      I challenge internet prowlers and shoppers to find me a video showing this ‘disco ball’ effect – with all of the high tech cameras out there today, this video should exist right? How come it isn’t documented anywhere?

      – It’s like big foot, this disco ball effect, I’ve never seen it lol

      I’m convinced that the people who are repeating this ‘disco ball’ thing, are people who never owned a diamond or sparkly jewelry.

      Then, when they finally buy a moissanite ring and they see the sparkle – They think to themselves ‘This is it, this is that disco ball effect!’. When in fact, it’s the the regular sparkle of high refractive index gemstones like that of diamond and moissanite.

      Either size of stone that you are considering is very nice, go with whichever you are most comfortable with, that is my suggestion.

      • Kendra says:

        This is exactly my concern as well! I am leaning towards FO, but am afraid that it will “look fake” due to the larger size (1.5-2ct) and “all the sparkle” will give it away. Thank you both for your view points. This whole article is VERY HELPFUL!

  21. Victoria says:

    Hello Gerry The Jeweler,

    I just want to tell you I think you are FABULOUS! I LOVE how thourough your information is and how generous you are with sharing it. I don’t have any specific questions, as I came across your website when I was curious about the Diamond vs Moissanite debate. So, I just wanted to say thank you for being so thoughtful to all those who have asked you questions, as I have benefited and learned. If I should ever have a gem question in the future, I hope you might be available. In the meantime, keep up the great work! Cheers.

  22. Autumn says:

    Does Moissanite maintain the same color (or lack thereof) over time? Like, if I purchased a Forever One C&C stone, would it remain the same color over decades? I know it may be hard to say since they are so new, but I would hate to make that investment and then regret it in 10 or 20 years.

      • Larz says:

        Is there a difference in quality of Forever One stones? There’s a significant price savings if the loose stones are purchased through you rather than Charles & Colvard directly.

        I’m all for saving money, but neither their site nor yours suggests a difference in quality from one stone to another.

        • Gerry The Jeweler says:

          Cherry picked inventory with regard to polish and symmetry is something that we do by default, assuring only the finest quality stones available make it to our client base.

          We reject any and all stones with inferior polish/symmetry/cut, I can’t speak for the other guys.

  23. Josanne Johnson says:

    Hi Gerry,

    I’m so happy I found your site while investigating Forever One Moissanite rings. I’m considering an oval F1 but I can’t find a jeweler in my area that actually has the stone for me to see. I’m sure I’ll love the F1 but what I’m curious to see what you think about size. I’m looking for an oval 1ct or 1.5ct. Is there a huge difference in size/appearance in the stone? I’m looking to have it set east/west on a diamond eternity band nothing to fancy but I’m wondering if the 1.5 oval will look to big. What are your thoughts?

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Josanne,

      I’m glad you’re finding the site to helpful.

      What I do for many clients is actually produce image renders of the ring design, in various stone sizes, in your exact finger size.

      This allows you to see the 2 variations of the ring side by side and will give you a much better feel for proportions/dimensions of the 2 rings on your hand for comparison.

      If that is something that you’d be interested in seeing, contact me via email at:
      in**@ge*************.com

  24. Karen says:

    I thoroughly enjoyed your article and the ensuing questions and comments, thank you. I have never been impressed by the hype surrounding diamonds per se but like most, am attracted to the fire. Moissanite appeals because of this and the price point. I agree, jewellery for the lay person is not an investment so should not be treated as such (who in the world would buy their engagement ring with a view to selling in the future?). Again, thank you.
    PS I wear diamonds, synthetics and sapphires and have never scratched or chipped any of them. I figure natural instinct to avoid the pain of broken fingers ensures I never hit my rings hard enough to do any damage :). And I take them off when cleaning and exercising to preserve the gold which is much more likely to be damaged

  25. Alex says:

    I saw another company promoting ‘Forever One Hearts and Arrows’ cut. Is this really made by Charles and Colvard?

    What are your thoughts on this cut? They claim that it is more ‘diamond like’ but will it have the same brilliance as the round brilliant cut?

    Is this something I should consider or wait for?

    Thanks man!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Alex,

      Hearts & Arrows is indeed being produced by Charles & Colvard.

      The cut more closely resembles the proportions of an Round ‘Excellent’ Cut diamond.

      This Hearts & Arrows is a very nice addition to the moissanite family indeed. If you’re looking for a cut that maximizes the brilliance & fire of moissanite, go for the regular Forever One. It is slightly more sparkly than the Hearts & Arrows.

      Thanks for joining the discussion and let me know if you have any other questions.

  26. Katie says:

    Hi Gerry
    What a great article! My husband and I have been discussing changing/upgrading my engagement ring for our ten year wedding anniversary as I’ve never really loved it. Do you ship to Australia? I have found a picture of my dream ring on Pinterest and wouldn’t even know where to begin!
    Thanks, Katie.

  27. Sharon says:

    Hello. I am glad you posted all of these Q&A’s it’s very helpful otherwise I am sure you get the same questions everyday :). I have been looking at these alternatives for a while due to at this moment I’d rather put that money towards a down payment on a house rather then my finger but also would eventually like to exchange it for a real diamond. I have been looking into wink cz, ASHA, and moissonite. The issues I have which makes me hold off is that I do want it to look like a diamond due to the fact of the setting I am thinking of a three stone with trillions on either side. So the stone will be close together and I don’t want the main stone to look different and stick out as a fake or really different than the diamonds. The shapes I have been leaning to are the Emerald cut, oval, radiant and Asher. I really like the emerald cut but I see they don’t make it in the preferred f1 you say is better than the other material. Any suggestions?

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Sharon,

      Thanks for taking the time to join the conversation, and I’m glad you found my post helpful.

      My advice after having seen countless brands of cz’s all claiming to be better than the last, and several Asha which look just like ordinary cz to me – and gets scratched up just as easily as cz in my bench jeweler tests, stay away… All of these are super easy to spot as ‘Not a Diamond’ – Period.

      Also, I advise all clients to steer clear of companies who ‘Market by Deception’. The name of the website itself ‘Asha Diamonds’ is deceptive, the stones are not diamonds so why name them as such? If they’re claims are true, they should call this site ‘Asha Cubic Zirconia with Our Special Coating on Top’

      If I can scratch Asha with a diamond scriber (small diamond tip and the end of pencil shaped/sized metal stick) – Then it’s clearly not a diamond – That’s the truth.

      As such, you’ll never see the above being sold here at GTJ.

      Forever One is starting to produce some Emerald Cuts, Oval they already have, Radiant Cut Forever One Moissanite is also available, and the Asscher Cut is available in Forever One and looks awesome as well.

      I think I answered everything, if there’s something else you’d like to know… Pick my brain and I’ll get back to you.

  28. Val says:

    Thank you so much for this article. When I was researching conflict-free engagement rings around 2015, there was slim to no information out on the Forever One, and because of that I was soooooo weary. Every other article I read about moissanite mentioned the yellow/grey/green undertones. I’m so glad that I stuck with my gut, and chose the Forever One (engaged 3/2016) because now I’m starting to see it pop up a lot more and has definitely built a reputation for itself!

  29. Mimi says:

    I found this article incredibly helpful, Gerry! I wanted to ask your opinion on HarroGem. What’s caught my eye is their skinny oval. They boast more facets with their “crushed ice” moissanite. Have you any experience with this kind of moissanite? I’m not sure what I can trust. Thank you!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Mimi,

      I’ve seen many diamond producers try and do the same thing with the train of thought in mind that ‘More Facets is Better’ approach as a marketing tactic in order to offer something different.

      Though I’ve not seen this particular cut from Harro Gem (yet), I’ve just examined their Hearts & Arrows cut as well as a Marquise Cut, I’m very disappointed with the products.

      Forever One still has the best product in a toe to toe comparison, it’s not even a close second place – I’ll be shooting a video of this for everyone to see.

      In my opinion, it truly depends on what the person wearing the stone is wishing to attain in terms of appearance. Do you want a stone that you can claim has more facets? Or do you want the stone with the nicest play on light.

      The couple of video comparisons that I’ve seen of the ‘Crushed Ice’ haven’t been very convincing for me to believe that it is better.

      In actuality, the videos put out thus far, have actually made me feel quite the opposite.

      The old adage ‘Less is More’ holds true for myself in this instance.

      The stones with fewer facets than the crushed ice, compared in the videos, clearly show a much nicer play with flashes of light and sparkle.

      I’m not convinced that this ‘Crushed Ice’ is superior in any way. It’s actually creating a sub-par appearance in my opinion.

      As time allows, I’ll definitely do a more in depth comparison to show all the ‘Why’s” that I feel this way in what I observe.

      In the end the choice is yours, I just hope that this answer has helped in some way – And very glad that you found the article helpful.

      Let me know if there’s anything else I can do.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Alana,

      I’ve not seen these live so can not really comment on them.

      From the photos I’ve seen they look kind of dark, a different look than what I’m used to seeing for sure. If you take the leap and decide to order one, do take the time and share your experience here – That would be very much appreciated.

      My single advice on this would be for you to make sure that wherever you are buying the gray moissanite has a good refund policy, just in case you don’t like how it looks when you receive it.

      All the best and do let me know how you get along with this.

  30. Nanette says:

    Thank you for creating this. I’ve had a difficult time getting concise answers from moissanite retailers who now offer their own brand of moissanite. When competing brands like Neo and Supernovae came out, they specifically mentioned the cut they used was to intentionally blunt the gems defining quality, it’s fire! Moissanite’s fire is explicitly why I chose it over other lab gems. Now Neo has come out with their “brilliant” line which they say is colorless and cut to highlight Moissanite instead of looking more like a diamond. Is it possible to do a review or even get a straight answer for us moissy enthusiast if the Neo “brilliant” line is a 4H polytype and has fire like C&C F1? Thank you again.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Nanette,

      Though we’re seeing very nice product by Charles and Colvard, as well as from NEO moissanite, I agree with you that’s it’s tuff to get straight answers from these people.

      Their seeming ‘Shareholders First’ motives seems to have them spending all of their time marketing, and not enough time showing people exactly what they’re talking about.

      The good news, all NEO moissanite is the whiter 4H polytype such as C&C is using in the Forever One, I truly get no complaints from clients who purchase either one from me.

      It may be a while until I’m able to do this comparison on video, the online division of our shop has gotten so busy here – As soon as I hire more help we’ll get to it for sure though.

      All of the marketing hype that seems to come out around ‘This Months Newest & Greatest Moissanite’ – I’m of the ‘Show Me’ mentality.

      You have a better product? Show me 🙂

      Seems like a simple thing to do, yet none of them engage in that aspect (not that I’ve seen anyways – if you have… Please share)

      If there’s anything else I can do to help, aside from video for now… Let me know.

  31. Becky Radle says:

    Hi Gerry,
    I live in Tucson AZ and was wondering if you come to the gem show. I’m told it’s one of the largest gem shows in the world (not sure how true that is). I haven’t seen any moissanite so far this year but was told they usually have a lot of it. Do you have any info?

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Becky,

      I don’t do trade shows of any kind whatsoever.

      The Tucson show, if you have access, for sure is one of the largest in the world and has been advertised as such for as far back as I can remember.

      That’s all the info I have on that 🙂

      Best of luck, and let me know if there’s anything else.

  32. Hazel says:

    Hi Gerry! Thanks a lot for this amazing article about Moissanite. Hands down the most honest and comprehensive review I’ve seen on the internet. My bf and I are getting engaged, but I know he is stressed about the diamond prices in the market. I want to suggest to him the Forever One Moissanite. From what I’ve seen in videos, it does look like a stunning gem. In your professional opinion, which cut/shape enhances the beauty and properties of Moissanite better? I like cushions, princess, radiant and Asher shapes in that order. I do not like round, oval, marquise or pear. All I want is a jaw dropping Moissanite engagement ring 🙂 Thanks in advance for your response.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hello Hazel,

      Glad you found this helpful 🙂

      My opinion and preference, that’s my opinion and not the ‘be all end all’… Based on the shapes that you mentioned, I would list them in this order:
      Cushion, Radiant, Asscher, Princess

  33. Deb Bastedo says:

    Hi Gerry:

    Thank you for the article. I recently purchased a ring with a Forever Brilliant ring square cut center stone DEW 1 carat, hoping to avoid too much color by choosing a center stone of that size after reading your article – to no avail.

    It is a light yellow all day long, pretty much like your picture of the classic moissanite ring up top. At night under artificial light, it looks the same color as my H-I diamond. I am wondering if there is a wide variation in the color of FB stones and if I got a ‘lemon’ or if it really is an FB stone (did come with the certificate) or if this is just the way it is during daylight hours.

    I know the F1 stones are better, but price is an issue for me.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Forever Brilliant mostly appear like what you describe.

      Save up longer, get Forever One.

      Hoping to find a better lemon in a bag of lemons, yep… It’s possible, but you’re still fishing for lemons.

      That’s my take, I’ve had clients LOVE their Forever Brilliant stones. Keep in mind that Forever Brilliant has been discontinued, there may be a reason for that.

      My .02 cents.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Neha,

      Any individual with real experience in the diamond business can spot a moissanite with very little effort, including to the unaided eye in many instances.

      To the majority however, like regular sales people in the jewelry stores, they could not point out a moissanite to save their job.

  34. Marian says:

    Hi Gerry,

    Thanks for all of the wonderful information that you are sharing about Moissanite. It has been extremely helpful.

    I am in the process of looking for a 7×5 or slightly larger center stone for an anniversary ring. I originally thought I loved the cushion designs but instead fell head over heels for a 3 stone emerald ring. Would you please share your opinion of the C&C Moissanite Emerald and how it compares with a diamond.

    The ring I’ve chosen has 2 smaller (maybe 4×2) emerald cut diamonds in the F/G color range. Will the moissanite look completely different than the diamonds? I usually like the I color range so I thought the G/H Moissanite would be closer without looking too yellow.

    But unfortunately I’ve only seen the round brilliant moissanites in person. I’ve also noticed in some videos and pictures that they have a blue tone to them. Is this normal or just lighting? I would appreciate any information on the EC moissanites (8×6 and lower) that might help me choose the proper stone. Thanks so much!!!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Marian,

      Your best be in this case would be to get the loose stone ordered and bring it to compare with the diamond ring.

      There are so many variables in matching up stones, side by side comparison is the best way in this case.

      If you’re not happy with the matchup, return the moissanite – Easy peasy lemon breezie!

      Best of luck and happy shopping.

  35. Sandi says:

    Gerry,
    Hands down, this is the BEST information I’ve seen out there.

    I love a few of the settings I have seen in a few online retailers. My question is, if there are lots of other stones in the setting, and I chose a forever one center stone, would it look “off” or be noticeable to the naked eye? I think I read on your blog that settings with smaller stones, they would be the original Moissanite, which I believe has a yellowish or greenish color to them. Your thoughts?

    Thank you so much for all of your information and wisdom regarding Moissanite!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Thanks for the kind words.

      Definitely if you’re doing a moissanite ring with sidestones, and the sidestones are original moissanite, I suggest shying away from that.

      In my opinion, for the best possible match, browse collections of engagement rings that are set with F-G-H color range of diamonds.

      If you’re interested, contact me to find out about the newer whiter moissanite which are newly available.

  36. Linda says:

    Hi Gerry,

    Would you recommend setting a amora gem centre stone with moissanite forever one side stones or diamonds? Is there much of a difference between the two? And should it be set in a platinum 600 band?

    Thanks!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Linda,

      I don’t know if I would or not.

      Why?

      #1. I don’t have a lot of experience with Amora Gem.
      #2. Their sales litterature makes my bullshit radar beep.

      It isn’t moissanite, they say that it isn’t cubic zirconia, they say it’s as hard as moissanite. Who knows? I don’t yet.

      Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful on this one.

  37. Cosette says:

    Is there a cut scale for moissanite? I know the GIA grades diamonds on a cut scale ranging from poor to excellent. Is moissanite evaluated by that same scale? Or how do you know how good the cut of a moissanite stone is?

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Cosette,

      There isn’t a specific cut grading scale for moissanite. This ONLY exists for round brilliant cut diamonds. It is still the only stone in the entire industry with an assigned cut grading scale.

      Having said that, I would recommend inquiring about certified moissanite.

      At the very least, getting a moissanite that is certified by an independent 3rd party laboratory will show us Polish and Symmetry.

      Finding stone that are graded as Very Good to Excellent in both of those areas will give you a stone than is proportionately as great as can be in my opinion.

      I hope that helps you a little.

  38. Sarah says:

    Hi Gerry,

    I’m curious if you can offer your opinion on an oval F1 versus a round Hearts and Arrows (C&C).

    I’m set on a 1.5C moissanite, mostly because I don’t care for the politics or price of diamonds. I considered a white sapphire, but was deterred by how much more quickly they can become “cloudy.”

    I do prefer the more white light/sparkle of a diamond, versus the fire of a moissanite.

    I’m drawn to an oval as my first choice for shape, but wonder if I should consider an H&A round cut to get the white light versus the added colour/fire.

    Would you say there is enough of a difference in the refraction between an oval F1 and a round H&A to warrant debating between the two, or choosing my less-favorite shape as a compromise? How much does this actually compare to a diamond’s refraction in plain light?

    Thanks and love your site – very appreciate for all your wisdom.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Sarah,

      Sounds like you’ve got your heart set on an oval. In all sincerity, the oval is a gorgeous stone. Round Hearts & Arrows by Charles and Colvard is nice too.

      I’m honestly not partial on one over the other.

      Here’s my advice to you. See if you can have a local jeweler bring in both stones for you to examine side by side.

      My guess is that you’ll pick the oval. Throw it next to some diamonds even. I’m convinced that you’ll be satisfied with it as it stands.

      I read a ton about moissanite, before looking at them and deciding to sell them.

      All the info online truly causes ‘Analysis Paralysis’.

      Go look at some moissanite, Forever Ones… Thank me later 🙂

      I hope that helps a little.

  39. Penny says:

    If moissanite is a rarer gem, then why are diamonds more expensive? Also, if I were to sell my moissanite ring at a later date, will it hold it’s value, or does it lose its value?

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Penny,

      Natural moissanite is definitely more rare than diamond. However, moissanite being sold on the market is created in a lab setting.

      Diamond on the market will always fetch a greater premium than moissanite in my opinion, lab grown or not.

      Jewelry is an adornment, not an investment. The only thing I know of that ‘holds value’ is real estate in most instances. Not even diamonds can be resold at a later date for the same as what you paid.

      Someone school me on this… Is there anything else that can ‘hold it’s value’ when sold at a later date?

  40. Kenny4Rachelle says:

    I am considering getting a moissy ring due to budget and moral reasons.

    I have seen some reviews indicate that moissanite stones can appear dark internally in certain lights (bright sunlight or while photographing) where diamonds don’t. Have you noticed anything like this?

    Thank you for the great post. Extremely informative and I loved the video evidence you provided!

  41. Ginger says:

    What about Harro? I’ve seen nice comments but it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s marketing. They do have some unique round cuts for sale.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hello Ginger,

      You’re 100% correct that there’s a lot of marketing hype surrounding any branding, and then many retailers that sell the product won’t give a sincere opinion about it products either… Because they simply want to close a sale.

      Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard some clients say that they are happy with Harro Gem. But I’m convinced that these are clients who haven’t compared the two stones physically side by side with Forever One. Or maybe they have and truly prefer it, to each their own.

      Harro Gem does offer some different stuff, like the elongated cushion and some ‘crushed ice’ varieties which don’t impress me much by the photos and videos that I’ve seen.

      Having said that, I’ve had the opportunity to order in a couple of Harro Gem products for review.

      I had a client looking for a large marquise cut which was not available anywhere. Harro Gem said that they could custom cut one for us, so I ordered it with the agreement that we could return it for a refund if not satisfied. Simultaneously, I ordered an 8mm round cut in order to compare it with Charles & Colvards D-E-F Forever One.

      The result, major disappointment. The color grade that Harro Gem is promoting as E-F wasn’t even close to being in the same league as Forever One.

      I layed the stones down between Forever One and Forever Brilliant, and the stone was much closer to Forever Brilliant in Color.

      The brilliance and sparkle that Harro Gem exhibited was less than Forever One. The Forever One stone just dazzled next to a lackluster performance by the round stone from Harro.

      And what about that marquise cut that we couldn’t get anywhere else? It was the worst looking marquise I’ve ever seen in my life. That’s no joke.

      Needless to say, I contacted the marquise cut customer and told her that I couldn’t sell her this stone. It’s my name behind this at the end of the day… So no thanks.

      I would rather lose a sale than offer that sub-par item.

      Now, I’m not saying that Harro Gem can’t improve their product. That is always possible, but the videos that I’m seeing online still exhibit what I experienced.

      Some people will be happy with it, I wasn’t. Stones went back for a refund.

      I did however, try using Harro Gem for small melee stones to be set into the side of a ring for a custom order. The color was alright for that job. Not DEF color as promoted by Harro Gem mind you, but stones were acceptable for what we needed to accomplish in order to match a GH Color Center stone in a custom ring.

      The thing that gets to me, is companies should just call their sh*t what it is! Don’t offer ‘E-F’ Color and send me otherwise. That’s what made me give Harro -1. They mis-represented product to me, and others I’m sure, but nobody is talking about it. Sellers just carry on with ‘This is Harro Gem, what do you think?’.

      Can Harro Gem company do better? Maybe, but I’m all about ‘Show Me’, and what I was shown wasn’t sincere. Talk is cheap.

      I hope that they do improve, then it would be nice if they would reach out to me and send me new samples to examine at that time. I want to see companies do well, but tell the truth – That should be number 1.

      Thanks for taking the time to read my rant 🙂

      Let me know how else I can be of assistance.

      • Ginger says:

        I appreciate you giving a thorough answer. That’s what I was looking for no matter what which way the answer leaned.

        I guess that means Forever One for common cuts and Supernova for a few others – but no Old European or Jubilee and such.

        And you are right, ordering something under a false assumption just disappoints a customer – just advertise what you have and work to improve it and everyone is happy.

  42. Cassandra says:

    Hi Gerry –

    Thank you so much for such a detailed and knowledgeable breakdown of available moissanite information. I am looking into upgrading my center stone to a 2.5ct emerald cut, and I am trying to decide between Forever One and NEO. I have seen reviews from others that the NEO emeralds flash more white sparkle than the Forever One; it has less of the colorful fire than Forever One. What is your experience between the two brands in this cut?

    Thank you!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Cassandra,

      I’ve not experienced that personally.

      Regretfully I don’t have two of them to lay side by side in the same lighting in order to show that. Have you seen video of this, or is the information being distributed by a seller who is trying to push NEO over Forever One?

      They’re both 4H crystal moissanite, I truly don’t see how they can reflect different flashes of color or lack thereof.

      If you find a video showing that, that would be awesome! If it does exist on video, please do share that as it would definitely help others here as well.

      If this video doesn’t exist, which I suspect it doesn’t, it may just be a sales pitch by a profit seeking vendor.

      Let me know if my gut is correct, or not, on what I just said.

      I appreciate you taking the time to partake and expand on this resource. Let me know what you find out and if there’s anything else I can do to help… Feel free to contact me anytime.

  43. Ben says:

    Hi Gerry,

    Wondering if you have any insight into Forever One VS SUPERNOVA – specifically in the square cut. I’ve heard that the SUPERNOVA is a little closer to a traditional princess cut look, whereas Forever One has their signature Square Brilliant style for the square cut. However I have also heard that SUPERNOVA squares are a little warmer F-G rather than Forever Ones D-E-F.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hello Ben,

      I’ve talked to the guys at SuperNova numerous times.

      Diamond and color grading terminology is an exact science when using the certified color grading scale.

      When asked what color grade their princess cuts are, and other fancy shapes as well, SuperNova staff have always used something to this effect: ‘SuperNova stones with corners appear slightly warmer in color’. This answer is given in tip-toeing around the fact that the stones are more yellow. I asked for a color grade didn’t I? Last time I checked ‘Warmer in Color’ isn’t on the color grading chart.

      I can hear this same loaded answer being repeated by vendors who sell SuperNova online “… appear slightly warmer’ – That’s jewelers code for the stone looks yellow, that’s my interpretation and is confirmed by the yellow tint visible in other vendor’s videos of the fancy shaped SuperNova.

      When asked specifically for the color grade, vendors and SuperNova staff always skirt their answer with the above statement.

      Check out this recent discussion that I had with SuperNova regarding another client who was looking for oval supernova moissanite, but same BS answer:

      Me: Asking for photos/video of it before committing, do you guys have something?

      Them: Hello Gerry,

      Unfortunately, I don’t have any 12mmx10mm Oval currently in stock. I have 11×9 or 10×8 ovals, but both show a little warmth to their colour. Do you want photos or videos of either of them instead?

      Me: Warmth, you mean they look yellow? What’s the color grade?

      Them: Yes a little bit yellow. Likely H colour.

      Me: Would be nice if there was someone who could actually color grade these against a master set of stones.

      Likely H Colour‘ – That’s not a color grade. Truth is it’s probably lower than that, otherwise why wouldn’t they give a definite answer?

      Anyways enough about that.

      We’re introducing a line of princess cuts that will be exclusive E-F Color moissanite in order to alleviate this nonsense that is going on in the business right now.

      Contact me if you’d like a price on a true E-F color princess cut moissanite.

      Hope this helps you a little, thanks for taking the time to join the discussion.

  44. Trina says:

    Hi Gerry,

    Thank you for your article. It was extremely educational and I appreciate your honesty. I’m interested in a 9x7mm emerald cut Forever One. I’m just curious if you’re equally as impressed with the emerald cut, having less facets, as compared to let’s say a cushion cut. Thank you.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Trina,

      Glad that you found the article helpful.

      The Emerald Cut Forever One Moissanite is a completely different look than the Cushion Cut Forever One Moissanite.

      Much like the emerald cut diamond, the emerald cut moissanite has a distinct appearance with much less sparkle than the cushion cut.

      Both stones look very nice in their own right.

      This is truly a question of personal preference. Do you want more sparkle? Do you prefer the more subtle larger facets of the emerald cut?

      I’m personally a big fan of both cuts.

      On the actual sales side, I get many more requests for the cushion than the emerald.

      Hopefully that helps you out a little.

  45. Mike says:

    Thanks for the video on how silicon carbide will not cut a diamond. This answered my question. I think I know that a hammer will smash a diamond, but I am not sure about moissanite. From what I have read in research, a diamond will burn; however, I think the heat would have to be much higher than a typical butane or propane torch. Acetylene would likely be hotter than most other gases. I have also read that a diamond will not shatter if heated then dropped into cold water. As an amateur prospector, I was looking for simple field methods to use in making a quick determination about suspected finds. The heating and dropping into water had some curious results with some samples shattering and others actually charring on the edges without shattering. I only used a butane lighter. Still, that sample was scratched easily with silicon carbide. So far, using a silicon carbide stone to scratch test a suspected find has been the easiest and lowest cost field test method. I could just buy a jeweler’s quality diamond tester, but that would take all the fun out of the adventure. It would ultimately be the final test for anything that passes the scratch test. I understand that Moissanite can pass this test on some lower grade testers.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hey Mike,

      Sounds like you’re having a blast scratching and burning stuff 🙂

      If you’re testing in order to rule out your suspect find as anything but diamond, here’s what I would do.

      I’ll give you my secret ninja tip for testing any and all material that I’ve come across over the last 30 years at the jeweler’s bench. This method beats all diamond and moissanite testers hands down… and it’s cheap.

      Buy yourself a 10x Triplet jeweler’s loupe and a diamond scriber. These are just random items that I found on ebay after looking for 1-2 minutes, any others that fit the description will work as well.

      Using the diamond scriber, apply a light pressure to the item that you’d like to test. While applying a downward pressure on the item, ‘roll’ the diamond scriber between your index finger, forefinger and thumb using the knurling on the scriber. This will cause the diamond tipped scriber to spin back and forth on the test surface like a mini handheld drill.

      The diamond tip, still the hardest surface known on the planet, will cut/scratch or indent a tiny mark on the surface of the tested item. Take your jeweler’s loupe and examine the area. Did it leave a mark/indent? Yes = surface is not diamond. No = you have yourself a diamond.

      Alternatively, you can drag the diamond scriber across the surface of the test item, with light pressure, and you will see a scratch form on the surface. This method does pose greater risk of damaging/chipping your diamond scriber long term.

      The beauty of the tests above is that moissanite stands a 0% chance of passing the test, nor does any other substance for that matter.

      I’ve never owned a moissanite tester, and never been duped like many jewelers have, by testing with the method described above.

      This will also save you from carting an oxygen and acetylene torch with you too.

      Have fun, good luck and happy testing man.

  46. Danni says:

    Heya! Great article. Thanks so much. I’m after the forever one in pear around 2ct but it’s only available in near colourless in that size (colourless only goes to .94ct). At this size, will it be too yellowish or do you think it will still look great?

    Also I’ve heard the moissanites flash rainbow colours and in a sizeable stone it’s obvious it’s a different gem, is this true? Could it pass as a diamond?

    Sorry if these questions have been asked. Thanks!

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Danni,

      The pear shaped moissanite is available in the DEF colorless, check it out here at:
      https://gerrythejeweler.com/pear-shaped-forever-one-moissanite/

      This flashing of color making noticeable as a different gem is pure bs in my opinion. There is a reason the jewelry industry has spent countless dollars on ‘Moissanite Testers’. The truth is that most people who work in the industry have a great difficulty spotting moissanite.

      Could it pass as a diamond? Not to me 🙂 – But to 95%+ of the population… Absolutely yes.

      Hopefully this help you out a little, let me know if anything else.

  47. Lydia says:

    After hours and hours of considering diamond alternatives, then specifically researching moissanites – I discovered your superb site!! (For moral reasons, I had already decided against mined diamonds.) You provide so much excellent, clear information – none of the “suggestive/implied/quasi-true” language used on most of the other sites. Thank you for your honesty and transparency. I am looking forward to contacting you soon regarding an engagement ring.

  48. Erin says:

    Your responses are so thoughtful, I’m glad I found this site. I was wondering if you had an opinion on which Moissanite brand cuts the best Asscher? I’ve heard good things about the Supernova, Forever One and Amora for Asschers, but I’ve heard others say the cut is off on the Forever One (and one person complain that the “wind mills” are too big, which I personally don’t mind). I also tend to like Asschers that are a little more octagonal than square. I have a diamond asscher and was hoping to get a bit more fire and sparkle out of the moissanite (probably the 8mm size), without looking too different from the diamond.

    • Gerry The Jeweler says:

      Hi Erin,

      I haven’t done a comparison on them yet. Many of these other brands make it difficult to get stuff sometimes.

      That said, I’ve only seen Forever One in the asscher and it’s the only asscher that I’ve sold thus far. Zero complaints from my clientele on them. My advice before buying, see if you can go into a local dealer to physically see one.

      Alternatively, order one stone to see it in person… Don’t like it? Send it back for a refund – Easy peasy lemon breezie!

      Have a great day 🙂

      • Erin says:

        Thanks, I will do that. Say, I notice you said no complaints from clientele, but what did you think of the forever one asscher? Is it too see through, or did you like it? Any tips for a layperson when looking at one? 🙂 I’ve perused a lot of your asscher rings, they look lovely!

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