Moissanite Color

Q: How to clean a white gold diamond ring?

A white gold diamond ring can be cleaned at home with warm water, a soft bristled toothbrush and a soft cloth. Ensure that no harsh or abrasive soaps are used and the ring won't be scratched when you're cleaning it.

Q: What is rhodium dip?

Rhodium dipping adds a layer of protection to white gold that prevents a lot of scratching to the surface of the metal. White gold rings can be dipped in rhodium every few years to ensure that the metal shine stays beautiful.

Q: Can platinum rings be resized?

Platinum rings can be resized just like white gold rings. However, platinum is a more expensive metal and harder to shape and work with. For this reason, it may be harder to work on and resize a ring more than one to two sizes. Ensure that you're as close to her actual ring size when buying to avoid having to remake a ring.

Q: How much is a platinum ring worth?

Platinum is a premium and rare metal that is worth much more than gold. It's mined less, meaning that it's scarcity and durability drive up the price. When crafting jewelry in platinum, ensure that you have an understanding of the width and weight of the jewelry. Oftentimes, larger pieces that require more metal are better suited to be made in white gold. Smaller pieces or rings are often crafted in platinum.

By: WC Editorial Team Read Time: 2 mins Gemstone Insights

May 26, 2023

What is Moissanite How is Moissanite Graded for Color Is Moissanite Naturally Colorless Fancy Colored Moissanite What does “Treated Moissanite” Mean

What is Moissanite?

In 1893, Henri Moissan found microscopic particles of what is now known as moissanite in a crater left by a meteorite strike in Arizona. These particles were believed to be diamonds, but after further inspection, it was discovered that the particles were made of silicon carbide, not carbon. Moissanite is a stone rarely found in nature which means they are artificially made to mimic diamonds. Additionally, moissanite is grown in a controlled environment where they require no mining to produce and their origins are easily traceable.

How is Moissanite Graded for Color?

The moissanite scale is similar to the GIA diamond color grading scale. Although the GIA's scale does not officially grade this stone, jewelers will use it to communicate a stone's color and clarity. There are three grades of moissanite available today.

The three grades include: colorless (D-F), near-colorless (G-I), and faint hues of color (J-K). D represents the most colorless diamond and as you continue down the scale diamonds get less clear.

Is Moissanite Naturally Colorless?

Moissanite is not naturally colorless. Just like diamonds, moissanite ranges in color from clear to colored. Although most are labeled colorless, this clarity is created in the lab. Clear moissanite sells for more as they are not very common and available while rare natural moissanite has an almost yellow hue like a K on the GIA diamond color grading scale.

Fancy Colored Moissanite

Moissanite can come in almost any color you can imagine. Stones can come in various shades of grey, green, gold, brown, blue, purple, pink, and yellow. And that is just a few of the most common choices. When buying moissanite, a fancy colored moissanite loose stone may be the best choice for your custom piece of jewelry.

What does “Treated Moissanite” Mean?

Moissanite has very small inclusions that can be seen under 10x magnification. They are not visible to the naked eye and do not affect the clarity of the stone. Lab creation greatly reduces the number of inclusions and creates a beautifully colored stone.

There are a few things to keep in mind to further reduce the appearance of inclusions:

The larger the moissanite, the more noticeable the color. Therefore, it may be recommended to create a halo moissanite engagement ring. Choosing a smaller moissanite stone to be surrounded by smaller accent diamonds not only increases the size of the ring for a lower cost but reduces the visibility of inclusions. Additionally, choosing white gold or platinum for your moissanite ring will make the stone appear more colorless.

Moissanite Treated to Change Color

Colored moissanite is colored using a process called high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) treatment. This process allows manufacturers to apply fancy colors to stones that were too yellow to meet the needs of certain consumers.

During this process, the moissanite is put into a controlled environment with both extreme high temperatures and pressure. For fancy colored diamonds, they may go through the second step of irradiation, which exposes a gemstone to artificial radiation. The coloring that's applied to the moissanite stone is permanent but requires gentle cleaning and repairs as it may scratch with everyday wear.

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FAQs

Is all moissanite lab grown?

Yes, all moissanites are lab-grown. Natural moissanites are extremely rare and only found in small quantities in meteorites. The moissanite used in jewelry is created through a process called chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or through the high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) method.

How is moissanite graded for color?

Moissanite is graded for color on a scale that ranges from D to K, similar to the color grading scale used for diamonds. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) developed this scale, which is widely accepted within the jewelry industry.

Is moissanite naturally colorless?

Moissanite is not naturally colorless. The natural form of moissanite, which is extremely rare and found only in meteorites, can have a range of colors, including green, yellow, gray, and brown.

However, the moissanite used in jewelry is lab-grown and is typically produced to be as colorless as possible, with a slight yellow or gray tint in lower-quality stones. The process of growing moissanite in a laboratory allows for more control over the color of the stone, so most moissanite sold for jewelry purposes is near colorless or colorless.