a. Cut - is the human element of the diamond, it is the shape of a polished stone as well as its proportions and finish. The most common cut is the round brilliant which has 58 facets (small, flat, polished surfaces that reflect light). Other popular shapes include the marquise, oval, emerald, pear, princess, radiant, and heart shapes. Nail-head - If a diamond is cut too deep, it will appear smaller than its carat weight.

Nothing like it if you can, because learning about diamonds begin from understanding the "4 C's" of diamonds and are the primary criteria's by the jewelers while grading diamonds.

Wow! Am I ever asked this question a lot. Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask me if they got the real thing. This question has been so popular I’ve devoted a whole article to all the tests and tricks you can perform on your stone to know if you got the “Real McCoy.” to be magically transported to the article. Hands down cubic zirconia (c.z.)is the most popular simulant on the market. There are two types: machine-manufactured and hand-cut.

The answer is a resounding NO – Moissanite is not a substitute for diamond scientifically or emotionally. Charles & Colvard created Moissanite is a unique near-colorless jewel (SiC) that stands on its own when it comes to superb fire and brilliance. From a scientific standpoint, the Moissanite used in jewelry today is a created jewel that was originally discovered in its natural state in the Canyon Diablo meteor crater located in Arizona.

No. The standard GIA diamond color grading scale is not designed to rate Moissanite. Unlike diamonds, which range from colorless to brownish to fancy yellow, Charles & Colvard created Moissanite can have slight undertones from green to yellow to gray. It is a beautifully brilliant, highly dispersive jewel that stands on its own, creating a unique jewelry category.

Since moissanite is slightly less dense than diamonds, it is better to refer to moissanite stones in terms of size. However, we understand that most people understand gemstones by carat rather than mm. Here is a chart: Note: For the list of corresponding carat weights to mm sizes for other moissanite stone shapes, please visit our loose moissanite stones page.

Answer: Moissanite has very close characteristics to diamond. The refractive index or brilliance of Moissanite is 2.65 as compared to 2.42 for diamond. The dispersion or fire of Moissanite is 0.104 as compared to 0.044 for diamond. Moissanite is the second hardest jewel after diamond with a hardness rating of 9.25 as compared to 10 for diamond.

Answer: Yes. It is quite difficult to tell the two apart especially when both have very similar properties. Even many professional jewelers find it hard to distinguish the two. Answer: Yes, most definitely. As seen on 20/20, Moissanite is the only other jewel that will test “positive” as a diamond when tested using a standard diamond tester.

A diamond is made entirely of carbon (just like the graphite in a pencil). But, while graphite is very soft, the carbon atoms in diamond form in such a way as to create the hardest known substance. This special structure allows diamonds to take a superior polish and project more brilliance than any other natural colorless gemstone.

Ans. The key to a diamond's value is its rarity, and no two diamonds are alike. Rarity is determined by a diamond's unique characteristics as measured by the Four Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight. Using these criteria, a small diamond of exceptional quality will likely be more valuable than a larger diamond of lower quality.

Moissanite pronounced as (MOY- San- ite)) is a relatively new jewel in the market. Moissanite has achieved outstanding Popularity since its inception commercially in the Year 1998.Moissanite, also known as silicon carbide, is a naturally occurring mineral found in limited quantities or as small particles in the earth. The rarity of large natural Moissanite crystals prohibits their use in jewelry making. For years, scientists tried in vain to re-create this extraordinarily brilliant material.

In some cases yes, and some no. The cutting for any given shape of moissanite is done in slightly different proportions than those for a diamond. Each Moissanite jewel is hand cut to specifications that maximize the appearance and beauty of Moissanite. This special hand-cut faceting gives each Moissanite jewel an unbelievable brilliance and fire. The color of Moissanite compares to diamonds of I-J color.

Anything that cuts grease will help remove the build-up of oil and dirt from a diamond. Commercially prepared jewelry cleaner is perfectly suited for this purpose as is dish detergent and a bit of ammonia. Other gems may require different cleaning procedures, especially opals, pearls, emeralds, turquoise, and other soft and porous stones. Ask your retail jeweler the best way to clean any stone in question.

Diamond certificates, or grading reports, are independent documents that provide extensive information about the quality of a diamond. Along with carat weight, measurements, clarity grade, and color grade, EGL USA diamond certificates contain detailed information about cut quality. Click here to see a sample certificate.

Created moissanite is silicon carbide formed as a single crystal. Moissanite is a naturally occurring mineral found in limited quantities in the earth. Discovered in 1893 by Dr. Henri Moissan, the jewel was later named in his honor. The natural quantities of moissanite are too small to create jewelry. The jewel was created through a combination of science and art. Abrasives formed of silicon carbide powder are inexpensive to manufacture.

C# is a new language designed by Microsoft to work with the .NET framework. In their "Introduction to C#" whitepaper, Microsoft describe C# as follows: C# is a simple, modern, object oriented, and type-safe programming language derived from C and C++. C# (pronounced "C sharp") is firmly planted in the C and C++ family tree of languages, and will immediately be familiar to C and C++ programmers. C# aims to combine the high productivity of Visual Basic and the raw power of C++.

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A gemstone’s “fire” is caused by dispersion – the property by which light is spread out according to its wavelengths (colors) as it passes through an object. Moissanite’s dispersion is 0.104 and can be calculated scientifically.