1999 - 2000

Synthetic Moissanite vs. Diamond - How to tell them apart ?

Synthetic Moissanite is the new diamond imitation on the market that creating problems
for jewellers and consumers alike. ABC News recently dubbed synthetic moissanite as

"a scientific miracle. It’s more brilliant than a diamond,
it’s as hard as a diamond, and if you place it under a jeweler’s
electronic diamond tester, it will pass for a diamond."

CBC News' Market Place claimed that 8 out of 10 jewellers could not distinguish
between moissanite and diamond in a hidden camera investigation.

IGL's fully qualified GIA Graduate Gemologists are able to detect synthetic moissanite
simply and easily by 10x magnification, utilizing the binocular microscope. We look for:

• double refraction, or ‘doubling' in synthetic moissanite. This can be seen by
  tilting the stone in question away from you and looking through the bezel facet,
  focusing down to the culet. A double image will be apparent to the viewer.
  Other gems that exhibit doubling are peridot and zircon. note: diamonds are
  singly refractive (no doubling).
• inclusions of synthetic moissanites exhibit needle-like characteristics that are
  parallel to one another, and seem to run perpendicular to the table facet.
• rounded facet junctions
• unusual girdle
• heavy liquids - using methylene iodide with S.G. of 3.32, a synthetic moissanite
  with an S.G. of 3.22 will float while a diamond sinks at S.G. of 3.52

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