Simulant
Moissanite
Usually colorless to near-colorless; also yellow, green, gray, and fancy colors.
Colorless
Gray
Green
Yellow
Optical characteristics
- Ref. index
- 2.648 – 2.691
- Birefringence
- 0.043
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Pleochroism
- Weak Usually weak to moderate depending on body color and orientation.
- Fluorescence
- Variable; often inert to weak/moderate under UV.
Source localities
Inclusions & features
Crystals Crystal Inclusions
Under 10x loupe: solid, well-formed mineral crystals trapped inside the host gem. They may…
Fractures Feathers and Fractures
Under 10x loupe: irregular internal surfaces that catch light and appear bright, wing-like, or…
Fractures Fingerprint Inclusions
Under 10x loupe: curved or wavy lines of tiny dots forming patterns that look…
Clouds Pinpoint Clouds
Under 10x loupe: concentrations of extremely tiny bright dots that individually are too small…
Multiphase Two-Phase Inclusions
Under 10x loupe: a transparent irregular cavity containing both a liquid phase and a…
Instruments used
Dichroscope
Reveals pleochroism, instantly eliminates singly-refractive stones
10x Loupe
Your most-used instrument, start every examination here
Polariscope
Determines single vs. double refraction, quick and conclusive
Refractometer
Measures refractive index, the backbone of gem identification
Thermal Probe
Confirms diamond, but always follow up with a moissanite tester
UV Lamp, Long Wave and Short Wave
Fluorescence exposes treatments, synthetics, and origin
Raman and Photoluminescence Spectrometer
Advanced spectral testing for gem ID, diamond color centers, and treatment evidence