Moissanite - Black Diamond - Challenges for Gemologists in the Third Millennium?

Authors

  • Miha Jeršek
  • Breda Mirtič
  • Marjan Ocvirk

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5474/geologija.2000.007

Abstract

Almost four years ago a new synthetic moissanite was on show at the exhibition in Tuscon, Arizona. Because of its physical properties, e.g. hardness 9.25 on the Mohs scale, the moissanite became a big challenge for gemmologists. Its thermal properties are very similar to the thermal properties of diamond. That is why the classic diamond tests are almost useless when trying to determine wheter a sample is the diamond or synthetic moissanite. Besides, informations on the new synthesis are still mainly unavaliable for the public. The so called black diamond was examined. Even though the certificate which accompanied the stone assured the origin of two heavier »black diamonds« from the same knee we proved that the sample is a synthetic moissanite rather than the black diamond. If the production of synthetic gems similar to the natural gems was the major challenge for gemologists in the last decades of this Millennium - what will be in the next?

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How to Cite

Jeršek, M., Mirtič, B., & Ocvirk, M. (2000). Moissanite - Black Diamond - Challenges for Gemologists in the Third Millennium? . Geologija, 43(1), 75–83. https://doi.org/10.5474/geologija.2000.007

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