How Do We Classify Moissanite Into Different Grades?
Not all the Moissanite are the same. TAYLOR KOM's patent-pending Magical Moissanites stand out for their superior color, clarity, and cut compared to others. In fact, they represent the highest grade of Moissanite available on the market today.
Moissanite Color Grade
- .Colorless: Comparable to a D, E, or F color grade
- .Slightly Colorless: Comparable to a G, H, or I color grade
- .Yellow Tinted: Comparable to a J or K color grade
Moissanite Clarity Grade
Clarity grade indicates the number of imperfections, known as inclusions. Nearly all gemstones have inclusions, but luckily for moissanite, most of its inclusions are not visible to the naked eye and require intense magnification to be seen.
Moissanite's clarity is graded depending on the number of inclusions the stone has. These grades can be brown down into five easy to understand categories:
- .FL, IF: Flawless and internally flawless
- .VVS1, VVS2: Very, very slightly included
- .VS1, VS2: Very slightly included
- .SI1, SI2: Slightly included
- .I1, I2, I3: Included
Common moissanite inclusions are:
Needles: These thin, needle-like imperfections are the most common type of inclusions for moissanite. Needles are difficult to see without close observation, and only compromise the moissanite's beauty if many needles are clustered together.
Mineral Crystals: These are crystals within that can appear light or dark.
Clouds: These are milky looking spots within the stone, and when viewed under magnification, you can see that they are actually clusters of needle and crystal inclusions.
Feathers: These inclusions are miniature fractures within the gem, which look like a crack or a feather. Never buy moissanite with many feathers because they will have weaker structural integrity and can more easily fracture.
Knots: These inclusions look like white or transparent crystals. Avoid moissanite with many knots because they also worsen the stone's structural integrity.
Chips: These inclusions are shallow openings on the stone's surface, typically resulting from its owner accidentally damaging the moissanite during daily wear. Chips are commonly seen on the gemstone's culet, facet junctions, and girdle.
Cavities: Just like a tooth cavity, moissanite cavities are openings on the stone that easily trap dirt and oil, creating unsightly dark spots.
Moissanite Cut Grade
Cut grade denotes how well a stone is cut and with grades ranging from Excellent to Poor. With excellent cut grades, light can best travel throughout the stone and sparkle. Alternatively, poorly cut stones will not allow light to effectively travel throughout the stone, resulting in a lifeless looking moissanite. The grade chart for the cut is simply:
- Excellent
- Very Good
- Good
- Fair
- Poor
Moissanite Carat Weight
For diamonds, carat weight refers to how heavy the stone is. However, moissanite is less dense than diamonds which makes the two stones difficult to compare by weight. Due to the density difference, a moissanite's “carat weight” is denoted by the stone's size in millimeters. For example, a one-carat diamond is comparable to a 6.5mm moissanite.
What is the Best Grade of Moissanite?
Understanding the grades of Moissanite is crucial before making a purchase, as it allows you to select stones that align with your preferences. While the optimal grade may vary based on personal taste, we at TAYLOR KOM recommend opting for colorless Moissanite ranging from D to F color grades, with clarity grades falling between FL to VS1, and boasting an Excellent or Very Good cut grade. With these top-notch grades, you can confidently purchase the finest Moissanite from TAYLOR KOM.
