How to Test Moissanite
Moisannite is a synthetic gemstone that looks similar to a diamond, but is worth 10 to 15 percent less. When buying a diamond, test the stone for authenticity to avoid inadvertently purchasing a moissanite stone. Special moissanite testers pass an electrical current through the gemstone and measure how well it conducts electricity. Because moissanite conducts electricity at a different rate than diamonds, the tester can quickly identify the difference. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Clean the gemstone thoroughly to remove any body oil, dust or dirt that could create a conductive path and give a false reading on the test. Dry the stone thoroughly before testing. Clean the probe tip of the tester unit and the alligator clip.
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2
Place the jewelry in a jeweler's vise with the stone upward and well exposed for testing. If testing a loose stone, place the stone in one of the holes of the test bed that comes with the tester unit.
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Attach the alligator clip connected to the moissanite tester to the jewelry setting that holds the stone work in the test bed.
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Turn the tester unit on. Touch the probe tip of the unit to either the jewelry setting or the test bed and listen for a warning buzzer. If the buzzer sounds, the alligator clip is securely attached.
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Touch the tip of the test probe to the stone. If the gemstone is moissanite, the unit will typically indicate this by lighting an LED near a label such as "SYNTH.. Many units will also sound an audible tone as a warning. If the stone is a genuine diamond, the "Ready" LED will remain lit and no tone will sound.
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Touch the probe tip to several different locations on the stone to make a thorough test. Moissanite can have dead spots where the stone is not conductive, leading to a false negative test. Testing in several different locations on the stone reduces the risk of a incorrect reading.
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References
- Photo Credit Jeffrey Hamilton/Digital Vision/Getty Images
