All moissanite gemstone characteristics such as VVS, color grade (D), or excellent cut listed in a table with explanations. From VVS to Flawless.
Various characteristics are used for moissanite to describe the quality and appearance of a stone. These include, among others, the clarity grade, the color grade, and the cut. These specifications describe different properties of moissanite and should therefore not be confused with each other.
| Feature | Grade / Specification | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Clarity | FL | Flawless – no inclusions or blemishes under 10x magnification |
| IF | Internally Flawless – no internal inclusions, only possible surface characteristics | |
| VVS1 | Very, very slight inclusions, difficult to see under 10× magnification | |
| VVS2 | Very, very slight inclusions, visible under 10× magnification | |
| VS1 | Very small inclusions, visible under 10× magnification | |
| VS2 | Small inclusions, usually only noticeable under magnification | |
| SI1 | More visible inclusions | |
| SI2 | More distinct inclusions | |
| Color | D | Colorless – highest degree of colorlessness |
| E | Colorless | |
| F | Colorless | |
| G | Nearly colorless | |
| H | Nearly colorless, slight tint possible | |
| I–J | Slightly tinted | |
| K–M | Noticeably warmer tint | |
| Cut |
Excellent |
Very good light reflection and strong sparkle |
| Very good | Very good light reflection | |
| Good | Good light reflection | |
| Moderate | Significantly lower light performance possible | |
| Poor | Weaker light reflection | |
| Cut Type | Brilliant | Round brilliant cut, specifically designed for sparkle |
| Oval | Oval shape | |
| Princess Cut | Square brilliant cut | |
| Cushion | Cushion shape | |
| Emerald | Rectangular step cut | |
| Baguette Cut | Rectangular step cut | |
| Teardrop shape | Pear shape | |
| Marquise | Navette shape | |
| Heart | Heart cut | |
| Hardness | 9.25 Mohs | Very high scratch resistance; diamond is at 10 |
| Refractive Index | approx. 2.65–2.69 | High light refraction and thus strong sparkle |
| Birefringence | Yes | Enhances the typical moissanite sparkle and fire. Diamond has no double refraction |
| Material | Silicon Carbide (SiC) |
Silicon + Carbon → Silicon Carbide (SiC) → crystallizes into → Moissanite crystal |
| Origin | Laboratory | Discovered in meteorites, but not suitable for jewelry. |
| Carat Weight | ct | Weight specification; not directly comparable to the visible size of a diamond 1ct = 0.2g |
| mm Size | e.g. 2 mm | Actual dimension of the stone |
A small note: A diamond is often colloquially referred to as a "brilliant." Strictly speaking, however, a brilliant is not a separate type of stone, but a cut: the classic round brilliant cut with 57 or 58 facets. With a precisely executed cut, the characteristic 8 arrows can be seen from above and the 8 hearts from below. The term "brilliant" thus refers to the special cut shape and not the material of the stone – a moissanite, for example, can also be cut in a round brilliant cut.
What does VVS mean for Moissanite?
VVS stands for Very Very Slightly Included and describes the clarity grade of a moissanite. A VVS1 moissanite shows very few inclusions that are difficult to see under magnification. The higher the clarity, the fewer visible inclusions are present in the stone.
The clarity grade does not indicate anything about the color or cut. A moissanite can, for example, have a high VVS1 clarity grade and simultaneously possess a specific color grade and cut.
Is VVS for Moissanite the same as for Diamonds?
The designation VVS originates from the gemological evaluation of gemstones and is used for both diamonds and moissanites. However, the classification is not automatically directly comparable, as moissanites and diamonds possess different materials and optical properties.
What is the color grade for Moissanite?
The color grade describes how colorless or how strongly tinted a moissanite appears. A higher color grade indicates the most colorless appearance possible. Especially with white jewelry such as 925 sterling silver or 18K white gold, a colorless moissanite comes into its own particularly well.
What does “Excellent Cut” mean?
The cut describes how the facets of a moissanite are arranged and proportioned, and how light enters the stone as a result. An excellent cut can help the moissanite reflect light particularly effectively, thereby showing intense sparkle and strong light reflection.
