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What is the Forever One™ moissanite?
The Charles & Colvard Forever One is the first colorless grade (D-E-F on the GIA color scale) moissanite in the company’s history. With near-diamond hardness, a stunning refractive index, and now a colorless quality to the gemstone, the Forever One is arguably the most reputable and the most coveted diamond alternative. The Forever One is cut with 57-58 facets, even edging out the diamond in terms of fire and brilliance.
Charles & Colvard also have two other Forever lines: Forever Brilliant and Forever Classic. The main differences between the three are color grade and price. While Forever One is colorless on the GIA color scale, Forever Brilliant moissanite is in the near-colorless G-H-I range, and Forever Classic moissanite is in the J-K range. These lines are suited to those who aren’t as concerned about splurging for colorless gems.
To learn more about moissanite, read our previous blog post on the gemstone here.
What is an Amora Gem?
The Amora Gem is a crystal that comes from the silicon carbide family, which includes moissanite and over 200 other gemstones. The gemstone is not moissanite, and according to the Amora Gems website, is "only present on Earth in rare quantities near the Earth’s core." However, despite these claims, the Amora Gem shares many of the same features as moissanite, with only a few exceptions. The Amora Gem has a 64 facet vertical girdle, and 4 girdle facets per crown facet, using a hearts and arrows round cut.
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Buy our Amora Gem here, starting from $1,750
Comparison of Amora v. Forever One Moissanite
Note, all information on Amora gemstones is taken from Better Than Diamond's website. Information on Forever One is taken from the Charles & Colvard website.
Composition
In terms of composition, Amora Gems and Forever One moissanite are extremely similar, given that they’re both made of silicon and carbon. On their FAQ page, Amora claims that they are two different gemstones because Amora gems have a different structure to the Forever One moissanite’s 6H polytype. However, since Amora never explicitly discloses the polytype Amora gems are based on, it’s difficult to discern how accurate this statement is. Both gems score a 9 - 9.5 in hardness based on the MOHS scale.
Origin
Amora states that their gem can only be found near the Earth’s core or by creating "star-like conditions." Both claims seem hyperbolic, given that mining near the Earth’s core is impractical, and recreating the star-like, nuclear fusion in a gem lab is impossible. Whatever the original source of the Amora gem is, the Amora gems now seen on the market are lab grown.
Moissanite is naturally occurring, but through innovative breakthroughs, has become less expensive to grow through a thermal growing process. The colorless Forever One is a newer, premium moissanite line by Charles & Colvard that is a step up from traditional moissanite, due to its meticulously crafted lab-grown origins.
Brilliance
Gemstone brilliance is measured by the refractive index, or RI, which describes how much light the gemstone enters and is split inside. Amora Gems reportedly have an RI of 2.66-2.71, while typical moissanite gems have an RI of 2.65-2.69. The Forever One moissanite by Charles & Colvard has an even greater refractive index than its traditional counterpart, with a high of 2.71. When you do the math, the difference between Amora gems and traditional moissanite calculates to less than a 1% difference. Both gemstones display a great sparkle.
Fire
Fire, or fire dispersion, refers to how much white light is refracted by the gemstone. Both Amora Gems and Forever One moissanite score a 0.104, higher than diamond, ruby, sapphire, or emerald.
Color
Both Amora Gems and Forever One moissanite achieve a D-E-F rating on the GIA color scale, meaning that both gemstones achieve a colorless appearance. Charles & Colvard also offer options for those looking for slight color in their gemstones.
Cut
Charles & Colvard has patented the signature cut used on its Forever One moissanite, which is still the best cut for bringing out unmatched brilliance within the gemstone. Amora uses a "Hearts & Arrow" cut, similar to those used by diamonds. This is why true moissanite will often seem brighter and more scintillating, while Amora Gems appear somewhat flatter- it’s all in the way they’re cut.
Price
Forever One moissanite prices vary between $250 to $600 per carat, while Amora gems range from $350 to $675, depending on the color and clarity. Amora also claims that cushion and fancy cuts add to the overall price.
Warranty
One thing to note is that the Amora retailer does not offer a warranty on the Amora gemstone: "Amora gems with 9.5 hardness do not need a warranty, similarly like diamonds". In contrast, Charles & Colvard offer a limited lifetime warranty, free returns, as well as various payment options for their Forever One moissanite gems, something not offered by other generic moissanite producers. Warranty is something important to keep in mind if you’re concerned about the quality of the gemstone.
The Bottom Line: Amora Gems or Forever One moissanite?
Amora gems, in comparison to moissanite, are equal in hardness, durability, and color, but inferior in terms of affordability, clarity, and cut. If you are looking for a diamond alternative, we highly encourage our customers to opt for the more affordable and equally as brilliant Forever One moissanite gemstone.
Explore our gallery of engagement rings featuring Forever One moissanite, sapphire, and diamond. For more unique pieces, check out our halo engagement rings offerings.
To keep up to date with new blog posts, guides, and information in the jewelry and gemstone world, be sure to follow Love and Promise Jewelers’ blog today.
