Post # 1
Member
286 posts
Helper bee
I know there are a good bit of posts like this out there but I wanted to get my own feedback. My fiancé and I want to upgrade my Asha before the wedding. I’ve heard unenhanced moissanite can show some color but it’s also significantly cheaper. FB, from what I’ve read is stunning but I’m afraid it might be too white with my diamond setting. I would love to hear what others know and see your pictures! Thank you!!
Post # 3
Member
528 posts
Busy bee
@CBWFlove: Forever Brilliant enhancement definitely! I don’t know which shape or size you’ll be getting, but my FB Ring Bearer moissanite showed a significant tint under office lighting, and I dread to think what an unenhanced one would look like. I’ve heard that enhancement below 1 carat isn’t necessary, but mine is 0.75ct.
I have seen some beautifully white unenhanced moissanites on these boards but I think that people do tend to post their best pics, and also there’s variation in what you recieve. I think I might have got a dud one, so whatever you decide make sure you ask them to handpick your stone.
I sent my Ring Bearer back to be replaced with a FB OEC, which was a great decision for me. Normally they are supposed to show more body colour, but you can see from the pics below that it shows significantly less than my Ring Bearer did.
Pics compared with a D colour CZ under natural and yellow lighting. Ring Bearer first pics, OEC second pics. Ignore the numbers, that was for the other thread!
You can see more pics here.
Post # 4
Member
840 posts
Busy bee
FB is not an enhancement, it’s just hand-picked to be whiter. so… if you need whiter, get FB.
Post # 5
Member
127 posts
Blushing bee
@patchy: I don’t think that’s exactly true. The Charles and Colvard Moissanite site states: “Only the best are chosen to become Forever Brilliant. Next, each rough is oriented for maximum brilliance and polished by hand to perfect proportions until it dances with scintillation. Finally, these select gems are enhanced through a proprietary process to purify the crystal lattice.” So, they do supposedly handpick the nicest ones but then they do go through an enhancement process.
@CBWFlove: I really love my Forever Brilliant, but I’ve also seem some gorgeous unenhanced ones. As a PP mentioned, it really does depend on the size of the stone. It’s also depends on the cut. The Ring Bearer tend to face up whiter.
Post # 6
Member
840 posts
Busy bee
@BisBeanBrien: oh! huh, learn something new. 🙂 I thought that was the old stock, and the new stock don’t go through that anymore (just inherently whiter rough). oh well!
Post # 7
Member
127 posts
Blushing bee
@patchy: I know there’s like…some weird way that they do something with the new stock. Some kind of polishing thing, but I think that’s for all of them now, so they end up with an odd film on them. There’s a bunch of threads about getting the film off. So maybe it has changed and they haven’t updated their site yet? If it’s just about picking a whiter stone, I believe Schubach’s will actually handpick a super white one out of their own stock, also – so it might be worth it to go that route, instead of spending the extra money!
Post # 8
Member
286 posts
Helper bee
@DarlingClementine: thank you! I’m only getting a 1carat stone so idk if it would show color.
Post # 9
Member
286 posts
Helper bee
@BisBeanBrien: I’m getting one carat lol what do you think in that case?
Post # 10
Member
669 posts
Busy bee
@BisBeanBrien:
@patchy: Patchy you are right. I researched this thoroughly and new generation of FBs are just picked out from the same rough as unenhanced (but whiter stones are picked out). Prior to May 2013 – the first generation of FBs were treated but NOT coated (some sort of heat treatment that fixes the bonds and purifies the stone). Both unenhanced and enhanced come from the same whiter rough these days. In antique cuts and larger stones I would go with FB, but in round brilliants in my opinion there isn’t much difference really. I have both.
Post # 11
Member
1312 posts
Bumble bee
I also assumed that the FBs just come from inherently whiter stock. :S
From my untrained eye and lots of research, I personally think there is a bit of a trade-off between coloured light return/fire (rainbow flashes) and brilliance (white flashes of light). So if you really value colourful rainbow flashes, go with unenhanced. If you value a bit more whiteness, go with FB. I wouldn’t worry about FB being “too white” though.
@DarlingClementine: How odd that your OEC is more colourless than your RB! Must be from a better, newer rough. 🙂 It looks gorgeous, and I love your double-prong setting!
Post # 12
Member
966 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: September 2014 - Banff, Alberta
@CBWFlove: I have an unenhanced 1.5 moissy and it couldn’t be any more perfect. SOOOOOO much sparkle and the color is perfect.
Post # 13
Member
286 posts
Helper bee
@Pixienickie: thank you! Do you have a picture of your ring? I would really love to see it!
Post # 14
Member
810 posts
Busy bee
I have a 1 carat OEC moissy in a diamond setting. I am so glad we went with the FB because it would have been too yellow compared to the diamonds. It is warmer than the diamonds, but not bad. 
Post # 15
Member
286 posts
Helper bee
@luckylady3090: thank you for the picture I’m totally drooling over! That’s gorgeous!
Post # 16
Member
810 posts
Busy bee
Thank you!:) Is there a particular cut you like? What does your setting look like?
