GRA Certification

Each piece of Oralis jewellery is manufactured to the industry's highest standards and made with responsibly sourced, tarnish free gold vermeil sterling silver and moissanite gems certified by Oralis. Every detail celebrates sustainability and craftsmanship, offering a piece as meaningful as it is stunning - perfect for those who wear their values as beautifully as their jewellery.

What is GRA Certification?

GRA Certification refers to the Gemological Research Association certification, which is a process of grading and certifying gemstones, including natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds and moissanite, based on their quality and authenticity. The certification process involves assessing a variety of factors, including color, clarity, cut, carat weight, and other unique attributes of the gemstone.

GRA is known for offering independent gemological analysis and grading reports which can be found in the certificates provided with each Oralis jewellery. GRA’s certification is recognized in the gemstone industry as it ensures the authenticity and quality of the gemstone, helping buyers make informed purchasing decisions.

Please note that a GRA certificate can only be provided for jewellery pieces with moissanite gemstones of 0.25 carats and above. Moissanite gemstones smaller than 0.25 carats are often referred to as 'milee' gemstones are cannot be certified by GRA but are 100% certified by Oralis.

What is Moissanite?

Moissanite is a gemstone born from the stars. It was first discovered in 1893 by a French scientist named Henri Moissan, who later won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He discovered particles of the gem that would eventually bear his name in Arizona, in a crater created by a meteorite that fell to Earth. He initially thought that he had found diamonds, but later determined that the crystals were composed of silicon carbide.

Natural moissanite is incredibly rare, so almost all moissanite available today is laboratory-created. After many years of trial and error, the particles Moissan discovered were successfully synthesized to produce what is now one of the world’s most scintillating gemstones.

Moissanite is engineered to appear very similar to diamonds but is compositionally are a bit different. The durability, brilliance, and fire of the two gems are quite distinct but are both very good thermal conductors.

Comparison to Natural Diamonds

Moissanite Gemstones:

Hardness: 9.25 on the Mohs scale (slightly less than diamonds but still very hard)
Refractive Index: 2.65-2.69 (higher than diamonds), contributing to its exceptional brilliance and fire
Dispersion: Moissanite have a greater dispersion than diamonds, which gives them more "rainbow" flashes under light

Natural Diamonds:

Hardness: 10 on the Mohs scale (the hardest natural material found)
Refractive Index: 2.42 (slightly lower than moissanite but still very high)
Dispersion: Diamonds have less dispersion than moissanite, resulting in a more subtle brilliance

Are lab grown moissanite gemstones real?

Yes, lab grown moissanite are real, they are not “fakes.”

Moissanite is so rare in nature that it must be made in order to produce fine jewellery gemstones. They are made from silicon carbide (SiC), which is a compound of silicon and carbon, using one of two primary methods: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). Both processes replicate and mimick the natural conditions that form diamonds and moissanite in the earth but in a controlled, laboratory setting.

The chemical composition is identical to that found in natural moissanite gemstones. The structure of moissanite is hexagonal, giving it distinct optical properties such as a high refractive index and strong brilliance.