Rescu

In the lead-up to Valentine’s Day, RESCU asked gem experts Lauren Chang Sommer and Alana Chang from Moi Moi Fine Jewellery about the art of selecting a quality gemstone. And we even got some tips on what jewellery will flatter your face shape. 

Most girls make it their business to know all about bling. For two sisters, this passion has become a thriving business. Moi Moi Fine Jewellery was founded by sisters Lauren and Alana, who opened a store in December 2004 at Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building. Together, the girls have introduced the world’s fastest growing fine jewellery category to Australian and New Zealand- created gemstones.

RESCU: When purchasing jewellery, what’s the best advice you offer your clients?
Lauren and Alana: “Jewellery is like a piece of art: always buy something that you love, that makes you happy and you feel confident wearing. You don’t need to ask for your friend’s opinion, if you love it, and is within budget, then it is for you.”

RESCU: You host very popular education nights; what should every girl know about purchasing a significant gem stone?
Lauren and Alana: “Know what you are buying
To ensure your purchase is of the highest quality, make sure it comes with a certificate. Certified jewellers allow consumers to shop with confidence as all purchase details are included in the certificate. Consumers who purchase jewellery that comes without a certificate can be spending thousands of dollars more than what the piece of jewellery is worth.

Make sure you are getting value for money
Like any purchase, you will only get value for money if you shop around and research all options. Savvy consumers realise there are many different options to weigh up when purchasing a piece of jewellery. Moissanite is a quality stone with more fire, lustre and brilliance than any other stone including diamonds, but comes at a fraction of the cost. Shopping around and considering all options can save you thousands of dollars!

Make sure the jewellery is well crafted
Superior crafted jewellery of heirloom quality will ensure the piece remains within the family and can be cherished for generations. If you are working with a new jeweller, you should ask to see examples of previous custom-made pieces that he/she has created to ensure you will be happy with your purchase.

Choose a jewel that has good brilliance
Every woman wants their jewellery to sparkle! Brilliance (sparkle) is considered the most important physical property of a jewel, as no girl wants a dull stone. It is determined by the Refractive Index (RI) that measures how much light is returned to the eye by the jewel. Purchasing a jewel with good brilliance will see your piece of jewellery continue to shine for a lifetime!”


RESCU: The Sex And The City episode when Aidan buys Carrie the wrong engagement ring is a classic. Can you offer us some expert advice on how to tell our partner what kind of engagement ring or jewellery you want?
Lauren and Alana: “Point out ring styles, stone shapes, or even highlight certain design elements of different rings whilst you both shop or look online.

If you feel your partner is not one to pick up on subtle hints, you should consider making a wish list with your jeweller ensuring you get exactly what you want.”

RESCU: You are the exclusive distributors for Moissanite in Australia. What made you fall in love with this jewel?
Lauren and Alana: “When we first saw Moissanite, we were extremely attracted to the incredible brilliance – in fact Moissanite has more brilliance, fire and lustre than any other jewel. When we realised that Moissanite was only one-tenth of the price, we could not believe it and we knew straight away that we had to bring it here and make it available for Australian women.”

RESCU: We love your tips about selecting jewellery to compliment your face shape. Can you give us some pointers?
Lauren and Alana: “Oval face shapes like Charlize Theron and Jessica Alba, are lucky and considered to have the perfect face shape, so any style necklace or earrings will suit your face shape!

With all other face shapes, the idea is to try and bring other face shapes to appear more like an oval face shape. Here are some tips:

Rectangular
Think Gwyneth Paltrow or Julia Roberts.
Rectangular faces need jewellery that adds width and camouflages the length of the face
A high choker works well, especially if neck is long, or a shorter U-shape necklace is flattering.

Rectangular faces look fab with big stud earrings or short drops as it adds width. Do not wear long straight drops, it will only emphasise the length of a rectangular face.

Round
Think Kirsten Dunst or Christina Ricci.
The aim for a round face is to add length, so try long necklaces, 28” to 32” are a good range for dimension of length. Avoid chokers!

Elongated earrings, like hoops, rectangles, drop and dangly earrings, help lengthen the face – small studs will do nothing for a round face.

Heart
Think Reese Witherspoon and Liv Tyler.
A heart face is very distinct. Add width to the chin to draw the eye away from the point of the chin.

Chokers or opera length necklaces fill the space well, but V-shape necklaces are a disaster, especially short ones.

Earrings that are wider at the bottom are especially flattering like dangly earrings that form a triangle or pear shape.”

RESCU: What is a created gemstone and can anyone tell the difference?
Lauren and Alana: “A created gemstone is made from the exact same natural mineral as its mined counterpart, only created in a laboratory under immense heat and pressure.

Our created jewels therefore have the exact same properties: physically, chemically, structurally and optically of mined jewels at a fraction of the cost and are totally conflict free. You cannot tell the difference and they will last a lifetime.”

RESCU: How can we avoid getting ripped off by unscrupulous vendors? Any things to be wary of when buying a quality piece of jewellery?
Lauren and Alana: “Firstly, you need to be able to find a reputable jeweller you trust and that each piece comes with a certificate.

Being members of a national body, such as the JAA (Jewellers Association of Australia), is also assuring. When buying from the internet, it is far better if the dealer also has a physical retail space as there is some more legitimacy about the retailer.”

RESCU: Can you tell us the difference between Diamonds, Moissanite and Cubic Zirconias?
Lauren and Alana: “Diamonds are made from the natural mineral carbon and come in all different grades determining their carat colour, clarity and cut. For a loose 1 carat round brilliant diamond, you can expect to pay around $7,000.

Cubic Zirconias (CZs) are mass produced imitation diamonds, sometimes known as diamond simulants. CZs are made of synthetic materials and over time will go cloudy, lose their lustre and are easily detectable as a ‘fake’ diamond, which you can buy for less than $7 per carat.

Moissanite has nothing to do with diamond or CZ. Moissanite is a jewel in its own right, which is made from the natural mineral Silicon Carbide. Naturally occurring Moissanite is too rare to be used for jewellery purposes so we create Moissanite using the exact same natural mineral (SiC) in a laboratory. Moissanite has more brilliance, fire and lustre than any other jewel including diamond, yet is a fraction of the cost - $700 for 1 carat.”

RESCU: How should we care for gemstones and fine jewellery?
Lauren and Alana: “When storing your jewellery, keep each piece separate to avoid scratching, take jewellery off for activities like gardening or housework. Be sure to clean every few months with jewellery cleaner and regularly check the security of any stones. With the proper care, your fine jewellery pieces should last a lifetime.”

RESCU Recommends: The Moi Moi gemstone workshop is fantastic and really helps you know your rocks. We loved the friendly and glamorous vibe of the store and found the expert advice on jewels most comprehensive. Great with girlfriends, or bring along your partner before a big purchase.

About created gemstones:
The Moissanite jewel, which is made from the mineral Silicon Carbide, has more brilliance, fire and lustre than any other jewel including diamond, and comes at a fraction of the cost. Because of its beauty and affordable price tag, the jewel has rapidly created its own niche since being launched by American creators Charles & Colvard in 1998.

Moi Moi also specialises in created sapphires, rubies and emeralds that possess the same chemical, physical, structural and optical qualities of mined jewels at a fraction of the cost and totally conflict free.

In September 2009, Moi Moi launched Australia’s first ever created pink diamond. Found in Australia’s Argyle mine, the pink diamond is among the world’s rarest and most beautiful natural resources, making it one of the most expensive jewels on the market. The launch of Moi Moi’s created pink diamond collection makes the gorgeous stone accessible to many Australian consumers.

For more information about Moi Moi Jewellery appreciation courses and to find out more about Moissanite, visit www.moimoi.com.au