The honest guide. No hype, no "fake diamond" talk — just what the stone is and how it compares.
Moissanite is silicon carbide (SiC) — a distinct gemstone, not a diamond and not cubic zirconia. It was first discovered in a meteor crater by Nobel laureate Henri Moissan in 1893. Natural moissanite is vanishingly rare, so every jewelry-grade stone is lab-created: consistent, traceable, and conflict-free.
The modern moissanite industry began in the 1990s when Charles & Colvard developed a process to grow silicon carbide crystals large enough for gemstones. Their original patents have since expired, and moissanite is now produced by multiple growers worldwide.
| Moissanite | Natural Diamond | Lab-Grown Diamond | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Silicon carbide (SiC) | Crystallized carbon | Crystallized carbon |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 9.25 — second only to diamond | 10 | 10 |
| Brilliance (refractive index) | 2.65–2.69 — higher than diamond | 2.42 | 2.42 |
| Fire (dispersion) | 0.104 — ~2.4× diamond's rainbow flash | 0.044 | 0.044 |
| Look | More colorful "disco ball" sparkle; slight doubling of facet edges under magnification (double refraction) | Crisp white brilliance | Crisp white brilliance |
| Origin | Lab-created, 100% conflict-free | Mined | Lab-created |
| Typical 1 ct price | Hundreds, not thousands | Thousands | Low thousands |
| Resale | Low — buy it to wear it, not to flip it | Moderate (natural) | Low |
No. "Fake" implies pretending to be something else. Moissanite is its own gemstone with its own optical signature — measurably more brilliant and fiery than diamond, slightly less hard. Jewelers can identify it instantly (double refraction, different thermal behavior). We sell it as moissanite, proudly: you get more visible sparkle per dollar than any other fine gemstone.
Moissanite is for the buyer who wants maximum visible beauty, ethical sourcing, and everyday durability — and would rather put the thousands saved toward the wedding, the honeymoon, or the next piece. If resale value or "mined" origin matters most to you, a natural diamond is the honest choice instead.