Moissanite is a gemstone made of silicon carbide that comes from outer space. Its occurrence in nature is incredibly rare and only found in meteor craters on earth. Despite the rarity of natural Moissanite, it can be grown in a laboratory using silicon and carbon atoms.

The GIA recognises Moissanite as the closest Diamond simulant due to its similarities in brilliance, hardness and thermal properties that allow it to pass a Diamond tester.

Where Does Moissanite Come From?

Henri Moissan discovered the first natural Moissanite in 1893 while examining a meteor crater in Arizona. At first, he mistakenly identified the crystals as Diamond but later discovered it was silicon carbide.

More than a century later, Charles & Clovard developed a process for synthesising silicon carbide and introduced Moissanite to the jewellery market in 1998.

Moissanite is grown in a laboratory using the Lely method, which produces silicon carbide crystals through the process of sublimation.

Moissanite vs. Diamond 

Made from carbon, Diamonds are the hardest mineral on earth. They are characterised by their scintillating brilliance and unmatched durability, but cost £750-£15,000 per carat depending on the cut, colour, and clarity.

Moissanite and Diamond are indistinguishable to the naked eye and jewellers will often require a magnifying glass to tell the difference.

Durability

Gemstones are measured on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, which assesses a gem’s ability to withstand surface scratching.

Diamond is the hardest known mineral and receives a 10 on the Mohs scale. Moissanite is the third hardest known mineral at 9.25 on the Mohs scale.

Brilliance & Lustre

Brilliance refers to the appearance of light reflected from the interior of the gem. Moissanite has superior brilliance with a refractive index of 2.65 compared to Diamond's 2.45.

Lustre is the amount of light that is reflected back to the observer from the surface of the gem. Moissanite has 18% greater luster than a Diamond and 50% greater luster than cubic zirconia.

Sourcing

Because Moissanites are lab created, they are an appealing option for those seeking an eco-conscious gemstone as they require no mining.

Price

Diamond prices vary based on carat, cut, colour, and clarity. However, Moissanite only varies in price based on carat weight as all our stones have excellent specifications.

Moissanite is usually priced around 100x less than natural Diamond.