Moissanite, the World’s brilliant gem, is a rare and naturally occurring mineral – silicon carbide. The Nobel prize-winning chemist, Dr. Henri Moissan, in 1893, found these crystals while studying the crater formed by a massive meteor strike in Arizona, and the stone, Moissanite, was named after him. Naturally occurring Moissanite gemstones are extremely rare, and hence they are recreated in the lab for their brilliance, toughness, durability, and fire.
It took decades for researches to develop a patented process for creating this outstanding gemstone, Moissanite. The origins of these crystals are eco-friendly and traceable. Hence, these gemstones are grown in a controlled thermal process, making them meet the highest environmental standards.
The method of creating these gems is lengthy, complicated, and expensive. It takes nearly 2 to 3 months to create a single piece of Moissanite. After all, they are the World’s brilliant gem.
Some of the reasons why you need to opt for a Moissanite:
- Price: The most significant advantage of buying a Moissanite is – it is affordable and cost-effective when compared to a diamond.
- Shape: Moissanite comes in different shapes, so different options to choose from
- Longevity: It lasts for a lifetime without losing its glow and sparkle.
- Brilliance: A Moissanite is a shimmer than a diamond.
- Durable: Moissanites are sturdy and resistant to scratch and abrasion. Hence, they are durable.
- Maintenance: Moissanites are easy to maintain.
Yes. Moissanites are naturally occurring minerals; however, they are scarcely available. Hence, they are produced in the lab owing to their brilliance and exclusivity.
It took years and years of trial and error method to develop a patented process for growing these crystals. This process recreates the exact naturally occurring gemstone in a lab. A single piece of man-made Moissante takes 2 to 3 months to be recreated, marking their uniqueness.
A certified Moissanite comes with a certificate of authenticity. It has the exact quality specifications as to color, clarity, grades, and more. Certified Moissanite is a guarantee to our customers that the gemstone is as per the highest quality standards.
So, enjoy the certified Moissanite with confidence and peace of mind.
Moissanite gemstones are graded based on the quality of the 4C’s – Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat.
- Color – Moissanites are graded on the same scale as diamonds. However, unlike diamonds, Moissanite, with a faint glow, carries undertones making them a highly dispersive gem. It is to be noted that near-colorless Moissanites are graded as the best quality.
- D – Colorless
- E-F – Colorless
- G-J – Near colorless
- K –M –Faint Yellow
- N-R- Very light yellow
- S-Z –Light yellow
- Clarity – Clarity is how clean or clear the gemstone is. Since Moissanites are lab-created, they ensure the most exceptional quality standards. Furthermore, a Moissanite’s inclusions help to identify the clarity:
- F – No inclusions; visible to a skilled grader
- IF –No inclusions, only blemishes; visible to a trained grader
- VVS1 – VVS2 – Difficult for a skilled grader to see the inclusions
- VS1 – VS2 – Inclusions are clearly visible, and are characterized as minor
- SI1 – SI2 – Noticeable inclusions, visible to a skilled grader
- I1 – I3 – Inclusions are transparent, affecting the transparency and brilliance of the gem.
- Cut – Cut refers to the symmetry, polish, and balance of proportion. An exquisite cut adds to the overall beauty of the Moissanite. A standard round cut is the most popular cut for a Moissanite.
- Carat – Moissanite gemstones are lighter than diamonds. However, both these stones are of the same size. Hence Moissanites are measure in ‘mm’s.’
Moissanites are both machine-cut and hand-cut. Proper care is taken when the Moissanite is cut, as their precision is vital for enhancing their brilliance and fire. However, hand-cut Moissanite’s have maximum brilliance and fire, thus making them rarer and even more valuable than machine-cut Moissanites.
Yes. Moissanite comes in different shapes and sizes. Each piece of Moissanite crystal is evaluated for clarity, color, and quality. Indeed, only the crystals that meet the highest standards are allowed to be cut.
A cut Moissanite comes in different shapes like round brilliant, cushion, oval, emerald, radiant, square brilliant, heart, pear, marquise, trillion, and more.
No. A Moissanite will not change or fade its color permanently, as Moissanite is an exceptionally stable gemstone. However, when exposed to extreme heat while undergoing repairs, Moissanite might experience temporary color change. With the right bench techniques, there will be no damage to the gem, and it will return to its normal color once the gemstone cools down to room temperature.
A Moissanite sparkles due to its optical property that impacts its brilliance. Moissanite has a Brilliance Refractive Index(BRI) range from 2.65 to 2.69, meaning it displays more brilliance or sparkle than a diamond, which has a BRI of 2.42. So, a Moissanite sparkles better than any other gemstone.
Yes. Moissanite is robust and incredibly resistant to scratching. On the Mohs Scale, it scores 9.25 for hardness, making it the second hardest gemstone next to diamond. Hence, a Moissanite is extremely scratch resistant.
Yes. Moissanite is heat resistant. When heated up to 2000⁰F, Moissanite remains intact. This incredible gem is extremely heat resistant and does not lose its brilliance even at high temperatures. Therefore, it is likely to suffer any heat damage during jewelry repairs.
No. Moissanite has a hardness score of 9.25 on the Mohs scale, making it a tough gemstone. Hence, Moissanite will not break easily.
No, a Moissanite does not lose its value over time. Moissanite gems are of the highest quality standards, and they will never lose their spark or brilliance for a lifetime.
It is easy to care for your Moissanite jewelry. You can clean a Moissanite just like every other gemstone. Use commercial (non-acid based) jewelry cleaner to clean your Moissanite treasures. You can also use mild soap and a soft brush to clean your Moissanite jewelry.
Additionally, you can use ultrasonic cleaner for your fine jewelry.
Moissanite and diamond are strikingly similar, but Moissanite has different chemical and optical properties. Here’s how they differ
| Moissanite | Diamond | |
| Durability | On the Mohs scale, Moissanite has a score of 9.25, making it one of the hardest substances on Earth. | On the Mohs scale, diamond has a 10, which makes it the hardest known mineral on Earth. |
| Brilliance | The refractive index of a Moissanite gem is 2.65 to 2.69, meaning it has a higher dispersion than diamond. | Diamond scores 2.42 as its refractive index, which means it sparkles less than a Moissanite |
| Color | Moissanite is labeled colorless, but it still emits a yellow or a grayish hue in certain lights | A colorless diamond has a dazzling bright white color |
| Price | Moissanite’s are cost-effective when compared to diamonds. | Diamonds are expensive
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The price of a diamond varies based on cut, clarity, and other characteristics, whereas a Moissanite price varies based on their type and size. Diamonds are quite expensive when compared to a Mossiante despite being similar in size and appearance.
Moissanite being the exact lookalike of a diamond and being the second toughest gem on Earth, it is definitely worth the price for its exceptional glow and sparkle!
But, the sad reality is, due to social pressure, people opt for diamonds for their engagement rings even when Moissanites are their equivalent and cost 90% less. For, e.g., on average, the cost of a 1ct diamond will be around $4000, while the same at the exact same weight moissanite would cost about $400. From the looks of this, Moissanite seems to be a practical and rational choice, instead of spending months of hard work on one piece of jewelry.
Moissanite has saved a spot for its own for its brilliance, fire, and durability. So, here’s a small comparison of Moissanite with different gemstones.
| Gemstone | Refractive Index | Luster | Dispersion | Toughness | Hardness (on Mohs Scale) |
| Moissanite | 2.65 – 2.69 | 20.4% | 0.104 | Excellent | 9.25 |
| Diamond | 2.42 | 17.2% | 0.044 | Excellent | 10 |
| Ruby | 1.77 | 7.7% | 0.018 | Excellent | 9 |
| Sapphire | 1.77 | 7.7% | 0.018 | Excellent | 9 |
| Emerald | 1.58 | 5.1% | 0.014 | Good to Poor | 7.5 |
Here’s how you can identify a Moissanite with other colorless gemstones.
- Use a jeweler’s loupe for identifying the doubling of junction facets through magnification.
- Moissanite’s are eye clean, so under magnification, Moissanite will have needle-like inclusions perpendicular to the table.
- Due to the high refractive index, when viewed under high-intensity light, a Moissanite has more significant fire and sparkle when compared to diamond.