WHAT IS MOISSANITE?

What is Moissanite?

Moissanite engagement rings.

Moissanite is a mineral composed of silicon carbide. Often referred to as the gemstone from the stars, it was discovered in 1893 inside of a meteorite in Canyon Diablo, Arizona, by Nobel Prize-winning chemist Henri Moissan. Initially mistakenly identifying his discovery as diamonds, it wasn’t until 1904 that Moissan determined the crystals were, in fact, silicon carbide. This naturally occurring mineral form of what we now call moissanite was named in honor of Moissan later in his life.

In its natural form, moissanite remains very rare. It wasn’t until 1958 that geologists found it outside of meteorites: first, in the Earth’s upper mantle near Wyoming, and then, the following year, as inclusions in rock in Russia.

Today, moissanite is exclusively grown in laboratories as an alternative to diamonds. Created in a controlled environment with advanced technology, it is easily traceable and requires no mining. This means moissanite has a smaller carbon footprint and lessened environmental impact than a naturally mined gem.

  

Increasingly popular as an alternative to diamonds, moissanite is now widely used in jewelry, especially as the center stone of engagement rings.

 

Is a Moissanite a Diamond?

No, a moissanite is not a diamond. Professionals grow them in laboratories because they are visually similar to diamonds, but compositionally they’re quite different. Diamonds are composed of carbon and moissanites are composed of silicon carbide. 

While the untrained eye may visually perceive a moissanite as similar to a diamond, it has a higher refractive index — meaning it produces more rainbow ‘fire’ than a diamond when light hits the stone’s surface. Diamond is also physically harder than moissanite, which is a 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale compared to a diamond’s rating of 10.

While they both feature dispersion, scintillation, and are both considered to be good thermal conductors, moissanites and diamonds are otherwise distinct.

 

Moissanite vs. Diamond 
  Moissanite Diamond

Durability

Gemstones are measured on the Mohs scale, which addresses a gem's hardness.

 Moissanites are at 9.25 on the Mohs scale, making them suitable for everyday wear. Diamonds, the hardest known naturally occurring mineral, are a 10 on the Mohs scale, making them the ideal option for engagement rings.

Brilliance

Brilliance refers to the appearance of light reflected from the gemstone's interior.

 Moissanites are slightly more brilliant than diamonds, though they feature more than twice the amount of fire. If a moissanite is larger than 1 carat, the difference in fire can be very noticeable as it has a refractive index of 2.64 to 2.69. Natural diamonds are slightly less brilliant than moissanite and feature two times less fire, though they still exhibit dispersion and scintillation. The refractive index of diamonds ranges from 2.417 to 2.419.

Color

Color is the presence or absence of color visible within a gemstone.

 While most moissanites can now be grown as colorless or near colorless, they are also created in hues of teal, grey, green, yellow, and black. Natural diamonds occur in the colorless range, but they also occur in many colors, including pink, blue, and yellow from trace elements like nitrogen and boron.

Price

Price references how much you will pay for a gemstone.

 Moissanite is dramatically lower in price than diamonds of the same carat weight. Their pricing is based on size, shape, and whether the stone is colorless or near colorless. Natural diamonds are the most expensive. As they are mined from the Earth and take billions of years to form, they are much rarer than both moissanite and lab diamonds. In addition to their rarity, diamonds are priced based on their 4 C's and shape.