What is Moissanite

Moissanite has been making headlines recently, with more young couples choosing it over traditional diamonds. Despite its growing popularity, many people still know very little about this brilliant gemstone. Here’s everything you should understand before purchasing moissanite jewelry.

Where Does Moissanite Come From?

The story of moissanite began in 1893 when Henri Moissan discovered the mineral in an Arizona meteor crater (later named after him). Initially mistaking it for diamond, the Nobel Prize-winning chemist soon realized he’d found an entirely new mineral.

Natural moissanite is extraordinarily rare – so rare that all moissanite on the market today is lab-created. This space-born gem primarily exists in meteorites and certain upper mantle rocks, earning it romantic nicknames like “space diamond” or “stardust gem.”

What is Moissanite Made of?

Moissanite consists of silicon carbide (SiC), with its crystal structure held together by powerful covalent bonds similar to diamond’s atomic structure. This gives moissanite exceptional durability that can withstand extreme pressure and high temperatures.

Is Moissanite a Diamond?

This remains the most common question jewelers hear, with some customers even requesting “moissanite diamond” engravings. Let’s be clear: moissanite is not diamond. While visually similar, these two gems differ fundamentally in composition, origin, and optical properties.

Is Moissanite Fake and Tacky?

The answer to this question is quite simply, no. Many people erroneously believe that moissanite is a fake gemstone but this is the same as thinking that rubies are fake.

What many don’t realize is that moissanite is a legitimate gemstone in its own right – one that happens to resemble diamond. To clarify: moissanite is a diamond alternative, not a diamond imitation.

A high quality, well set piece of moissanite jewelry is as classy and sophisticated as any other gemstone.

Moissanite Durability

Moissanite is one of the hardest gemstones on earth, and in the gemstone world, second only to diamonds in durability. It is much harder than stones such as sapphires, emeralds or rubies and an excellent option for daily wear. Moissanite can withstand daily exposure and is highly resistant to scratching or breaking, ranking at 9.25 on the Mohs scale.

Moissanite is also incredibly tough, meaning that it does not easily chip or cleave. It can withstand high temperatures and still maintain its sparkle.

Moissanite Jewelry

Moissanite is ideal for use in any type of jewelry and suits a range of styles. Whether you wish for a maximalist or a minimalist piece, moissanite can suit perfectly. Because of its intense sparkle, moissanite is beautiful when you want to dress up and add some glamor.

You can find moissanite studs that look similar to diamond studs and at a much lower price point. For a more elegant look, choose moissanite drop earrings. Under lights, these sparkle beautifully.

Moissanite pendants and necklaces come in a variety of styles and designs. They tend to go with any outfit and are a versatile choice of jewelry.

Moissanite Engagement Rings

Moissanite has earned its place as a premier gemstone for all types of jewelry, and today, it’s becoming the centerpiece of choice for many modern engagement rings. Practical yet stunning, moissanite offers durability, affordability, ethical sourcing, and exceptional beauty. It’s also a symbol of breaking tradition—perfect for couples who want something uniquely their own.

Moissanite works beautifully in any ring setting. Its incredible hardness (9.25 on the Mohs scale) means it doesn’t require protective settings, allowing for delicate designs like solitaires or tension mounts. Just like diamonds, moissanite pairs flawlessly with any metal—whether it’s warm yellow gold, romantic rose gold, or sleek white gold.

Though it carries a classic appeal, moissanite is anything but conventional—its modern edge is exactly what makes it so irresistible to today’s couples.

What is the Best Moissanite Cut?

Although moissanite is only graded on its color, the cut is an important factor as a properly cut stone enhances the sparkle of a moissanite. Because moissanite’s optical properties are different to diamonds, the stone must be cut accordingly.

Moisssanites can be cut into any common gemstone shape, but the most popular shape by far is the round brilliant cut. This classic cut tends to maximize the fire of the stone, and is also extremely versatile to wear.

Other popular moissanite cuts are princess, marquise, pear, cushion, radiant, and heart.

Cuts such as emerald and Asscher that contain wide, open facets are also beautiful for moissanites but ensure that the stone is free of tints and is cut to proportion.

Choosing Moissanite Color

When purchasing moissanite, you’ll have three color categories to choose from: Colorless (D-E-F), near colorless (G-H-I) and slightly tinted (J-K range). The colorless gemstones come with a premium and are more desirable.
Moissanite tends to have green, yellow or brown tints so it’s important to see the stone carefully prior to purchase to ensure that it does not contain any undesirable colors.

If you’re looking for colored moissanite, it can be difficult to find. At present, MW jewelry offers various high-quality colored moissanite.

Moissanite Sparkle

Moissanite has exceptional sparkle and is one of the most brilliant gemstones. Moissanites have what is known as the ‘rainbow effect’ which is a fiery and colorful flash of color when the stone is viewed under light, especially natural light. This is due to moissanites very high Refractive Index (2.65).

While this is often not very visible in smaller stones, large moissanites can exhibit a strong rainbow effect. If this is something you prefer to avoid, a smaller stone may be more suitable for you.

Moissanite Clarity

Because moissanites are lab-created, there is a lot of control over the final product. Even so, most moissanite tend to have some faint inclusions. These are often in the shape of small, threadlike inclusions that form during the stone’s creation process. In general though, these flaws are only visible under magnification and the stone may appear eye-clean.

Moissanite Price and Resale Value

While moissanite is often chosen as an alternative to diamonds, don’t expect it to be cubic zirconia cheap. It takes a laborious, resource-consuming process to create moissanite and this is not cheap.

Moissanite’s resale value is not known for sure at this stage and as it is still a relatively new gemstone for jewelry, with the technology to create it always advancing and expanding, it is difficult to estimate the resale value. Having said that, reselling moissanite will generally get you back about 50% of what you paid for it, which is similar for diamonds.

How to Clean Moissanite Jewelry?

Thanks to its incredible durability, moissanite is remarkably easy to care for. While everyday wear can lead to buildup that dulls its sparkle, a simple cleaning with warm soapy water and a soft cloth will restore its brilliant shine in minutes.

For storage, always keep moissanite jewelry in its own pouch or compartment. This prevents it from scratching softer gemstones – and interestingly, you’ll want to store it separately from diamonds too, since they’re hard enough to potentially scratch moissanite.

A few pro tips:
• Avoid harsh chemicals (think household cleaners or chlorine)
• Ultrasonic cleaners are generally safe, but only for sturdy settings
• Skip the ultrasonic for delicate pieces like pavé or cluster rings – the vibrations could loosen smaller stones

Moissanite Problems

Moissanite boasts nearly perfect qualities for fine jewelry – exceptional brilliance, durability, and ethical sourcing. Yet its greatest challenge lies not in physical properties, but in societal perception.

For some consumers, moissanite remains forever stigmatized as a “fake” diamond, lacking the prestige of traditional precious stones. While you might appreciate its scientific marvel, others may dismiss your moissanite jewelry as inferior. There’s also the persistent concern that moissanite won’t achieve heirloom status like sapphires or diamonds.

Is this a real issue?

We’ll leave that for you to decide.

Conventional wisdom suggests diamonds are investments while moissanite is “wasted” money. But let’s examine reality:

• Diamond prices are notoriously inflated, typically losing 50%+ of their value immediately after purchase
• Engagement rings consistently rank among the worst depreciating retail purchases
• At roughly 10% of a diamond’s cost, moissanite saves you 90% upfront
• Resale value? You can typically recover about half your moissanite cost – comparable to diamonds’ resale rates

You’re not buying an investment – you’re buying beauty. With moissanite, you get:
✓ Identical (often superior) sparkle
✓ Greater durability for daily wear
✓ Ethical peace of mind
✓ Thousands in savings

In the end, the only perception that truly matters is yours. After all, you’re the one who gets to enjoy that breathtaking brilliance every single day.