Why moissanite
Moissanite was first found in a meteorite crater in Arizona in 1893. Natural moissanite is so rare it is effectively unobtainable, so every stone sold today — ours included — is grown in a laboratory. What comes out is silicon carbide: a gemstone with its own chemistry, not a copy of anything else.
How it compares
| Moissanite | Cubic zirconia | Diamond | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness (Mohs) | 9.25 | 8.0 | 10 |
| Brilliance (refractive index) | 2.65 | 2.15 | 2.42 |
| Fire (dispersion) | 0.104 | 0.060 | 0.044 |
| Clouds over time | No | Yes | No |
What the numbers mean in practice
It is hard enough for every day. At 9.25 on the Mohs scale, moissanite is the second hardest material used in jewelry. It does not scratch from ordinary wear and it does not go grey or cloudy the way cubic zirconia does within a year.
It throws more light than a diamond. Higher refractive index and more than twice the dispersion, which is why moissanite flashes color when it moves. Some people prefer the quieter look of a diamond; most people who buy moissanite buy it for exactly this.
Brilliance at an accessible price. Compare the current prices and specifications on each product page.
What it is not
It is not cubic zirconia, which is a different material, softer, and much cheaper. It is not a lab-grown diamond either — a lab diamond is carbon and is chemically a diamond, and it costs several times what moissanite costs. And it is not a trick. Under a loupe a jeweler will tell the difference in seconds. Across a table, nobody will.
Color and clarity
Our stones are D color and VVS1 clarity — colorless, with no inclusions visible under 10x magnification. Cheaper moissanite often carries a grey or yellow cast; that is the first thing to look at when you are comparing two listings that seem to sell the same thing at different prices.
Certificates
Stones of 0.50ct and above come with a GRA certificate and a laser-inscribed code on the girdle of the stone itself, matched to the card. Smaller stones are not certificated — the cost of the paperwork would exceed the stone. Every piece carries our two-year warranty regardless.