What is Moissanite?
Moissanite, a mineral composed of silicon carbide, was first discovered in 1893 by Nobel Prize-winning chemist Henri Moissan in a meteorite crater in Arizona.
Initially mistaken for diamonds, it was later identified as silicon carbide and named in Moissan’s honor.
Natural moissanite is extremely rare, found only in meteorites and small deposits on Earth. Today, it’s exclusively lab-grown, making it eco-friendly and sustainable with no mining required.
Known for its brilliance and durability, moissanite has become a popular diamond alternative, especially for engagement rings, offering stunning beauty with a smaller environmental impact
Can Moissanite Pass a Diamond Test?
Yes! Moissanite shares similar thermal properties with diamonds, so it passes diamond testers.
Is a Moissanite a Diamond?
Moissanite is not a diamond. While visually similar, they differ in composition: diamonds are pure carbon, while moissanite is silicon carbide.
Moissanite has a higher refractive index, creating more colorful “fire” than diamonds when hit by light. However, diamonds are harder, rated 10 on the Mohs scale compared to moissanite’s 9.25.
Though both stones share qualities like dispersion and thermal conductivity, their unique properties make them distinct gemstones.