Quick answer
Yes, moissanite is real. It is a genuine gemstone made of silicon carbide, not glass, plastic or cubic zirconia. It isn't a diamond and it isn't a fake diamond either. It costs less mainly because it is grown in a lab instead of being mined.
Here is what moissanite actually is, where it came from, and what you get (and give up) when you choose it.
Key takeaways
- Moissanite is silicon carbide, a real mineral with its own name. Diamond is carbon, CZ is zirconium dioxide.
- Natural moissanite is extremely rare, so jewelry moissanite is lab-grown, with the same chemistry as the mineral.
- At 9.25 on the Mohs scale, it is made for daily wear, and it throws about 2.4 times the fire of diamond.
- It costs less because it is grown, not mined. The honest flip side: resale value is low.
Is moissanite real? What it is made of
Moissanite is silicon carbide, a crystal built from silicon and carbon. Diamond is pure carbon. Cubic zirconia is zirconium dioxide. Three different materials, three different sets of properties, even if all three can look similar across a room.
So when people ask "is moissanite fake," the honest answer is no. A fake is something pretending to be something else. Moissanite is its own mineral with its own name.
Where moissanite comes from
The French chemist Henri Moissan identified the mineral in 1893, in meteorite fragments from Canyon Diablo in Arizona. The stone carries his name.
Natural moissanite turned out to be extremely rare. Far too rare to cut into jewelry at any real scale. That is why all moissanite sold today, ours included, is lab-grown.
Gem-quality moissanite reached the jewelry market in 1998, when Charles & Colvard brought lab-grown stones to market. As for Moissan, his 1906 Nobel Prize in Chemistry rewarded his work isolating fluorine, not the stone.
Does lab-grown mean fake?
No. Lab-grown moissanite has the same chemistry and crystal structure as the natural mineral. The only difference is where it formed. Think of it like ice from your freezer versus ice from a frozen lake. Same material, different origin.
Good to know
In the US, lab-grown gems have to say so. The FTC's Jewelry Guides expect a lab-created stone to be described with words like laboratory-created, laboratory-grown or synthetic, so you always know what you are buying.
Moissanite vs diamond vs cubic zirconia
Here is how the three compare on the numbers that affect how a stone looks and lasts.
| Moissanite | Diamond | Cubic zirconia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Silicon carbide | Carbon | Zirconium dioxide |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 9.25 | 10 | 8 to 8.5 |
| Refractive index | 2.65 to 2.69 | 2.42 | 2.15 to 2.18 |
| Dispersion (fire) | 0.104 | 0.044 | 0.060 |
| Everyday wear | Very durable | Most durable | Scratches more easily |
Moissanite, diamond and cubic zirconia, compared.
What those numbers mean in real life:
- Hardness 9.25 puts moissanite just behind diamond. It is made for daily wear, not just special occasions.
- A higher refractive index means more light bounces back to your eye. Moissanite is a very bright stone.
- Higher dispersion means more rainbow color, more than twice diamond's.
Why moissanite costs less than diamond
Three reasons, and none of them are about quality.
- It is grown, not mined. No mine, no long supply chain behind each stone.
- You pay for the look, not for rarity. Much of a mined diamond's price comes from how scarce top stones are. Lab-grown moissanite doesn't carry that premium.
- Size doesn't jump in price the same way. With moissanite, going from a small stone to a bold one is far easier on the budget.
That is why a lot of people pick moissanite for an engagement ring. You can choose the size and shape you actually want, and put the difference toward the wedding, the honeymoon or the rent. Our moissanite engagement ring guide walks through cut, size and setting.
The honest trade-offs
Moissanite isn't perfect for everyone. Here is what to know before you buy.
- More rainbow fire. In direct sun, moissanite flashes more color than diamond. Some people love it. Some want a whiter sparkle. Look at photos and videos in daylight before you decide.
- It isn't a diamond. If "diamond" itself matters to you or to the person you're buying for, moissanite won't replace that feeling.
- Metal matters as much as the stone. Moissanite won't cloud or fade, but gold plating on the metal can wear with time. Choose gold filled for pieces you'll wear every day, and read our jewelry care guide.
Moissanite isn't a diamond. It doesn't need to be.The Daellia Journal
How to tell good moissanite from poor moissanite
Not all moissanite is the same. Check three things.
Color
Look for D color, the top of the scale. Lower grades can show a faint warm tint, especially in larger stones.
Clarity
VVS1 means inclusions are extremely hard to find even under magnification. To the eye, the stone looks clean.
Metal
Ask what the setting is made of. 925 sterling silver, gold filled and solid gold are real metals. Nickel-free matters if your skin reacts to cheap jewelry.
What you get at Daellia
Every white moissanite we sell is D color, VVS1. Settings are 925 sterling silver plated with rhodium or 18K gold, or 14K gold filled, all nickel- and lead-free. Shipping is free and tracked on every US order. Buy two pieces and 10% comes off automatically, 15% for three or more.
A good first piece is the Sirius Solitaire Ring: one stone, clean setting, and the easiest way to see moissanite's sparkle up close. For a gift that stays gentle on the budget, browse gifts under $100.
Good first pieces
Want to go deeper on grading and sizes? Read our moissanite guide, or see how testers react in does moissanite pass a diamond tester.
Real stone, real sparkle, honest price.
D color, VVS1 moissanite in sterling silver and 14K gold filled, with free tracked shipping on every US order.
Shop best sellersFrequently asked questions
Is moissanite a real diamond?
No. Moissanite is silicon carbide and diamond is pure carbon, so they are two different gemstones. Moissanite looks close to diamond and is nearly as hard (9.25 on the Mohs scale against 10), but it has more rainbow fire and its own chemistry. An honest seller will always call it moissanite, never diamond.
Is natural moissanite used in jewelry?
Almost never. Natural moissanite is extremely rare and usually turns up as tiny grains, far too small and scarce to cut into gems. Every moissanite on the jewelry market, ours included, is lab-grown silicon carbide with the same chemistry and crystal structure as the natural mineral. Gem-quality stones reached the market in 1998.
Who discovered moissanite?
French chemist Henri Moissan, in 1893. He found the crystals in fragments of the Canyon Diablo meteorite in Arizona and first thought they were diamond. The mineral was named moissanite after him. Moissan won the 1906 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, but for isolating fluorine, not for this discovery.
Does moissanite have resale value?
Very little. Moissanite is lab-grown in steady supply, so a secondhand buyer will pay far less than you spent. Buy it to wear, not as an investment. Its value is in the look you get for the price, and in a hard stone that stays clear and bright for good.
Is moissanite better than cubic zirconia?
For jewelry you plan to keep, yes. Moissanite is 9.25 on the Mohs scale against 8 to 8.5 for CZ, so it resists the fine scratches that slowly dull a CZ. It is also brighter, with a refractive index of 2.65 to 2.69 against 2.15 to 2.18. CZ costs less and suits trend pieces.
Keep reading
Written by the Daellia Journal team, Paris. We write about moissanite, metals and the stories behind fine jewelry so you can buy with confidence. Read our moissanite guide or our story.
