Is moissanite a diamond? Six things to know before buying

Moissanite is not diamond, and it is not fake diamond either. It is its own stone with its own strengths.

1. What it is

Chemically, moissanite is silicon carbide. It is extremely rare in nature, so all jewelry moissanite is grown in a laboratory.

2. Hardness

It rates 9.25 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond at 10, so everyday wear rarely scratches it.

3. Sparkle

Moissanite disperses light more than diamond, throwing rainbow flashes in sunlight. Some love it, some find it too fiery. Watch a real video from the seller before deciding.

4. Does it go cloudy?

The stone itself does not cloud with age. Dullness usually comes from oil, soap and dust under the stone. Warm water with a little dish soap restores it.

5. Paperwork

Many sellers include a GRA certificate. It lists the maker’s stated specifications and is not a diamond grading report. Thermal diamond testers can misread moissanite as diamond, so do not treat that as proof.

6. Inspect the band, not just the stone

The stone lasts, but plating over cheap alloy can tarnish within months. Prefer 925 silver with platinum plating, or gold. Find rings that fit your budget.