Moissanite is a gemstone composed of silicon carbide, originally discovered in 1893 in a meteor crater by chemist Henri Moissan. Natural moissanite is extraordinarily rare, so virtually all moissanite available today is lab-created. It has become one of the most popular diamond alternatives in fine jewelry, prized for its exceptional brilliance, fire (the rainbow dispersion of light), and hardness rating of 9.25 on the Mohs scale, making it second only to diamond. Moissanite closely resembles diamond to the naked eye, though its refractive index is slightly higher, producing a distinctly intense sparkle.
Moissanite appears frequently in engagement rings, earrings, and pendants, and is available in a range of cuts including round brilliant, cushion, oval, and emerald. It is typically graded by color: colorless (D-E-F equivalent), near-colorless (G-H), and slight warmth (I-J). Unlike cubic zirconia, moissanite does not scratch or cloud easily over time and maintains its brilliance throughout its life. Many customers choose moissanite as a center stone precisely because it offers lasting beauty at a fraction of the cost of a mined or lab-grown diamond.
From a repair and service perspective, moissanite can be treated much like a diamond. It can be set in prong, bezel, channel, or pavé settings, and stones can be re-set, tightened, or replaced if a prong breaks or a stone becomes loose. At QJR, our jewelers work with moissanite in the same way they do with diamonds, providing professional gemstone setting, prong retipping, and stone tightening services to keep moissanite jewelry secure and looking its best for decades.