What Is Moissanite and Why Should You Consider This Gemstone?

In recent years, new stones have flooded the market as scientists become increasingly more creative about minerals they can manufacture in the lab. Some of these stones include synthetic gemstones and lab-created diamonds, as well as other more affordable alternatives to diamonds such as cubic zirconia and moissanite. But what exactly is moissanite and why is it becoming so popular? Here’s what you need to know about moissanite.

What Is Moissanite?

A ring with a loose moissanite. Note the head, or the area where the stone would fit.

In its natural form, moissanite is a mineral that comes from meteors. Because of this extraterrestrial origin and its chemical properties, it actually forms very rarely in nature. However, it’s easy to mass produce artificial moissanite in the lab, and this quickly became a popular stone alternative to diamonds.

Since its development, moissanite is mainly produced by Charles and Colvard, the first firm to monetize moissanite and sell it as jewelry. 

Why Consider Moissanite?

You might be thinking that moissanite is some glorified version of a cheap cubic zirconia, but it actually has a lot more going for it than your average CZ! Here are a few reasons why you should take moissanite into consideration.

1. Properties
   Moissanite has a few chemical properties that differentiate it from cubic zirconia and make it a more desirable diamond alternative. It’s actually very durable and hard, and rates at a 9.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, right after diamond at a 10. In addition, it can even surpass diamond on some optical properties. It’s also extremely heat-resistant, making it suitable for some jewelry work that diamonds cannot withstand.
2. Social Responsibility
   Moissanite, much like lab-created diamonds, are made by labs and jewelry manufacturers. Unlike natural diamonds, they have no dubious affiliations and they do not negatively affect the environment. Natural mined diamonds, on the other hand, cause great disruption to the surrounding environment and have been used to fuel child labor, conflict, and other human rights violations in certain mining countries.
3. Price
   On average, moissanite is much cheaper than diamond. This price difference can be as great as a 90% difference! In addition, because moissanite is more readily available and cheap, you can get a colored stone or a larger carat weight for a better deal, as opposed to the drastic leaps in price for diamonds when you go up a half carat or more.

Now you’re up to date on moissanite! If you’d like to get started on replacing some jewelry with moissanite, or if you’d like a moissanite item repaired, comment below and we’ll help you get started!