Moissanite FAQ
Moissanite is a gemstone born from the stars. It was first discovered in 1893 by French scientist Henri Moissan at a massive meteor strike in Arizona. He initially thought he had found diamonds but later found that the crystals were composed of silicon carbide(SiC). Later named “moissanite” in honor of Dr. Moissan.
Moissanite is incredibly rare in nature. After many years of trial and error, the particles Moissan discovered were successfully laboratory-created to produce what is now one of the world’s most scintillating gemstones.
Cree(an NC-based R&D lab) is the first to develop the process for producing large, single crystals of moissanite.
Moissanite is created with silicon and carbon through a combination of pressure and heat. To begin the moissanite production process, Charles & Colvard receives single silicon carbide crystals from Cree. The crystals are precision cut into small pieces called preforms.
In cooperation with Cree, Charles & Colvard is the exclusive worldwide manufacturer and marketer of lab-created moissanite gemstones.
Moissanite patents expired in August 2015 for the United States, 2016 in most other countries, and 2018 in Mexico. Therefore, many research institutions in others countries can legally laboratory synthetic Moissanite raw materials for gemstone making.
Moissanite is a diamond simulant made of silicon carbide(SiC). A diamond simulant is a stone similar to a diamond but is not a real diamond. Naturally-occurring moissanite is extremely rare. Because of this, most of the moissanite on the market is lab-grown.
1. Diamonds are made of carbon(C), whereas Moissanite is made of silicon carbide(SiC).
2 Diamond(Mohs Scale of hardness is 10) is the hardest stone known to humans. In contrast, Moissanite(Mohs Scale of hardness is 9.25) has a lower hardness rating. But both of them are durable enough to withstand surface scratching, suitable for everyday wear.
3. Moissanite is lab-created gemstone, so Moissanite diamond is more eco-conscious, ethical and environmentally than a naturally mined diamond.
4. Diamond is easier to clean and maintain and lasts forever.
5. Moissanite is much cheaper than Diamond.
6. Under the same light, Moissanite has higher brilliance than diamond because Moissanite has a higher refractive index and dispersion.
Soak your Moissanite jewelry in warm water and mild soap and gently scrub with a soft toothbrush or cloth. Once clean, rinse off any soap residue and dry with a lint-free cloth for freshly sparkling moissanite jewelry.
Yes, Moissanite looks like a diamond. Its colors ranges and refractive index are similar to diamond. The GIA considers Moissanite to be the closest diamond imitation on the market.
Unlike cubic zirconia, which will get cloudy with age, Moissanite does not change cloudy over time and remains forever brilliant and beautiful. Over time, dirt, oils and other substances can build up on the surface of Moissanite, making it appear cloudy.
WeJEWELER have THREE grades of Moissanite available now:
Pure white (D-E-F range)
Colorless (G-H range)
Near colorless (I-J range)
Moissanite may also have inclusions. But we only wholesale FL/IF/VVS clarity stones to our customers.
Moissanite patents expired in August 2015 for the United States, 2016 in most other countries, and 2018 in Mexico. Therefore, many research institutions in China can legally laboratory synthetic Moissanite raw materials for gemstone making.
WeJEWELER is a professional loose Moissanite gemstones wholesale supplier in China. Our Moissanite sold by unit carat weight(Diamond equivalent carat weight). Our wholesale price is as low as USD40 per carat for a DEF colorless, VVS clarity Moissanite.
That means
0.50 carat DEF, VVS Moissanite USD20/pc
1.00 carat DEF, VVS Moissanite USD40/pc
2.00 carat DEF, VVS Moissanite USD80/pc
3.00 carat DEF, VVS Moissanite USD120/pc
So our price is competitive than CHARLES & COLVARD, which price is USD599/pc for a 1.00 carat Forever One.