Moissanite is an optically stunning, clear gemstone with unparalleled brilliance and fire dispersion. Originally discovered in an Arizona meteorite crater in 1893 by Nobel Prize-winning chemist Henri Moissan, the world’s top gemologists have since been mesmerized by this exceptional stone. Moissanite is made up of a naturally-occurring chemical compound called silicon carbide, which is produced from the intense heat and pressure that a falling meteorite undergoes. Moissanite today is lab-grown, however, due to its extreme rarity and because natural moissanite typically can only be found in tiny particles unsuitable for jewelry.

Distinctive from a diamond, though in fact very visually similar, many jewelers and discerning consumers alike find moissanite to be the optimal choice for fine jewelry. Not only does moissanite measure higher on the refractive index and fire dispersion scale than a diamond, as well as coming in 2ndamong all gemstones in the Moh’s hardness scale, but moissanite’s benefits come without the complicated entanglement in unethical mining practices that diamonds are known for. This makes moissanite a superior option, both from a beauty perspective, as well as from asocial consciousness perspective.

To learn more about moissanite and how it is grown, check out our Why Moissanite page.

No. Moissanite is a chemically unique gemstone made up of silicon carbide, with its own unique optical properties. Though it is a clear gemstone that can initially be difficult to discern from a diamond, moissanite is actually a superior stone in terms of brilliance and fire.

Moissanite is graded on the same scales as a diamond for clarity and color.

Clarity is determined by GIA-certified gemologists who study gems under a 10x jeweler’s loupe, inspecting each piece for inclusions and imperfections. Generally speaking, moissanite has a very high average clarity rating – typically grade VS, which indicates that any imperfections are only visible under 10x magnification. Only 10% of faceted diamonds attain this rating.

A moissanite’s color uses the GIA diamond color grading scale. Moissanite stones currently can range from colorless (D-F), near-colorless (G-I), to paint color (J-K).

A carat is a weight measurement specific to diamonds. A moissanite is not measured in carats because moissanite’s chemical compound is lighter in weight than that of a diamond, and therefore not directly comparable, even if visually they the same. For example, a 6.5mm diamond weighs 1 carat, while a 6.5mm moissanite weighs 0.88 carats. To help consumers more easily compare, we use what’s called Diamond Equivalent Weight (DEW), which measures the “look and feel” of a moissanite, as it compares to a diamond of the same visual measurement. A 6.5mm moissanite, therefore, would be 1 carat DEW.

The term “fire” refers to what a gemologist would call “dispersion.” The level of dispersion has to do with the rainbow-colored flashes that a gem emits when white light hits it – i.e. the prism-like dispersion of white light into a spectrum of rainbow colors as a result of refraction through the gem.

With a dispersion measurement of .104, moissanites have 2.4 times more fire than a diamond. This is what gives moissanite its impressive quality of giving off bright flashes of rainbow light, more than any other popular gemstone.

“Brilliance” in gemology refers to the refractive index of a gemstone. This can be seen in the flashes of white light emitted from the top and sides of a gemstone.

Moissanite’s refractive index measures 2.65, which is significantly more brilliant than any other fine gemstone, including diamonds.

Moissanite is an exceptional stone for many reasons, but probably the biggest of those reasons come from the fact that it is truly the most brilliant, sparkly gemstone on the planet. Moissaniteshave the highest refractive index, 2.4 times more fire, greater luster and durability than a diamond. Moissanites are also extremely hard, second only to diamonds on the Moh’s scale of hardness.

Check out our chart below to see how moissanites compare to other popular fine gemstones.

**I would recommend putting a chart here – let’s design our own based on any of these which I grabbed from other sites:

No. Every San Moissan moissanite comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty, so you can be assured that your stone will never lose its fire or brilliance.

No. Moissanite is an extremely stable gemstone with exceptional durability against heat and chemical exposure. There are no likely scenarios in which your moissanite gemstone would permanently change color. While any gemstone’s color can temporarily change when exposed to the heat of a jeweler’s torch, moissanite can easily withstand these temperature variations, and will go back to its original color once it cools.

No. Moissanite is one of the toughest gemstones on Earth, even surpassing a diamond in its ability to withstand impact and resist breaking or chipping. Moissanites are also exceptionally hard, second only to diamonds, and cannot easily be scratched.

Yes. Nearly all gemstones have inclusions, which naturally arise in the formation of their crystalline structure. Moissanites, however, have an extremely high clarity rating, averaging VS on the clarity scale. This means that their tiny, needle-like inclusions are only visible under 10x magnification and cannot be seen by the naked eye. Only 10% of cut diamonds can match the average clarity of moissanite.

Absolutely. Moissanite has an extremely high durability rating, which means that it can easily withstand heat up to 2,000°F, and will remain as brilliant as ever even when undergoing jewelry repair or resetting.

Yes, because moissanite is exceptionally durable and tough, moissanite jewelry can easily be repaired or resized by an experienced jeweler.

Yes, it is not an issue for an experienced jeweler to reset your moissanite stone into a new piece of jewelry. Jewelry designers and manufacturers can use a San Moissan created moissanite in their work, using techniques very similar to a typical bench jeweler.

Yes, you can engrave your San Moissan moissanite gemstone. Please note, however, that engraving your moissanite stone after purchase will void the San Moissan Limited Lifetime Warranty.

There are four (4) ways in which we recommend identifying moissanite from other gemstones:

1. Test the stone using a Tester Model 590 or other electronic devices to distinguish
2. Use a 10x magnification loupe to determine if the doubling of facet junctions is visible
3. Moissanite typically has needle-like or micropipe-like inclusions which run perpendicular to the table facet. These can be identified using a 10x loupe, and can help determine if your stone is a moissanite.
4. A certified gemologist can use appropriate equipment to measure the specific gravity and refractive indices of your stone, which help to identify if it is a moissanite

Moissanite is an exceptional gemstone, with unparalleled brilliance, fire and durability It is also extremely rare, and can take several months to grow in a lab. Because of these qualities, San Moissan’s created moissanite is expected to retain or increase in value over time.

We recommend that you clean your 14k gold moissanite jewelry using the same methods you would use with diamonds or other fine jewelry. This can include going to a professional for cleaning, using an ultrasonic cleaner, using a commercial jewelry cleaner (non-acid based), or using mild soap and water with a toothbrush. We always recommend being gentle with your fine jewelry for the best results.

For 14k gold over 925 sterling silver styles, we recommend avoiding the use of an ultrasonic cleaner, not soaking your jewelry for any extended period of time in a jewelry cleaner, and avoiding exposure to harsh chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, or other chemicals found in pools and hot tubs. Using simple soap and water or a polishing cloth will help keep your plated jewelry beautiful and untainted for years to come.

Yes, San Moissan moissanite can come in a range of fancy cuts, including Asscher, baguette, cushion, emerald, heart, hearts and arrows, marquise, oval, pear, princess, radiant, square brilliant and trillion cut. The most popular cut, though, continues to be the round brilliant.

If you can dream it, we can make it! San Moissan is happy to provide custom engagement rings, wedding rings for men and women, earrings, pendants, necklaces, cufflinks, bracelets, brooches, money clips, and other objects that can be cast in precious metals.

If you have a custom design idea, please contact us and we will gladly make your dream a reality!

Most custom pieces take about 6-8weeks from start to finish before they can be shipped. Depending on your design, this process can be expedited if needed.

Custom jewelry starts at $150 for a very simple design with modest gemstones. Many factors impact the price of a custom piece, including the type of gemstone and its rarity, carat weight, cut, clarity, the number of stones to be set, metal type, overall dimensions of the piece, design complexity and detail, and more. There is no maximum price range to our custom jewelry, as we are outfitted to do custom work, and our design possibilities are endless.

Yes absolutely. Please contact us to request any size that is not currently listed on our website.

Yes. If you’re working with us on a custom jewelry piece, we’re more than happy to provide you with details about our commercial liability insurance policy.

San Moissan’s jewelry is all handcrafted with the utmost concern for quality and craftsmanship in our production facility in India.

San Moissan works with precious and semi-precious metals including 14k white, yellow and rose gold, 18k white, yellow and rose gold, silver, platinum and palladium. We enjoy creating jewelry not only with moissanite, but also with white and colored diamonds, as well as colored gemstones.

We do not work with industrial, non-precious metals such as titanium, cobalt, tungsten and stainless steel, nor base metals such as brass, bronze or copper. Because we want anything we make for you to stand the test of time, we also don’t work with materials such as wood, soft rocks, soft gemstones, shells, leather, enamel, bone and more. We prefer to tell it straight and spare our clients from having a “lifetime” piece that won’t, in fact, last a lifetime.

All gems and metals are hand selected for your custom designed piece. Choosing the right gem is a vital part of the design process, and we are here to walk you through it without inundating you with the details of moissanite. All San Moissan moissanite and gemstones meet high standards of quality and appearance – after all, our name is on the jewelry as well. We love to make alternative engagement rings, and are experienced at using gemstones other than traditional diamond options, should that be our client’s preference. For more information on the gems we use, please visit our Stone Sourcing page.

San Moissan’s jewelry is designed to be loved and worn for a lifetime, but rest assured that if your sanmoissan.in standard purchase arrives and does not suit you, you may return or exchange your item. We always strive to keep our customers happy with their experience!

All standard, full priced San Moissan jewelry purchased from the website may be returned or exchanged within 30 days of receipt. Any postage for returns and exchanges is paid by the customer. Exchanges may be made for items of equal or greater value. All items must be received in the same condition in which they were sent, including your warranty card. Our team will check your item for damage before processing your return or exchange, so please allow 7-10 business days after receipt for processing. Please note that custom made jewelry is not eligible for return or exchange, as well as jewelry that has been engraved, resized, or otherwise modified post-production.

To avoid sending items that may be ineligible for a refund or any other processing delays, please fill out our Return Authorization Form before shipping your item back.

For more detailed information, please visit our Returns & Exchanges page.

Yes, we are confident that our jewelry meets the highest quality standards and is made to last a lifetime. That’s why we’re happy to offer the San Moissan Limited Lifetime Warranty on all San Moissan produced items. For more details, please visit our Warranty page.

Standard items purchased on sanmoissan.in will ship within 3-4 business days. Please allow 6-8 weeks for custom made items. Depending on the design, certain custom items may be expedited if necessary.