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Education›Moissanite Guidance›Is Moissanite a Real Stone?

Moissanite GuidanceFenora Guide9 min read

Is moissanite a real stone?

Yes. Moissanite is a real gemstone — silicon carbide, first discovered in nature in 1893. It is not glass, not a coating and not a fake. This guide explains exactly what moissanite is made of, whether it is natural or synthetic, and what "real" means in the context of gemstones.

The direct answer — yes, moissanite is real

Moissanite is a real gemstone. It is silicon carbide — a crystalline compound of silicon and carbon atoms. It has real, measurable physical properties: a Mohs hardness of 9.25, a refractive index of 2.65–2.69, and thermal conductivity properties similar to diamond. These are not approximations or illusions — they are the actual properties of the silicon carbide crystal.

The confusion around "is moissanite real" comes from conflating two different questions. Is moissanite a naturally occurring material? Yes — Henri Moissan discovered it in a meteorite in 1893, and it occurs naturally in tiny quantities in certain geological formations. Is the moissanite in jewellery naturally mined? No — all jewellery moissanite is laboratory grown, because natural moissanite deposits are microscopic and entirely unusable for gem purposes.

Laboratory grown does not mean fake. Laboratory grown means the material was created in a controlled environment rather than forming naturally. The material itself — silicon carbide — is identical whether it forms in a meteorite or in a laboratory. Just as laboratory grown diamond is real diamond, laboratory grown moissanite is real moissanite.

“The question people are usually asking when they say "is moissanite real" is whether it looks like it might be glass or plastic. It does not. It is a crystalline gemstone with genuine optical properties. That is very different from a fake.”
— Yash Chandpara, Founder

Natural vs laboratory grown — understanding the distinction

The distinction between natural and laboratory grown applies to the origin of the material, not to whether the material itself is genuine.

	Natural Moissanite	Laboratory Grown Moissanite	Natural Diamond	Lab Grown Diamond
Material	Silicon carbide (SiC)	Silicon carbide (SiC)	Pure carbon	Pure carbon
Origin	Formed in space / geological formations	Grown in a laboratory	Formed underground over billions of years	Grown in a laboratory
Available for jewellery	No — deposits are microscopic	Yes — all jewellery moissanite	Yes — mined and cut	Yes — grown and cut
Is it "real"?	Yes	Yes — same material as natural	Yes	Yes — same material as natural
Price	Not commercially available	Significantly less than diamond	Carries scarcity premium	60–80% less than mined diamond

What laboratory grown means

Laboratory grown means the material was created in a controlled facility rather than forming naturally
It does not mean the material is fake, inferior or imitation
The chemical and physical properties of laboratory grown moissanite are identical to natural moissanite

What moissanite is NOT — clearing the confusion

Some confusion about moissanite comes from conflating it with other materials that are genuinely simulants — materials that look like diamond but have completely different properties.

Material	What It Is	Is It Real?	Mohs Hardness	Note
Moissanite	Silicon carbide — a genuine gemstone	Yes — real crystalline gemstone	9.25	A real stone with its own genuine properties
Cubic Zirconia (CZ)	Zirconium oxide — a synthetic material	Real material, but made purely to simulate diamond	8–8.5	Softer, less durable, scratches over time
White Sapphire	Aluminium oxide — a genuine gemstone	Yes — real gemstone	9	Real but low fire and brilliance compared to diamond or moissanite
Crystal / Rhinestone	Glass or leaded glass	Real material, but not a gemstone	~5–6	Much softer, scratches easily, clouds over time
Diamond simulant coating	Various base materials with surface coating	No — the appearance is not the material	Varies	Coatings wear off

Moissanite is not in the same category as CZ, rhinestone or coated stones. It is a genuine crystalline gemstone with its own material identity and properties. The comparison to these other materials is unfair and inaccurate.

Moissanite vs diamond — real but different

The most important clarity for buyers is this: moissanite is real, but it is not diamond. These are two different materials with two different sets of properties.

What moissanite and diamond share

Both are crystalline gemstones with genuine measurable properties
Both are extremely hard — suitable for daily wear in fine jewellery
Both are laboratory grown (for jewellery purposes) and chemically pure
Both have genuine optical properties — brilliance, fire, scintillation

How they differ

Different chemical composition — silicon carbide vs pure carbon
Different fire — moissanite has approximately 2.4x more colour dispersion than diamond
Different brilliance character — moissanite can appear more colourful in strong light
Different double refraction — moissanite splits light into two rays (can be visible under loupe)
Different price — moissanite is 90–95% less expensive than diamond at equivalent visible size

Does "real" matter? — The honest question

Whether "real" matters depends entirely on what the buyer means by real. If real means "not glass, not fake, not a coating" — then moissanite is absolutely real. If real means "a diamond" — then moissanite is real but it is not that specific real thing.

When the "real" question matters most

When the recipient of the ring specifically cares about having a diamond — its geological origin, its rarity, what it represents. In this case, moissanite is real but it is not what the recipient values
When the buyer is comfortable and happy with moissanite for what it is — a genuine, durable, optically impressive gemstone that costs 90% less than diamond — the "real" question has already been answered satisfactorily

“Every buyer should answer the question for themselves: what does "real" mean in the context of what they want to give and what the recipient values? I help buyers get to that answer in a consultation.”

Questions about moissanite being real — answered

Every version of this question answered directly.

Is moissanite a fake diamond?

No. Moissanite is not trying to be diamond — it is a different material with its own identity. A fake diamond would be something sold as diamond that is not diamond. Moissanite sold as moissanite is not a fake anything.

Is moissanite just cubic zirconia?

No. Moissanite and cubic zirconia are completely different materials. Cubic zirconia is zirconium oxide — softer (8–8.5 Mohs), less optically impressive and prone to clouding and scratching over time. Moissanite is silicon carbide — harder (9.25 Mohs), more optically impressive and permanent in its properties.

Will moissanite be obvious to people who see it?

Most people cannot distinguish moissanite from diamond without specific knowledge and examination. The main visual difference visible to a trained eye is the higher fire — more rainbow colour flashes in strong light. In diffuse indoor light, the difference is minimal to most observers.

Is moissanite disclosed on any certificate?

Moissanite is certified by GRA rather than IGI — IGI grading is specific to diamonds. At Fenora, the material of every stone is clearly stated in the order documentation and the product description. Fenora does not sell moissanite without disclosing that it is moissanite.

Is laboratory grown moissanite the same as natural moissanite?

Chemically and physically, yes — both are silicon carbide with the same crystal structure and properties. The origin differs. All jewellery moissanite is laboratory grown because natural moissanite deposits are microscopically small and commercially unusable.

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