Is moissanite on Amazon real?
Usually, yes. Gem-quality moissanite (silicon carbide) has been cheap to make since the patents expired in 2015-2016, so most Amazon listings that say moissanite really are. What the listing cannot prove is the grade: "D colour", "VVS1" and "GRA certified" are the seller's claims. You can confirm it is moissanite at home with a 10x loupe (doubled facet edges) or an electrical moissanite tester.
Why most of it is real
Moissanite is grown by seeded sublimation, the same process used for silicon carbide chips in electric cars, and China now makes most of the world's supply. Colourless gem moissanite was patented by Cree and sold by Charles and Colvard until the US patent expired in 2015 and the EU patent in 2016. Since then it has been inexpensive enough that faking it with something else rarely saves the seller money.
What the listing claims mean
Colour letters (D, E, F) and clarity grades (VVS1, VVS2) borrow diamond vocabulary; for moissanite they are the seller's own description. "GRA certified" refers to a card from a seller-facing lookup service, not an accredited gem laboratory. None of that makes the stone fake; it just means the grade is a claim. Our guide to reading a gem listing goes through every term.
How to check it in two minutes
Look into the stone through a side facet with a 10x loupe and focus on the facet edges at the back: moissanite is doubly refractive, so every edge looks doubled. Diamond and cubic zirconia never double. An electrical moissanite tester also flags most moissanite. A thermal "diamond tester" is useless here: it reads moissanite as diamond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Amazon moissanite be cubic zirconia?
It can be, if a seller mislabels it. Cubic zirconia is softer (Mohs 8 to 8.5), heavier, does not show doubling, and scratches and clouds with wear. A loupe or moissanite tester separates them in seconds.
Should I return moissanite that fails a diamond tester?
No, if it is a thermal diamond tester: moissanite passes those. If an electrical moissanite tester says "diamond" or "CZ", look for doubling under a loupe before deciding.
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