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· SiC · 9.25

Moissanite

Moissanite is silicon carbide, a stone made almost entirely in labs. Henri Moissan found it in nature in 1893, in fragments of the meteorite that made Arizona's Meteor Crater, but only as microscopic grains. Grown as gem crystals since the late 1990s, it is harder than any gem except diamond and throws more than twice diamond's rainbow fire. It is not a diamond, and it should never be sold as one.

From the ground to your hand

The same stone at four moments. Tap a photo of a listing to see it on Amazon.

  1. 01 In nature (step 1 of 4)

    Natural moissanite exists only as microscopic grains, first found in 1893 in pieces of the meteorite that formed Meteor Crater, Arizona. Every gem moissanite is lab-made.

  2. 02 Out of the furnace (step 2 of 4)

    Silicon carbide crystals grown in a furnace. Gem moissanite is grown the same way, as clear crystals on a seed.

    Silicon carbide crystals grown in a furnace. Gem moissanite is grown the same way, as clear crystals on a seed.

    Real specimen. Photo: Sailko, CC BY 3.0.

  3. 03 Cut (step 3 of 4)

    A 0.5 ct round brilliant moissanite, loose.

    A 0.5 ct round brilliant moissanite, loose.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

  4. 04 Set (step 4 of 4)

    Moissanite studs in sterling silver.

    Moissanite studs in sterling silver.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

Material
Silicon carbide
Hardness
9.25, second to diamond
Fire
More than twice diamond's
Made in labs since
Late 1990s for gems
Natural?
Only microscopic grains
A silicon carbide ingot grown for the electronics industry, which makes silicon carbide chips for electric cars and chargers.
A silicon carbide ingot grown for the electronics industry, which makes silicon carbide chips for electric cars and chargers. Photo: LaMèreVeille, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Famous moissanite in museums

What the finest natural stones look like: real pieces in public collections. The whole gem museum.

The meteorite that gave us moissanite: A piece of the Canyon Diablo iron meteorite, which made Meteor Crater in Arizona.
The meteorite that gave us moissaniteA piece of the Canyon Diablo iron meteorite, which made Meteor Crater in Arizona.UCLA Meteorite Gallery, Los AngelesIn 1893 the chemist Henri Moissan found tiny glittering crystals of silicon carbide in this meteorite. They were named moissanite after him. Natural moissanite is so rare that every moissanite gem is grown in a lab.Photo: Vahe Martirosyan, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Own a lab version

Lab-grownLab moissanite, round, 3 ct, with GRA cardabout $65on Amazon →

Moissanite grown in a lab, the same silicon carbide.

Moissanite vs diamond

Moissanite and diamond are different materials
MoissaniteDiamond (lab or mined)
What it isSilicon carbideCarbon
Hardness9.2510
SparkleMore rainbow fireMore white brilliance
Under a loupeFacet edges look doubledNo doubling
Price for a 1 ct lookTens of dollarsHundreds (lab) to thousands (mined)

Treatments. Moissanite is not treated. Grades like "D colour, VVS1" on listings are the seller's own, and a "GRA certificate" is a private card, not an independent lab report. All gem treatments explained.

Where moissanite was found in nature

Pins mark mining districts, not exact mines. Drag to move, pinch or scroll to zoom, tap a pin to read about it. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

List of every place on the map (1)
  • Moissanite (natural): Canyon Diablo (Meteor Crater), Arizona, United States. Where Henri Moissan found natural silicon carbide in meteorite fragments in 1893. Natural moissanite comes only in microscopic grains, so every gem moissanite is lab-made.

How it is cut

Moissanite is cut like diamond, mostly as round brilliants and ovals, by machine in calibrated sizes. Cutters often tilt the stone slightly so its double refraction does not make the facets look blurry through the top. See cuts from easiest to hardest and whether cutting your own is cheaper than buying cut.

What to buy

Checked in stock on October 10, 2026. Photos are the listings' own; prices are rounded.

Moissanite vs lab diamondBest moissanite ringsBest moissanite earringsDoes moissanite pass a diamond tester?

What a long, wide moissanite tennis chain really costs

Every row is one exact Amazon option in sterling silver, checked in stock on October 11, 2026, from sellers with a real review record. The stone count is our estimate from the length and stone width. A real moissanite chain with big 6 to 6.5 mm stones runs about $600 to $1,100; anything far cheaper at that size is usually cubic zirconia.

Stone widthLengthAbout how many stonesTotal carats (listing)PriceSeller
2 mm 24 in (61 cm) about 254 8.43 ct about $360 Gem's Beauty See it on Amazon →
3 mm 24 in (61 cm) about 179 18.8 ct about $360 Gem's Beauty See it on Amazon →
4 mm 24 in (61 cm) about 139 45 ct about $520 Gem's Beauty See it on Amazon →
4 mm 22 in (56 cm) about 127 not stated about $740 AnuClub See it on Amazon →
4 mm 28 in (71 cm) about 162 52.2 ct about $600 Gem's Beauty See it on Amazon →
5 mm 22 in (56 cm) about 103 not stated about $550 ReyFolop See it on Amazon →
5 mm 24 in (61 cm) about 113 60 ct about $660 Gem's Beauty See it on Amazon →
5 mm 26 in (66 cm) about 122 not stated about $600 Gem's Beauty See it on Amazon →
5 mm 28 in (71 cm) about 132 71 ct about $780 Gem's Beauty See it on Amazon →
6 mm 20 in (51 cm) about 79 68.8 ct about $610 Gem's Beauty See it on Amazon →
6 mm 26 in (66 cm) about 103 89.6 ct about $880 Gem's Beauty See it on Amazon →
6.5 mm 18 in (46 cm) about 66 71 ct about $610 Gem's Beauty See it on Amazon →
6.5 mm 20 in (51 cm) about 74 not stated about $960 AnuClub See it on Amazon →
6.5 mm 22 in (56 cm) about 81 not stated about $1,000 AnuClub See it on Amazon →
6.5 mm 24 in (61 cm) about 88 96 ct about $1,110 Gem's Beauty See it on Amazon →
6.5 mm 26 in (66 cm) about 96 not stated about $1,040 Gem's Beauty See it on Amazon →

How to choose: 2 to 3 mm is fine and dainty, 4 mm is the classic men's chain, 5 mm reads bold across a room, and 6 to 6.5 mm is a statement piece. Necklace lengths: 18 in sits at the collarbone, 20 in just below it, 22 to 24 in on the chest, 26 to 28 in lower still.

Moissanite tennis chains and bracelets: 69 we checked

Each card is one exact size: the gold pill is the stone width, then the length and total carats. Every one is sterling silver or better (one brass budget pick, labelled), sold with moissanite in every setting, from a listing with a real review record, and checked in stock on October 11, 2026. Prices are rounded. Tip: 2 to 3 mm reads as dainty, 4 mm as classic, 5 mm and up as a bold or men's line. Measure your wrist and add about half an inch for a bracelet.

Tennis necklaces and chains2 mmMoissanite tennis necklace, 2 mm stones, 18 in, sterling silverSecreTalk, comes with a moissanite certificate. The finest line here: a thread of light.about $60on Amazon →Tennis necklaces and chains2 mmMoissanite tennis necklace, 2 mm stones, 18 in, 6.15 ct total, sterling silverGem’s Beauty, over 100 ratings. Same listing sells 2 to 6.5 mm stones in 14 to 28 in, silver or gold tone.about $230on Amazon →Tennis necklaces and chains3 mmMoissanite tennis necklace, 3 mm stones, 18 in, 13.9 ct total, sterling silverGem’s Beauty, over 100 ratings. Same listing sells 2 to 6.5 mm stones in 14 to 28 in, silver or gold tone.about $250on Amazon →Tennis necklaces and chains3 mmMoissanite tennis necklace, 3 mm stones, 18 in, sterling silverGem’s Beauty, dozens of ratings. Same listing: 3, 4 or 5 mm stones, 14 to 26 in.about $250on Amazon →Tennis necklaces and chains3 mmMoissanite tennis necklace, 3 mm stones, 20 in, white gold plated silverGEMQUEEN. Also sold at 15 in.about $130on Amazon →Tennis necklaces and chains3 mmMoissanite tennis necklace, 3 mm stones, 18 in, 18K white gold plated silverReyFolop. Same listing: 3, 4 or 5 mm stones, 14 to 22 in.about $300on Amazon →Tennis necklaces and chainsMoissanite tennis necklace, 18 in, rhodium plated silverSTAR HARVEST. Also sold at 20 in.about $200on Amazon →Tennis necklaces and chainsMoissanite tennis necklace, graduated, 18 in, sterling silverPlavos. Stones grow toward the front, like a classic riviera. Also sold at 17 in.about $300on Amazon →Tennis necklaces and chains4 mmMoissanite tennis necklace, 4 mm stones, 20 in, 37.5 ct total, sterling silverGem’s Beauty, over 100 ratings. Same listing sells 2 to 6.5 mm stones in 14 to 28 in, silver or gold tone.about $430on Amazon →Tennis necklaces and chains4 mmMoissanite tennis necklace, 4 mm stones, 20 in, 37.5 ct total, gold-tone silverGem’s Beauty, over 100 ratings. Same listing sells 2 to 6.5 mm stones in 14 to 28 in, silver or gold tone.about $430on Amazon →Tennis necklaces and chains4 mmMoissanite tennis necklace, 4 mm stones, 18 in, sterling silverGem’s Beauty, dozens of ratings. Same listing: 3, 4 or 5 mm stones, 14 to 26 in.about $380on Amazon →Tennis necklaces and chains4 mmMoissanite tennis necklace, 4 mm stones, 18 in, 18K white gold plated silverReyFolop. Same listing: 3, 4 or 5 mm stones, 14 to 22 in.about $420on Amazon →

The moissanite shop: 80 more pieces we trust

Every piece names the real stone and comes from a seller with a record, checked in stock on October 11, 2026. Photos are the listings' own; prices are rounded.

WomenBlack moissanite stud earrings, 3 mm, sterling silverKuololit; tiny black studs, colour process (grown vs coated) not stated by sellerabout $13on Amazon →Women1 ctBlack moissanite halo ring, 1 ct, sterling silverGem's Beauty, GRA inscription; colour process (grown vs coated) not stated by sellerabout $45on Amazon →Women1 ctBlue moissanite halo ring, 1 ct, sterling silverGem's Beauty, GRA inscription; colour process (grown vs coated) not stated by sellerabout $85on Amazon →Women1 ctGreen moissanite halo ring, 1 ct, sterling silverGem's Beauty, GRA inscription; colour process (grown vs coated) not stated by sellerabout $40on Amazon →Women1 ctPink moissanite halo ring, 1 ct, sterling silverGem's Beauty, GRA inscription; colour process (grown vs coated) not stated by sellerabout $70on Amazon →Women1 ctYellow moissanite halo ring, 1 ct, sterling silverGem's Beauty, GRA inscription; colour process (grown vs coated) not stated by sellerabout $70on Amazon →Women2.2 ctRoyal blue oval moissanite ring, 2.2 ct total, sterling silverceerom; colour process (grown vs coated) not stated by sellerabout $110on Amazon →Women1.8 ctBlue green pear moissanite halo ring, 1.8 ct total, sterling silverceerom; colour process (grown vs coated) not stated by sellerabout $130on Amazon →Women3 ctVivid blue green moissanite tension ring, 3 ct, sterling silverOWIKRUA; colour process (grown vs coated) not stated by sellerabout $120on Amazon →Women1 ctBlue green marquise moissanite ring, 1 ct, sterling silverMSEARTHIA, comes with a certificate; colour process (grown vs coated) not stated by sellerabout $80on Amazon →Women2 ctPink heart moissanite ring, 2 ct, sterling silverLOIPURI, 300+ ratings; colour process (grown vs coated) not stated by sellerabout $140on Amazon →WomenBlack moissanite eternity band, sterling silverLadylike; colour process (grown vs coated) not stated by sellerabout $60on Amazon →

Your kit for moissanite

Five tools that let you check what you bought (a loupe, a UV torch, locking tweezers, a gem box and a pocket scale), plus a turntable that spins your stone under the light the way jewellers show one. The full collector's kit.

LookGemOro 10x triplet loupeunder $20LookDARKBEAM filtered 365 nm UV flashlightabout $10HandleHonoson locking tweezers, 3 packabout $10StoreTeensery gem display boxes with clear lids, 10 packabout $9ShowComXim motorized turntable, adjustable speed and directionabout $15MeasureGemOro Platinum XP500 pocket scale, 0.01 gabout $40

In short

Moissanite is lab-made silicon carbide: almost as hard as diamond, with more rainbow fire, at a fraction of the price. Enjoy it for what it is, ignore the borrowed diamond grades, and remember a basic thermal tester will call it "diamond".

See our first pick: SENOTSMEG moissanite round studs, sterling silver

Frequently Asked Questions

Is moissanite a fake diamond?

No. It is its own material, silicon carbide, with different properties: more fire, slightly less hardness, and doubled facet edges under a loupe. It becomes a fake only if someone sells it as a diamond.

Does moissanite pass a diamond tester?

A basic thermal tester says "diamond" for moissanite because both conduct heat well. A multi-tester that also measures electrical conductivity tells them apart.

Does moissanite get cloudy?

No. Moissanite does not cloud or change colour. A film of skin oil or soap can dull any stone; clean it with warm soapy water.

Photo credits

  • sic-crystals-synthetic.webp: Sailko, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • sic-ingot-lab.webp: LaMèreVeille, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • Product photos: Amazon listings, via the Amazon Product Advertising (Creators) API.

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