Moissanite is nothing new, but the same questions don’t seem to change much either! We still receive the same calls from buyers every week: Is it diamond tester passing? Will it tarnish? Why is moissanite so much cheaper than diamonds?
We make moissanite jewelry — primarily sterling silver rings, necklaces and bracelets — so we’re responding to those questions from the production (rather than marketing) side of things. That’s what counts when you’re sourcing at scale or creating a product line that actually moves.
1) What Is Moissanite Diamond?
First: There is no such thing as a “moissanite diamond.” It’s marketing language.
Moissanite is silicon carbide (SiC). Diamond is carbon. Different materials, different properties. They are visually alike, hence the confusion, but to call moissanite a “diamond” is not so different than calling brass “gold-plated brass”—wrong in both senses of accurate usage (even if customers use the term).
What moissanite actually is:
- Chemical formula: SiC
- Hardness: 9.25 (diamond is 10)
- Refractive index: 2.65–2.69 (higher than diamond’s 2.42—more rainbow flashes)
- Double refraction (diamond is not capable of doing this)
- High thermal conductivity (it fools simple diamond testers)
People say “moissanite diamond” because that’s easier than explaining silicon carbide to someone who simply wants a sparkly ring. But if you bulk buy, the difference is important — maybe for compliance reasons, or to describe to customers what it is you’re selling (and why they’re getting a great deal), but also simply because who needs customer disputes?
2) Where Did Moissanite Come From?
Moissanite is originally from a meteor crater in Arizona that was discovered in 1893. A French scientist named Henri Moissan believed he had found diamonds, but upon subsequent testing realized the substance was in fact silicon carbide—something else altogether. They named it after him.
There is such a thing as natural moissanite, but it’s worthless for jewelry. The crystals are microscopic and appear only in meteorites or as minor trace inclusions in some rocks. You’re not going to mine it.
All moissanite jewelry has lab-grown stones in it. There is no “natural vs. lab-created” debate here, because there was never a natural supply to start with.
For sourcing, that’s arguably better: reliable quality, no mining ethics conflict and predictable supply chain.
3) How Is Moissanite Made?
Two key techniques–CVD (chemical vapor deposition) and PVT (physical vapor transport). CVD is more common.
In the case of CVD, silicon and carbon gases are pumped in to a high-temp chamber where they bond and crystallize over several weeks. It’s energy hungry and requires narrow controls or you end up with inclusions and cloudiness.
PVT is a seeded growth in vapour of active agent. It can yield larger crystals but involves more- sophisticated equipment, so fewer producers use it for jewelry-quality material.
Once the crystal is grown, it’s cut and polished like any other gemstone — “like sapphire and ruby,” Lanmi Song, the director of research and development at Charles & Colvard, told me — except moissanite is so hard that you need diamond tools to work with it.
Why quality varies between suppliers:
Low-quality moissanite can have some noticeable inclusions, as well as color (is slightly yellow or green and even grayish) depending on how much iron content there is in the stone. Ask if you’re buying in bulk:
- What grade? (D-E-F colorless? VVS clarity?)
- Where does the stone come from, and do you use certified suppliers?
- Can you supply the lab reports for the bigger stones?
That stuff counts more than being able to shave another 5% off unit cost.
4) Can Moissanite Pass a Diamond Tester?
Depends on the tester.
Fun with basic thermal testers: Yes, usually moissanite passes that.
Such devices, called thermal conductivity meters, determine how fast something conducts heat. Diamonds are highly thermally conductive, which is why they feel cold and why thermal testers for diamonds work. Problem: moissanite is also a really good conductor of heat. So crude testers identify moissanite as “diamond.”
Dual testers (thermal + electrical): No, moissanite is trapped
Diamonds don’t conduct electricity. Moissanite does. Tools like the Presidium Duo Tester test for both, so they distinguish between the two easily.
Trained gemologists: Not it is not, moissanite test positive.
Even without the tools, a pro jeweler can detect if it’s moissanite doing:
- Double refraction (you can see facet edges “double” when peering through a stone—diamonds don’t do this)
- More rainbow fire than diamond
- Slightly lower density
What this means if you’re a moissanite seller::
Market it as moissanite. Do not engage in the “looks just like diamond game” — it welcomes trouble and pays you back double. Moissanite has its own charm (more fire, less $$ and conflict-free). Embrace that, instead of offering it as discount diamond.”
Honest product descriptions also save you from disputes when a customer brings their ring to a jeweler who promptly IDs it as moissanite.
5) Does Moissanite Tarnish?
It does not. Moissanite is silicon carbide—it doesn’t oxidize or corrode. The stone stays clear.
It’s the metal setting that tarnishes.
If it’s set in sterling silver, the silver will tarnish (that’s just what silver does). The moissanite itself is fine—clean the silver and you’re good.
If it’s deposited in sterling silver, having that oxidizing copper on top will cause the silver to tarnish (that’s just what it does). The moissanite is fine — just clean the silver and away you go.
Tell consumers: the stone is maintenance-free. The metal might. Wash with a gentle soap and warm water to clean the spots, a soft brush. To brighten silver settings, try a polishing cloth. Avoid chlorine and bleach.
One note of caution: Moissanite ranks 9.25 on the Mohs scale, which means it’s hard enough to scratch other jewelry. Store pieces separately.
For wholesale: if you are selling “low-maintenance moissanite,” pair it with stainless steel or rhodium-plated silver, and not naked 925 silver. Or you can have clear expectations — the stone won’t tarnish, the silver may need to be polished from time to time.
6) Are Moissanite Diamonds Real?
Moissanite is real moissanite. It’s not a real diamond. It is also not a “fake diamond” like cubic zirconia — it’s a type of stone with its own properties.
This misunderstanding arose from the fact that everything is compared to diamond as though it were the only “real” gem! Moissanite is silicon carbide. Diamond is carbon. Both of them are,” and both have been utilized in jewelry making, he added. They simply aren’t the same.
Quick comparison:
| Property | Diamond | Moissanite |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical composition | Carbon | Silicon carbide |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 10 | 9.25 |
| Refractive index | 2.42 | 2.65–2.69 |
| Fire | High | Higher |
| Natural availability | Rare | Extremely rare (all jewelry is lab) |
| Price | High | ~1-1.5% of diamond |
How to sell it:
Frame moissanite as a thing in itself — not “almost as good as diamond” or “diamond alternative.” The brands that had been doing well with moissanite talk about what it does better: more fire, better value, conflict-free, sustainable.
Don’t call it diamond. Don’t imply it’s diamond. Honesty is appreciated by other customers, and it keeps you out of legal trouble.
For wholesale: when it comes to your product descriptions and packaging, it’s important that anything used doesn’t obscure the fact that what you’re selling is moissanite (even if resellers rely on creative language or euphemism such as “gem” or “stone” over naming a material specifically like diamond in features). This is to protect you if a customer attempts to return it saying they thought it was diamond.
7) Why Is Moissanite Cheap?
“Cheap” doesn’t quite do it, but yeah—you’re looking at a 1-carat diamond for anything from $3,000 to $10,000 or more. A 1-carat moissanite costs $30–$60. That’s roughly 1-1.5% of what diamond pricing is.
Why?
Supply: There is a century of branding around scarcity when it comes to diamonds (even lab diamonds). Natural diamonds are genuinely limited. Lab diamonds still require costly equipment and weeks-long production runs.
Moissanite? It’s all lab-grown anyway, it scales and produces efficiently, and there is no “natural rarity” premium.
Brand legacy: Diamonds have De Beers, decades of “engagement ring = diamond” advertising, cultural heft. Moissanite began appearing in jewelry in the 1990s. It doesn’t quite have the emotional infrastructure.
Production efficiency: We know how to grow moissanite quite well by now. Costs have come down as techniques improved.
Retail markups: Moissanite is marketed as affordable, which means retailers will mark it up less. That takes cost down, but also means volume is more important than per-unit margin.
What this means for you:
The low cost isn’t because moissanite is cheap, as in of poor quality or poorly made, it’s because the creation and labour processes are much more streamlined and there isn’t decades old brand name holding up the price.
Opportunities:
- Good enough margins even at the volume retail price.
- Higher conversion rates (more people can afford it)
- Customers buy multiple pieces instead of one expensive item
How to talk about price:
Don’t say “cheap.” Say “accessible,” “smart value,” or “more fire than diamond at a fraction of the cost.” Frame it as getting more, not spending less.
Conclusion
Moissanite works. It’s strong, it’s beautiful, it’s ethically sourced — and it costs a fraction of what diamond does. They buy it for engagement rings, everyday jewelry and gifts. The market isn’t slowing down.
If you’re sourcing wholesale or building a brand, moissanite offers consistent supply, good margins, and broad appeal. No mining variability, predictable lead times, strong perceived value.
We manufacture moissanite jewelry—sterling silver rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings. OEM/ODM available:
- Material options: 925 silver
- Stone grading: D-E-F colorless, VVS clarity
- Design support: CAD, sampling, production QC
- Flexible MOQ, fast turnaround, retail-ready packaging
If you need a manufacturing partner who knows the material and can scale with you, we can help.
