Why Moissanite?

A gemstone born from the stars and backed by science.

The Discovery

In 1893, Nobel Prize-winning French chemist Henri Moissan was examining rock samples from a meteor crater in Canyon Diablo, Arizona when he found tiny crystals that seemed to outshine everything around them. He initially thought he discovered diamonds, but he was in for a whole different surprise. 

What Moissan had found was silicon carbide (SiC), a compound so rare in nature that it was eventually named moissanite in his honor. Natural moissanite is almost impossible to find on earth. The crystals Moissan discovered literally traveled here from space. They're space gems! 

Today, moissanite used in jewelry is lab-created, meaning it has the same chemical composition as the original space-born crystals, grown under carefully controlled conditions. Same molecule. Even more brilliant than diamond. 

The Science Behind the Sparkle

Here's where it gets interesting. 

Moissanite is made of silicon carbide, a molecule where silicon and carbon atoms bond in a tight, repeating crystal structure. This structure is what gives moissanite its remarkable physical properties. 

Refractive index: 2.65-2.69

The refractive index measures how much a gemstone bends light as it passes through. The higher the number, the more brilliance. Diamond's refractive index is 2.42. Moissanite's is higher, meaning it actually bends and reflects more light than a diamond, producing that signature fire and flash.

Double refraction

Here's the part that makes a science teacher (aka me) genuinely excited. Moissanite is doubly refractive, meaning light entering the stone splits into two rays as it passes through the crystal. This is a direct result of its silicon carbide structure and it's what produces moissanite's distinctive rainbow flashes of color. Why moissanite sparkles more than diamond is pure physics. 

Mohs hardness: 9.24

The Mohs scale measures a gemstone's resistance to scratching. Diamond sits at 10, making it the hardest substance on Earth. Moissanite sits at 9.25, making it the second hardest gemstone available and one of the most durable stones you can wear every single day. 

Moissanite is NOT a diamond simulant.

It is its own gemstone, with its own chemical composition, its own crystal structure, and its own set of properties that in several measurable ways actually surpass diamond. It just doesn't come with a diamond price tag. 

Why It's Perfect for Fine Jewelry

A gemstone worthy of your most meaningful moments needs to be beautiful, durable, and trustworthy. Moissanite checks every box. 

It won't scratch, cloud, or lose its brilliance over time. It passes a standard diamond tester. And it looks absolutely stunning in person. Moissanite is the kind of stone that catches light across a room and makes people notice. 

Every Ellure piece features D color, VVS1 clarity moissanite, the highest grade available, selected for maximum brilliance and fire. 

The Bottom Line

Moissanite was born in space, named after a Nobel Prize winner, and outperforms diamond in measurable brilliance. It's one of the hardest, most durable gemstones on Earth, and it is available to everyone. Affordable luxury for life's special moments and day to day living. 

Ready to find your perfect piece? Shop our Ellure collections!