Is Moissanite a Real Gemstone?

<h2>Where does moissanite come from?</h2>
<p>French scientist Henri Moissan found tiny crystals of it in 1893 in rock from a meteorite crater in Arizona. He first thought they were diamonds. They turned out to be a new mineral, silicon carbide, later named moissanite after him.</p>
<h2>Why is it lab-grown?</h2>
<p>Natural moissanite is so rare that there isn't enough to make jewelry. Every moissanite stone sold today is lab-grown. That's the same way lab diamonds are made: real material, grown under controlled conditions.</p>
<h2>Is lab-grown the same as fake?</h2>
<p>No. A fake imitates something it isn't. Moissanite is itself. It doesn't pretend to be a diamond; it's its own gemstone with its own properties.</p>
<h2>How does it compare to diamond?</h2>
<ul>
<li>Hardness: diamond 10, moissanite 9.25. Harder than sapphire and ruby.</li>
<li>Sparkle: moissanite has more fire (rainbow flashes) than diamond.</li>
<li>Tester: moissanite passes a standard thermal diamond tester.</li>
<li>Price: a fraction of diamond.</li>
</ul>
<p>Full breakdown: <a href="/blogs/moissanite-moe/moissanite-vs-lab-diamond-vs-cz-whats-the-difference">Moissanite vs lab diamond vs CZ</a>.</p>
<h2>What does VVS mean?</h2>
<p>VVS means "very, very slightly included." The stone has inclusions so small they're hard to see even under 10x magnification. To the eye, a VVS stone looks perfectly clear.</p>
<h2>FAQ</h2>
<h3>Is moissanite worth buying?</h3>
<p>For jewelry you wear every day, yes. It looks like diamond, lasts for life and costs far less.</p>
<h3>Can people tell moissanite isn't diamond?</h3>
<p>Most people can't. A jeweler with a dual tester or a loupe can.</p>
<h3>Does moissanite hold value?</h3>
<p>It's not an investment stone. Buy it to wear, not to resell.</p>