Moissanite is a rare, naturally occurring mineral also known as silicon carbide, which was first discovered by the Nobel Prize-winning chemist, Dr. Henri Moissan, at the site of a massive meteorite strike in Arizona. This intriguing new stone was named “moissanite” in his honor.

No. Moissanite is not a substitute for diamond, either scientifically, chemically or emotionally. Charles & Colvard created moissanite is a unique gem with its own set of chemical and optical properties that exhibit more fire and brilliance than any other gemstone.

Vai Ra's third party vendor creates moissanite which is followed by Charles & Colvard moissanite process who were original creator of moissanite. The process is lengthy, complicated and expensive, which limits the output—it takes two to three months for the creation of a single gem. Thus every gem is unique.

Post production, all created moissanite undergoes stringent testing for quality and purity, along with numerous rounds of grading before being released for sale. The SLA Certificate of Authenticity certifies that every gem is authentic manufactured according to rigorous standards by highly skilled specialists.

Moissanite is comparable to other popular gemstones including diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald on key characteristics such as hardness, fire and brilliance. On the Brilliance Refractive Index, moissanite is more brilliant than any other gemstone, ranging from 2.65-2.69 on the scale. Its fire dispersion is over 4x greater than any other popular gemstone. On the MOHs hardness scale, moissanite comes in second only to a diamond, measuring at 9.25. In addition, moissanite's durability is excellent, meaning it will survive daily wear and tear.

The most significant optical property affecting a gemstone’s brilliance, or sparkle, is the brilliance refractive index or BRI. The BRI of moissanite ranges from 2.65 to 2.69, meaning it displays more brilliance than diamond (with a BRI of 2.42) or any other popular gemstone.

A gemstone’s fire is determined by a gemological property called dispersion. Dispersion refers to the prism effect that occurs when pure white light enters a non-opaque object, breaks into spectral (rainbow) colors, and reflects back to the viewer. Moissanite’s dispersion is 0.104, which exceeds that of any gemstone including diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald.

Moissanite's fire exceeds that of any popular gemstone, including diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald. Fire can be measured scientifically; with a dispersion of 0.104, moissanite has 2.4 times the fire of diamond. No other gemstone or jewel compares to Charles and Colvard Created Moissanite® with regard to fire.

No. Charles & Colvard provides a Limited Lifetime Warranty which guarantees that every Charles & Colvard created moissanite gemstone will maintain its fire and brilliance forever.

No. There are no likely situations in which the color of moissanite will be permanently changed. Moissanite does undergo a temporary color change when exposed to extreme heat from a jeweler’s torch during jewelry repair, but with proper bench techniques there will be no lasting damage and the stone will return to its normal color once it cools.

Moissanite grading uses a color grading scale that is based upon the GIA diamond color grading scale. There are three grades of moissanite available today: colorless (D-E-F range), near-colorless (G-H-I range) and with faint hues of color (J-K range).

Yes. Moissanite can have needle-like inclusions that can be seen under 10x magnification. They are not visible to the naked eye and do not affect the clarity of the stone. It’s worth noting that nearly every gem has some sort of inclusion. They are unique to each gemstone and occur in the formation of the crystalline structure.

Forever One is the premium brand of moissanite. These gems fall within the range of internally flawless to very slightly included (IF-VS). Such unparalleled clarity is only available from the silicon carbide material we use to make our gemstones, which is manufactured through a patented process. The color, or lack thereof, of these gems is impeccable. Forever One gems are available in two grades: colorless or near-colorless (DEF-GHI). And, the cuts of these stones are unmatched.

Moissanite by Charles & Colvard is a cut above other moissanite on the market, with the exception of Forever One. Created from the same patented silicon carbide material that offers unparalleled clarity, Moissanite by Charles & Colvard is truly a revolutionary value. The distinction between Forever One and Moissanite by Charles & Colvard is made through our applied expertise throughout the process, and the discerning approach we take to ensure the quality of Forever One remains far above any other offering available today.

Due to its rarity and unrivaled beauty, Charles & Colvard created moissanite is expected to retain or increase its value over time.

You may clean moissanite the same way you would diamond or any other fine gemstone. As with any fine jewelry item, an ultrasonic cleaner can be used. However, it is best to be gentle with your valuable treasures. You can also clean your moissanite jewelry using a commercial (non-acid based) jewelry cleaner or with mild soap and water using a soft toothbrush.

Gemstones are exposed to many different elements when you wear them. Because of this, an organic build-up or “film” can occur on created gemstones such as moissanite. It is not harmful to the gemstone however it cannot be removed with over the counter jewelry cleaner or with a jewelry store cleaning.

Yes. Moissanite is an extremely stable material. It is durable, tough and highly resistant to scratching, abrasion, breaking and chipping. Its high heat tolerance makes moissanite very unlikely to experience damage during jewelry repair.