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Moissanite Guide

The short answer: moissanite is not a diamond. It is silicon carbide, a separate near-colourless gemstone made in a laboratory. It is very hard (9.25 on the Mohs scale, against diamond's 10), shows more rainbow fire than diamond, and costs much less. It is a durable, honest choice for an engagement ring as long as it is sold as moissanite. At Divara, every made-to-order design can be ordered with a moissanite or a lab-grown diamond centre.

What is moissanite?

Moissanite is silicon carbide. It was first identified by the French chemist Henri Moissan in the 1890s, and natural moissanite is far too rare to use in jewellery, so all gem moissanite is grown in a laboratory. Near-colourless synthetic moissanite entered the jewellery market in the late 1990s. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) documented it in a 1997 Gems & Gemology study as a new diamond substitute.

Is moissanite a diamond?

No. A diamond is carbon; moissanite is silicon carbide. They have different hardness and refractive indexes, and they handle light differently. A lab-grown diamond is a diamond. Moissanite is a different gemstone that looks similar.

What is the difference between moissanite and a lab-grown diamond?

Moissanite Lab-grown diamond
Material Silicon carbide Carbon (diamond)
Hardness 9.25 Mohs 10 Mohs
Fire (dispersion) About 0.104: strong rainbow flashes About 0.044: whiter sparkle
Refraction Doubly refractive: facet edges look doubled under magnification Singly refractive
Grading report Not graded as a diamond IGI or GIA report available
Divara 1-carat engagement rings, 9K gold from A$580 from A$1,290

Is moissanite durable enough for an everyday engagement ring?

Yes. At 9.25 on the Mohs scale, moissanite is harder than sapphire and ruby and far harder than cubic zirconia, so it resists scratching in daily wear. The bigger durability question with any ring is the setting: claws and pavé need an occasional check, whatever the stone.

Does moissanite look fake?

To most people it looks like a bright, white diamond. The visible difference is fire. Because moissanite disperses light more than twice as much as diamond, it throws stronger rainbow flashes, most noticeably in larger stones and in direct sunlight. Some people love that; others prefer diamond's whiter sparkle. Under a loupe, moissanite's double refraction makes the facet edges look doubled. That is how gemmologists tell the two apart, alongside dedicated moissanite testers. Standard thermal diamond testers can read moissanite as diamond, so they are not a reliable test.

Does moissanite get cloudy?

Like any gemstone, moissanite picks up a film from skin oils, lotion and soap that dulls its sparkle. Warm water, mild dish soap and a soft brush bring it back. See how to care for moissanite.

How much does a moissanite engagement ring cost in Australia?

Starting prices for Divara's made-to-order engagement rings with a moissanite centre on 29 October 2026, in AUD:

Divara range 9K gold 14K gold 18K gold Platinum 950
1-carat designs from A$580 from A$820 from A$1,070 from A$970
1.5-carat designs from A$760 from A$900 from A$1,070 from A$970
2-carat designs from A$940 from A$1,080 from A$1,190 from A$1,150

Moissanite tennis bracelets in 9K gold start from A$3,440 in our 6 to 10 carat range. Prices change with metal and setting; the current price is always on each product page, where you can switch the same ring between moissanite and lab-grown diamond.

Should I choose moissanite or a lab-grown diamond?

Choose moissanite if you want the biggest look for your budget, love colourful fire, and don't need a diamond grading report. Choose a lab-grown diamond if you want a diamond: hardness 10, a classic white sparkle and an IGI or GIA report. Read the lab-grown diamond guide or our side-by-side article, moissanite vs lab-grown diamond. If you'd like to see both on video before deciding, book a free consultation.

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