Moissanite
Moissanite is naturally occurring silicon carbide and its various crystalline polymorphs. It has the chemical formula SiC and is a rare mineral, discovered by the French chemist Henri Moissan in 1893.
Moissanite scores 9.25 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. That makes it the hardest gemstone used in jewelry next to diamonds (which is a 10). Sparkle wise, moissanite has an even higher refractive index than diamonds, so it's even sparklier than a diamond. ... Moissanite can also resist heat just as well as diamonds.
Moissanite vs Diamond, Price:
| Carat Size | GIA Certified Diamond (Round, I-color, VS2) | Classic Moissanite |
|---|---|---|
| .5 | $1,100+ | $89 |
| 1.0 | $4,000+ | $269 |
| 1.5 | $10,000+ | $449 |
