What exactly is moissanite? Is it a laboratory-grown diamond substitute? Not at all. Moissanite is extremely rare in nature and is only found in upper mantle rocks and meteorites. The findings suggest that moissanite occurs naturally in kimberlite, xenoliths, lamproite and diamonds. Discovered more than 120 years ago, moissanite has become much more than just silicon carbide. Due to its durability, moissanite can be found in a variety of cuts, which provides jewelry designers with a large selection of moissanite engagement rings and other jewelry settings.
The harder the material, the more difficult it is to scratch or chip. While no gemstone is indestructible, some gemstones are slightly harder and more durable for daily wear. On the Mohs Hardness scale, Moissanite is rated 9.5 out of 10, which is higher than any gemstone used in jewelry except the diamond itself. Diamonds, the hardest known mineral, scored 10 out of 10. As for durability references, rubies and sapphires have a Mohs score of 9 and emeralds 7.