Materials glossary / Lab-grown and simulant
Moissanite
On the label: Moissanite · Lab-grown and simulant
What it is
Silicon carbide, grown in a lab (natural moissanite is vanishingly rare). Mohs 9.25, more fire than diamond and a slightly different sparkle; the main diamond alternative that is not a diamond.
Lab-grown and simulants: Lab-grown stones have the same chemistry as the natural stone; simulants only look like it. Both are legal to sell when described as such.
Wikidata: Carbide mineral; polytypes: 10R, 15R, 33R, 5H. Q418215 →
In the research
1 PubMed papers mention it with jewelry, allergy, eyewear or UV; the three most recent:
- A Comparative Analysis of Laser-Ablated Surface Characteristics Between the Si Face and C Face of Silicon Carbide Substrates · Micromachines, 2025
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on one fabric or one filter says little about the piece in your hand.
Other lab-grown and simulants
Clasp & Lens describes materials from the public record and does not appraise, grade or test pieces; what a listing states is the supplier's statement. If a piece causes a rash, take it off; a reaction that spreads or blisters is a doctor's question, and sunglasses are no substitute for impact-rated eye protection where that is required.