The future of jewellery

First discovered in 1893 by the French scientist Henri Moissan, moissanite was originally found in a fragment of meteorite. Its extreme rarity in nature led the scientific community to develop a method of recreating the gem in the laboratory, preserving its exact silicon carbide composition and its extraordinary optical properties.

Today, moissanite represents one of the great evolutions of contemporary jewellery. Grown in a controlled environment, each gem achieves exceptional levels of purity, colour and cut, allowing a standard of quality that natural extraction alone could never deliver consistently.

At Rubielle London, we select exclusively D Colour VVS1 moissanite, recognised for intense brilliance, remarkable resilience and exceptional optical performance. The result is a gem created to cross generations, uniting innovation, technical excellence and the timeless elegance that defines our jewellery house.

THE RUBIELLE STANDARD

D COLOUR

The highest colour grade. Our moissanite is selected at D Colour, the highest colour standard used in jewellery. This means a completely colourless gem, allowing maximum light transmission and a pure, crystalline, sophisticated brilliance.

VVS1

Exceptionally high clarity. The VVS1 (Very Very Slightly Included 1) grade indicates an exceptionally high degree of clarity. Inclusions are virtually imperceptible, even under professional magnification, providing outstanding transparency and optical performance.

Mohs 9.25

Outstanding resistance to everyday wear. At 9.25 on the Mohs scale, moissanite is one of the most resilient gemstones used in jewellery. Excellent for daily wear.

Fire 0.104

Extraordinary light dispersion. Fire describes a gem's ability to disperse light into flashes of colour. With a dispersion of 0.104, moissanite delivers exceptional optical performance, creating an intense, unmistakable brilliance.

Refractive Index

With a refractive index between 2.65 and 2.69, moissanite has an extraordinary capacity to reflect and return light. This optical performance is one of the principal reasons for its intense brilliance and striking presence.

Dual Certification

Every Rubielle moissanite is accompanied by Dual Certification: the international GRA (Global Gemological Research Association) certificate and the Rubielle London Certification (RLC). Together, they attest to the authenticity of the gem and confirm that it meets the rigorous quality standards established by Rubielle London.

Understand the difference

Moissanite Diamond 5A Cubic Zirconia
Origin Laboratory grown Natural or lab grown Laboratory made
Composition Silicon carbide Crystallised carbon Zirconium oxide
Brilliance Extraordinary, with an intense play of light Classic and sophisticated Intense when new
Quality D Colour VVS1, selected by Rubielle Varies according to the gem's grading 5A grade at Rubielle
Durability Excellent. Made for everyday wear. Excellent. Made for everyday wear. Good, though below the others
Certification at Rubielle Gemological Research Association (GRA) + Rubielle London Certification According to the collection Not applicable

Frequently Asked Questions

What is moissanite?

Moissanite is a fine-jewellery gemstone recognised for its exceptional brilliance, resilience and durability. With optical properties of its own and a light dispersion higher than that of diamond, it produces an intense, characteristic fire. At Rubielle London, we work exclusively with D Colour, VVS1-clarity moissanite.

Does moissanite scratch or lose its brilliance over time?

At 9.25 on the Mohs scale, moissanite is the second-hardest gemstone in the world. In practice, it is almost impossible to scratch in everyday wear: a scratch can only be caused by friction with a material of equal or greater hardness which, among gemstones commonly used in jewellery, essentially means another moissanite or a diamond — which sits at grade 10 on the scale, only 0.75 above. Its brilliance does not fade over time either, as it is an optical property of the gem itself. With proper care, moissanite keeps its fire, transparency and luminosity for generations.

Is it suitable for everyday wear?

Yes. Its high scratch resistance and excellent durability make moissanite perfectly suited to everyday wear, including rings and other pieces exposed to greater contact. It is a gem made to accompany daily life without giving up brilliance or sophistication.

What is the difference between moissanite and diamond?

They are gemstones with distinct compositions: moissanite is silicon carbide, while diamond is crystallised carbon. Diamond has a slightly higher hardness (10 versus 9.25 on the Mohs scale), while moissanite has a higher refractive index (2.65–2.69), resulting in greater light dispersion (Fire 0.104) and a more intense play of colour. Visually sophisticated and extremely durable, moissanite offers a fine-jewellery experience with an exceptional balance of beauty, performance and value.

What is the difference between moissanite and cubic zirconia?

They are completely different materials. Moissanite has a hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale, remarkable resilience and optical properties that endure over time. Cubic zirconia is softer and tends to show signs of wear and a loss of optical performance with prolonged use. This is why moissanite is especially suited to jewellery destined to accompany many years of wear.

What do D Colour and VVS1 mean?

D Colour is the highest colour grade used in jewellery: a completely colourless gem with maximum light transmission. VVS1 (Very Very Slightly Included 1) indicates exceptionally high clarity, with inclusions virtually imperceptible even under professional magnification.

Why is it important that moissanite is certified?

Certification is what makes it possible to verify the authenticity and characteristics of the moissanite you acquire. It documents important information about the gem and gives you the assurance of receiving exactly the quality declared. At Rubielle, every moissanite is accompanied by GRA certification and the House's own certification, reinforcing the provenance, authenticity and quality standard of each piece.

Is it an alternative to diamond?

No. It is a gemstone in its own right, with its own composition, crystal structure and optical properties.

In fact, if the aim were simply to reproduce the appearance and visual behaviour of a diamond, cubic zirconia would be the more logical choice: it was developed precisely as a diamond simulant and presents a pattern of light reflection visually closer to it.

Moissanite follows another path. Its light dispersion is higher than that of diamond, creating more intense, colourful flashes, alongside a hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale and exceptional durability. Choosing moissanite is not choosing “something in place of a diamond”. It is choosing moissanite for the characteristics that belong exclusively to it.

Is it worth the investment?

Yes. Across Europe and international markets, moissanite has become an increasingly desired choice in fine jewellery — and its growing appreciation is no accident.

With exceptional brilliance, remarkable resilience and optical properties of its own, moissanite brings together characteristics that allow its beauty to endure for generations.

As its qualities become better known, its recognition and appreciation continue to grow.

So yes: for those seeking a high-quality, enduring jewel with a gemstone of exceptional character, moissanite is worth the investment.

Why does Rubielle price differently?

Moissanite is often presented as an “accessible alternative”, accompanied by a seemingly persuasive argument: that a similar jewel set with diamonds would cost many times more.

For us, that comparison does not determine what a fair value is. It only determines that one thing costs less than another.

At Rubielle, we begin from a different principle: moissanite is not diamond and therefore the price of diamond is not our measure.

Each jewel is priced according to what genuinely exists within it: the quality and dimensions of the gemstones, the raw materials, the cut, the metal, the setting, the craftsmanship, the finishing and the certification — always within the standards established by Rubielle.

We believe fine jewellery and transparency can occupy the same space. That is why our price is not born of a convenient comparison. It is born of the jewel itself.

A jewel can mark a moment, hold a memory and, in time, become part of a story greater than our own.

This is how we see every moissanite: created to shine today, to remain tomorrow, to keep memories and to cross generations carrying everything it once meant to someone — taking with it something no certificate could ever measure: the meaning given to it by the person who chose it.

- Rubielle London