People considering moissanite almost always ask the same three questions: will it scratch, will it cloud, and will it still look good in ten years? Here are the honest answers.
Hardness
Moissanite scores 9.25 on the Mohs scale. Diamond is 10. For context, most household dust sits at 7–8, and steel is around 5.5. In normal daily wear, moissanite will not scratch from knocks, keys or handbag hardware. Only diamond itself can reliably scratch moissanite.
Does it cloud?
New, high-grade moissanite does not cloud. Lower-grade or older moissanite can develop a slightly hazy look, but that is almost always a film of soap and skin oil on the surface — warm soapy water brings it back. If your moissanite looks dull, clean it before assuming the stone has "gone off".
Chipping
Moissanite is slightly tougher than diamond under impact. That means it is marginally less likely to chip along a sharp edge when knocked. It is not unbreakable, but for a ring worn daily it holds up well.
Cleaning moissanite
Warm soapy water and a soft brush is safe. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on very old or low-grade stones; for modern GRA-certified stones in well-made settings, an ultrasonic clean once or twice a year at a jeweller is fine. Avoid steam cleaners on very old stones.
Ten years on
Moissanite does not change colour, does not need re-polishing, and does not lose its sparkle. The setting around it may need prong checks and occasional re-plating if it is white gold — that is true for any ring.