- Moissanite is composed of silicon carbide, a substance originally found within meteors that had crashed to Earth. Given that there are not enough meteors to supply silicon carbide to the world, scientists began growing it in a laboratory. Lab-created moissanites are the identical chemical composition of those found within meteors. Diamond Nexus' website advertises its product as a diamond "simulant" but does not formally state what that simulant contains. A scientific analysis done by Anderson Materials Evaluations Inc. in Maryland later revealed that "simulant" to be cubic zirconia that has been coated with a protective chemical substance to prevent clouding and increase durability.
- The larger a simulated diamond is, the easier it becomes to identify it as something other than a genuine diamond. A small Diamond Nexus could pass for a real diamond. When compared side by side to a diamond, however, the difference is immediately apparent. A diamond's brilliance will give away that a Diamond Nexus is a fake. Ironically, moissanite has the opposite problem. Since moissanites are double faceted and diamonds are single faceted, a moissanite will outshine a diamond and give itself away. However, this is more readily apparent in some cuts than in others. Princess and emerald cut moissanite make the refractions more obvious, while a round moissanite is virtually indistinguishable from a diamond of the same size.
- The pricing of Diamond Nexus stones stays relatively stable. A 1-carat Diamond Nexus solitaire ring will cost around $1,000, depending on the setting. Moissanite prices, however, fluctuate drastically. During the summer of 2007, several southern jewelry retailers saw the price of moissanite jewelry rise above that of actual diamonds, due to demand. A 1-carat moissanite solitaire can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000, depending on the setting, the stone's quality and where you purchase it. Moissanite jewelry purchased in Canada is typically more expensive than that purchased in the United States, because it is not as readily available in Canada.
- The Mohs scale is a system used by jewelers to measure the hardness of a stone. This is the likelihood that a stone will chip or scratch over time. Diamonds are the hardest gemstone on the Mohs scale, with a score of 10. Moissanite is a close second with a score of 9.25. Diamond Nexus stones also score highly, with a Mohs rating of 8.0 to 8.5.
- As recently as the late 1990s, moissanite was difficult to find. These stones have since risen in popularity and a majority of fine jewelry retailers either carry them or can order them. Diamond Nexus stones are currently only offered through the Diamond Nexus website. Diamond Nexus is only a trade name, however, and chemically protected cubic zirconia is widely available under other trade names such as Asha, Diamond-Veneer, and Diamalite.
