You may have seen a worrying claim: “The biggest moissanite company just went bankrupt. Is moissanite over?” The short answer is no. Charles & Colvard's filing concerns one company and its finances. It does not change the gemstone itself.
On 2 March 2026, Charles & Colvard, the original commercial producer of gem-quality moissanite, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States. The filing was real, and the resulting job losses were unfortunate. It also raised understandable questions among moissanite buyers in India, including people who had recently bought a piece or were considering one.
A quick introduction: I am Aaman Shah. My family has operated S.P. Jewellers in Ahmedabad for more than 60 years. I started Myraé because I believe moissanite offers strong value to people who want to wear beautiful jewellery regularly. Here is what happened and what the filing means for buyers.
Why did Charles & Colvard file for bankruptcy?
Charles & Colvard did not file because moissanite suddenly became less durable or attractive. The company faced financial and market pressures in the United States, including intense competition and falling prices across lab-grown diamonds and gemstones.
Founded in 1995, Charles & Colvard spent nearly three decades positioning moissanite as a more affordable alternative to diamond. That positioning became harder to sustain as the diamond market changed.
Between 2021 and 2026, lab-grown diamond prices fell sharply as production increased and retailers competed on price. By 2025, a one-carat lab-grown diamond averaged about US$1,000 or less at retail, according to BriteCo. Lab-grown diamonds moved from a premium new category towards a widely available product in a short period.
This weakened one of Charles & Colvard's long-standing messages: that moissanite was the obvious affordable alternative to diamond. As lab-grown diamond prices moved closer to moissanite prices, the company struggled to adapt quickly enough.
What does the bankruptcy mean for moissanite?
Nothing about moissanite's composition or performance has changed. Moissanite is silicon carbide. The natural mineral was first identified in material from a meteorite in 1893, while the stones used in jewellery today are created in laboratories.
Moissanite scores 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale, while diamond scores 10. This makes moissanite highly resistant to scratching during everyday wear. Its refractive index is about 2.65, compared with 2.42 for diamond, so it bends light strongly and produces a distinctive brilliance.
Moissanite is lab-grown, which avoids many mining-related conflict and sourcing concerns. Charles & Colvard held important early patents, but most have expired. Manufacturers around the world can now produce gem-quality moissanite, so the stone is not dependent on one company.
What changed
One company's financial position, business strategy and place in a more competitive lab-grown gemstone market.
What did not change
Moissanite's hardness, brilliance, composition, everyday durability or availability from other manufacturers.
The bankruptcy marks a change in one company's approach within a specific market. It does not mark the end of moissanite.
Should Indian moissanite buyers be concerned?
Not because of this filing alone. Moissanite's value in India has never depended only on its comparison with diamond. That positioning was shaped largely by the American market.
In India, jewellery is closely tied to culture, savings and status. Gold often represents security, while diamonds can represent prestige. This also means expensive jewellery is frequently kept in lockers and worn only on selected occasions because of concerns about loss or damage.
Moissanite offers a practical alternative for people who want brilliance and durability without the pressure that can come with a high-value purchase. It allows jewellery to be worn more often rather than saved for rare occasions.
The bottom line
Charles & Colvard's Chapter 11 filing is important business news, but it does not mean moissanite is disappearing. For Indian buyers, the stone remains a durable, brilliant and practical option. Your decision should still depend on the quality of the stone, the setting, the certification and the jeweller you buy from, not on the financial position of one manufacturer.
To understand the stone in more detail, read Myraé's guide to what moissanite is and how it compares.