For many South Africans, “Forever One” and “moissanite” meant the same thing for years, and a lot of it came through us. This page explains what the name stands for, how its grades work, and what to look for now that moissanite is grown by more than one maker.
Who Charles & Colvard are
Charles & Colvard, based in North Carolina in the USA, developed a way to grow gem-quality silicon carbide and brought moissanite to the jewellery market in the late 1990s. For years it held the key patents, so almost every moissanite in the world came from it. Moissanite SA was founded in 1999 and became Charles & Colvard's distribution partner for the region in 2005. You can read our story on our about page.
What Forever One is
Forever One is Charles & Colvard's top range. It replaced older ranges whose stones often showed a warm, slightly yellow or green tint. Forever One comes in two grades:
- Forever One DEF is colourless: the top of the D-to-Z colour scale used for diamonds.
- Forever One GHI is near-colourless. It looks white face-up, but larger stones can show a faint warmth, especially beside a colourless stone.
If you're comparing a Forever One stone with another, colour grade is the first thing to check. Our moissanite colour chart shows the difference.
Moissanite after the patents
Charles & Colvard's main patents expired in the mid-2010s. Since then other makers have grown gem moissanite, and the best of them grow it to the same standard. The material is the same everywhere: silicon carbide, with a refractive index of 2.65–2.69, dispersion of 0.104 and a hardness of 9.25. What changes from stone to stone is how well it is grown and cut, not whose name is on the box.
So whichever brand you look at, judge the stone on the same four things:
- Colour. DEF is colourless; GHI is near-colourless; anything lower shows tint.
- Clarity. VVS stones are eye-clean, with inclusions so small they are very hard to find even under magnification. How moissanite is graded.
- Cut. Facets angled for moissanite, not copied from diamond, decide how much light comes back. See which cut sparkles most.
- Paperwork and warranty. A certificate, a serial number and a warranty from a seller you can phone.
Why we now sell SOLA™
After two decades of selling other people's ranges, we launched our own. SOLA™ stones are bought direct from the grower, which keeps the price down, and we sell only the top grade: DEF colourless and VVS clarity in all ten cuts. Every stone comes with a certificate of authenticity, its own serial number and a lifetime warranty on its optical properties, and ships free by tracked courier in South Africa. You can see each one at true size on a hand on our stones page.
If you already own a Forever One stone and want a matching one, send us its shape, size and grade. A DEF SOLA™ stone sits comfortably beside a Forever One DEF.
Where to buy moissanite in South Africa
For how to compare sellers, and what to ask before you pay, read where to buy loose moissanite and what moissanite costs in South Africa.
Charles & Colvard and Forever One are trademarks of Charles & Colvard, Ltd. Moissanite SA is not connected with Charles & Colvard and does not currently sell its products.
What is Forever One moissanite?+
Forever One is Charles & Colvard's premium moissanite range, sold in two grades: DEF (colourless) and GHI (near-colourless).
Is Forever One better than other moissanite?+
Not because of the name. All moissanite is silicon carbide. Compare the colour grade, clarity, cut and warranty; a DEF, VVS stone from a good grower looks the same as a Forever One DEF.
What is the difference between Forever One DEF and GHI?+
DEF is colourless, the top of the colour scale. GHI is near-colourless: white face-up, with a faint warmth that can show in larger stones.
Does Moissanite SA sell Charles & Colvard?+
Not any more. We distributed Charles & Colvard in South Africa from 2005; today we sell our own SOLA™ range, DEF colourless and VVS clarity.
Can I match a Forever One stone?+
Yes. Send us the shape, size and grade of your stone, and we'll suggest a SOLA™ stone to match. A DEF SOLA™ sits well beside a Forever One DEF.