Moissanite was first synthesized in a lab before the natural mineral was found 2 years later by Henri Moissan in a meteor crator.  Later Charles and Covard patented the mineral to be used to create gemstones.  This patent has run out this year (2018) so now anybody can legally produce moissanite gemstones.  

Moissanite is visually close to a diamond, but has more fire than a diamond.  CZ is a closer match to a diamond visually, but Moissanite is harder than cz and can pass as diamond with older electronic diamond testers.  Moissanite can also pass the text test: That is if you put a diamond on a piece of text (black on white paper) you cannot see any black, moissanite passes this test also, cz doesn't.  Moissanite can also scratch Sapphire and scratch cz as it is harder.