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I keep hearing that Sapphire is the next hardest gem after diamond by these sapphire screen manufacturers. But isn't moissanite harder than sapphire?

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Yes, moissanite is a 9.25-9.5 on the Mohs scale, whereas Sapphire is only a 9.

Moissanite doesn't really occur naturally on Earth though (although it is believed to form around carbon-rich stars).

But there are plenty of other materials that do not form naturally that we make use of in devices.

It seems misleading to call sapphire "THE" hardest next to diamond when there is another harder material that we can produce using a similar processes.

It isnt misleading since because it doesn't occur, it isn't something you need to worry about scratching your phone. If people start wearing rings made of it or if artificial beaches start using it as sand, your point will rise above pedantism :P

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