Learn About Moissanite
What is Moissanite Gemstone?
Moissanite is a rare, naturally occurring mineral also known as silicon carbide, which was first discovered by the Nobel Prize-winning chemist, Dr. Henri Moissan, at the site of a massive meteorite strike in Arizona. This intriguing new stone was named “moissanite” in his honor.
It wasn’t until the late 90s that scientists–working in a research laboratory located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina–developed the innovative thermal growing process that creates silicon carbide crystals. These crystals are fashioned into moissanite gemstones that rival any natural gemstone for fire and brilliance. These man-made gems are more durable than any other popular gemstone such as diamond, sapphire, ruby or emerald. Moissanite is one of the rarest minerals found in nature, and we've made it our mission to share its beauty and brilliance with the world.
Possessing fire, brilliance, and luster that far surpasses even that of a diamond, Moissanite twinkles and sparkles unlike any gemstone on earth. Composed of carbon and silicon, the Moissanite crystal is one of the hardest and toughest known elements on earth, making it extremely resistant to scratching, chipping and breaking.
Moissanite, also known as silicon carbide, was first discovered in minute quantities from particles carried to earth by a meteorite 50,000 years ago. It is now available as faceted gemstones in a large array of shapes and sizes.
Unlike other brilliant stones that cloud and dull with time, Moissanite is guaranteed to never lose its optical properties. Therefore, it will be every bit as beautiful, fiery and brilliant generations from now as the day you purchase it.
Is Moissanite a brand of Diamond or a Simulated Diamond?
The Superior Fire, Brilliance and Luster of Moissanite
Moissanite's characteristic sparkle is more than just a show of beauty - it's a testament to the superior science behind the jewel, boasting more fire, brilliance and luster than any gemstone on earth. This is not merely a sales line, but a scientific and quantifiable fact.
Moissanite's brilliance outshines every gemstone, but its exceptional durability is truly remarkable to say the least. Moissanite is a gemstone that will endure for generations and beyond.
Durability consists of hardness, toughness and stability.
Moissanite is one of the hardest gemstones on earth.
Hardness refers to a gemstone's resistance to being scratched or abraded and is commonly expressed as a number ranking (1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest) on Mohs relative hardness scale.
Moissanite's Cut Is Designed to Maximize Fire & Brilliance
Unlike diamonds which are most commonly cut to maximize carat weight, Moissanite gemstones are cut and faceted to maximize the superior fire and brilliance of the gemstone. The Moissanite ideal cut pattern was established after years of studying the angles of light refraction through Moissanite. Although the facets on a standard round-brilliant cut Moissanite are the same in number and are very close to the measurement to the customary 57-facet round brilliant cut diamond, subtle differences exist. These subtle differences are exactly what contribute to Moissanite's ideal cut standards different than "ideal cut" proportions that might be associated with other gemstones or diamonds.
Moissanite Clarity
Clarity is a measure of the surface blemishes and internal inclusions of a gemstone. For the purpose of comparison to natural diamonds, experts agree the clarity of Moissanite is on average the equivalent to VS clarity on the GIA scale. What this means in reality is inclusions can only be seen under magnification, and under a jewelers loupe (10x magnification) are difficult to see. Less than 10% of faceted diamonds have this level of clarity.
Moissanite Cut