Moissanite’s journey began in 1893 when Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Henri Moissan discovered microscopic crystals in a meteor crater. Initially mistaken for diamonds, these dazzling gems turned out to be something even more extraordinary—silicon carbide, a rare mineral formed under extreme conditions in space.
Moissanite A Rare Gem from the Stars
Moissanite is a nearly colorless gemstone composed of silicon carbide, known for its exceptional brilliance. First discovered in 1893 by French scientist Henri Moissan in a meteor crater, this rare mineral was initially mistaken for a diamond. However, moissanite and diamonds are fundamentally different—while diamonds are made of carbon, moissanite is composed of pure silicon carbide, a mineral seldom found in nature.
Due to its extreme rarity, natural moissanite is not a practical choice for jewelry. Instead, the moissanite available today is expertly lab-created, offering the same captivating beauty while being an ethical and sustainable alternative.
Why Choose Moissanite?
Moissanite is the perfect blend of beauty, durability, and affordability. With its exceptional brilliance and fire, this lab-grown gemstone rivals diamonds while being ethically and sustainably sourced. Unlike diamonds, moissanite is free from mining concerns, making it an eco-friendly choice. Its hardness ensures lasting sparkle, and its affordability allows you to own a stunning piece without exceeding your budget. Whether for engagement rings or everyday elegance, moissanite is a timeless, responsible, and radiant choice.
Benefits of Moissanite
Made, not mined.
Why Purchase Moissanite? The Smart & Stunning Choice
Moissanite offers unmatched brilliance, durability, and affordability, making it a perfect alternative to diamonds. Its exceptional fire and sparkle create a dazzling effect that lasts a lifetime. Ethically crafted in labs, moissanite is an eco-friendly and conflict-free gemstone, ensuring peace of mind with every purchase. Its remarkable hardness resists scratches, making it ideal for daily wear. With moissanite, you get luxury, sustainability, and beauty—all at an incredible value.
MANUFACTURE OF MOSSANITES?
The precursor of moissanite, silicon carbide, is produced in furnaces with high temperatures that replicate the extreme heat and pressure that naturally occur in meteorites.
The Lely technique uses these rough crystals, which are expertly cut and polished by craftspeople. This cutting-edge method—named for its creator—layers vaporized silicon carbide atop a seed crystal to create gems with exceptional fire and brilliance. With a refractive index higher than diamonds, moissanite captures light with a kaleidoscope brilliance not found in the depths of the earth, but rather through scientifically controlled alchemy.
MOISSANITES VS. DIAMONDS
Moissanite
Diamond
Moissanite
Composition: Composed of silicon carbide, moissanite is a naturally occurring mineral found in limited quantities on Earth, but most moissanite used in jewelry is lab-created.
Hardness: Second only to diamonds in hardness on the Mohs scale, moissanite scores 9.25, making it highly durable and resistant to scratching or chipping.
Brilliance and Sparkle: Moissanite: Known for its exceptional brilliance and fire, moissanite exhibits a dazzling sparkle due to its high refractive index, dispersing light into colorful flashes.
Color: Moissanite: Generally, moissanite exhibits minimal to no color and is graded on a color scale from D to K, with D being colorless and K showing slight yellow or gray undertones.
Cost: Moissanite: Moissanite is typically more affordable than diamonds of comparable size and quality, offering an excellent alternative for those seeking brilliance without the high cost.
Origin and Sustainability:Moissanite: Most moissanite available today is lab-created, offering an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to mined gemstones.
Popularity and Tradition: Moissanite: Growing in popularity as an alternative gemstone for engagement rings and fine jewelry, moissanite offers a modern yet timeless choice for those seeking brilliance and affordability.
Diamond
Composition: Comprised of carbon atoms arranged in a crystalline structure, diamonds are formed deep within the Earth's mantle over millions of years.
Hardness: Diamonds are the hardest natural substance, scoring a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale, making them extremely durable and ideal for everyday wear.
Brilliance & Sparkle: Renowned for its unmatched brilliance, diamonds disperse light beautifully, resulting in a captivating sparkle with a play of light known as "diamond fire."
Color: Diamonds come in a range of colors, from colorless (D) to light yellow or brown, with color grades affecting their value and rarity.
Cost: Diamonds are traditionally more expensive due to their rarity and demand, with factors such as cut, color, clarity, and carat weight influencing their price significantly.
Origin & Sustainability: Mined diamonds have raised concerns regarding environmental impact, labor practices, and ethical sourcing, although efforts are being made to promote responsible mining practices and traceability.
Popularity and Tradition:Diamonds have long been synonymous with luxury, romance, and tradition, making them a popular choice for engagement rings and special occasions for centuries.
Tips on Selecting a Moissanite
While buying a moissanite is like buying any other gemstone, there are a few things to think about.
Unlike diamonds, which are rated by separate bodies based on carat, cut, color, and clarity, moistenites are only appraised on cut, color, and clarity. After that, they are categorized by color and given a Brilliant Earth Premium or Super Premium rating. A Premium moissanite is similar to a G–H color diamond, whereas a Super Premium moissanite has a color range of D–E–F. The high level of technology used in the creation of moissanites means that there is minimal variation in their quality.
If moissanite is the right gemstone for you, that is the most important item to consider. Before you decide if it's the right choice for you, think about how it differs from diamonds in terms of fire, scintillation, pricing, and durability.
More About Moissanite
If you have more queries then:
Can you tell a moissanite from a diamond?
The most effective way to tell moissanite apart from a diamond is to use a loupe to look through the top, or the crown, of the jewel at an angle. You will see two slightly blurred lines that indicates a double refraction, an inherent quality of moissanite. Double refraction is easier to see in some shapes than others.
Are Moissanite stones high-quality?
Yes. Just like diamonds, moissanite is graded for color, clarity, cut, polish and symmetry. Our moissanites are considered top gem quality as they are colorless (D-E-F), high clarity (VS1 or better) and have excellent cut, polish and symmetry.
Does moissanite lose its sparkle?
Moissanite will not lose its sparkle as time passes. The clarity and color of the stone won’t change through the years. Dirt and grime are the only common elements that may inhibit a ring’s sparkle until it is cleaned. Damaging the surface of moissanite can inhibit sparkle, as it would for any gemstone.
Is moissanite durable?
Moissanite is one of the toughest known gemstones which makes it perfect for an engagement ring, a piece of jewelry that is usually worn every day. Studies in high pressure research have shown that moissanite stone is highly resistant to breaking and chipping.
How should i clean my moissanite jewelry?
You may clean your moissanite gemstones and jewelry just as you would clean diamond fine jewelry such as using an ultrasonic or steamer. We suggest cleaning your jewelry with a soft bristle toothbrush and non-abrasive, mild soap. Simply brush your jewelry until clean like you brush your teeth and then air dry. For jewelry with substantial residue build up, repeat the cleaning process two to three times. Read More
