What is Moissanite?What is moissanite? Moissanite is a crystalline form of silicon carbide! Henri Moissan discovered real moissanite in a meteor crater in 1893. Since that time, natural moissanite has been isolated on very few occasions. It is an extremely rare mineral, whose presence has been identified in microscopic amounts in the remnants of meteorites and as tiny inclusions in volcanic rocks and diamonds. When scientists discovered that the rare moissanite crystals had a hardness rating close to diamond, the race was on to create synthetic moissanite - a form of moissanite which is exactly the same as natural moissanite. In the late 1980s the synthesis of moissanite was achieved and in 1997 the manufacturer of synthetic moissanite, Charles & Colvard®, began to market created moissanite jewelry and moissanite loose stones. What is moissanite synthesis? No one really knows the exact methods which are used to synthesize created moissanite. The method is similar to a crucible and “seed” laboratory process which is used to create synthetic diamonds, but the exact process is patented and an industry secret. Moissanite vs. Diamond To see how moissanite compares to a diamond, take a look at the table below or check out man-made diamonds to compare moissanite to other types of diamond substitutes including simulants like cubic zirconia.
What is moissanite compared to a diamond? From the table, you can see that moissanite is almost as hard as a diamond, and moissanite has a higher hardness rating than many natural durable gemstones including ruby, sapphire, topaz and emerald gemstones. Moissanite has a weight which is quite similar to a diamond, and moissanite wedding and engagement rings will have a weight comparable to diamond wedding and engagement rings. While moissanite has properties similar to a diamond, moissanite does not look exactly like a diamond. Moissanite has a higher dispersion and refractive index – and these values are responsible for the fire, flash and brilliance of a gemstone. Due to the increased dispersion and refractive index values, moissanite has a lot more shine and sparkle than the average diamond. All synthetic moissanite stones are completely flawless, while only the rarest of diamonds are totally flawless; most diamonds contain small inclusions or blemishes. The absence of inclusions, and the measure of dispersion and refractive index, are the methods jewelers use to distinguish moissanite from real diamonds. As with real diamonds, moissanite may be cut and fashioned into a number of shapes and jewelry designs. The most popular moissanite stone cuts are the round and square brilliant cuts, but heart, oval, pearl and triangle shapes are on the top of the list for moissanite engagement rings. Fancy moissanite is now available too as an alternative to extremely expensive fancy color diamonds. Fancy moissanite is available in rose, pink, canary yellow, green and shades of sherry brown. Moissanite Reviews Moissanite reviews are generally positive. Most customers are quite happy with the purchase of a moissanite engagement ring or moissanite wedding set, and customers are usually pleased with the amount of money they save with the purchase of moissanite jewelry. An average one carat diamond costs approximately $1500 dollars whereas a one carat moissanite loose stone may cost between $90 to $200 dollars depending on the cut. The high customer reviews have spread the word about moissanite, and today more and more shoppers are asking "What is Moissanite?" and turning to moissanite for an affordable yet beautiful diamond alternative. However, moissanite is not for everyone. A few consumers do not like the extra flash and sparkle of a moissanite ring, and some consumers have complained of shoddy workmanship on their moissanite rings. As with all other types of rings, it is important to purchase moissanite wedding sets or engagement rings from a reputable company which offers a superior product for the right price. To find out more about moissanite rings, pros and cons and shopping tips, check out Moissanite Wedding Sets.
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