MOISSANITE
The History of Moissanite
   
 Moissanite
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This stunning jewel has a brilliant past.

Fifty thousand years ago a meteorite crashed into the Arizona desert creating what is now known as "Meteor Crater." Fragments of this meteorite were scattered across the desert.

Hidden in these fragments was a brilliant secret waiting to be discovered.

 



In 1893, Nobel-Prize winning scientist Henri Moissan began studying fragments of this meteorite from nearby Diablo Canyon. In these fragments Dr. Moissan discovered minute quantities of a shimmering new mineral, with fire and brilliance never before seen on earth.

After extensive research, Dr. Moissan concluded that this mineral was made of silicon carbide. In 1905, this mineral was named moissanite, in his honour.

Despite this amazing discovery, since naturally occurring quantities of moissanite are so minute, it would be another century before this stunning mineral would emerge as the brilliant jewel it is today.



THE CREATION OF:
MORE BRILLIANCE...MORE FIRE


In the summer of 1995, a master diamond cutter observed samples of moissanite and suggested that properly cut crystals would make a brilliant new jewel.

 

Try The J Fire Test (Click on the image to the left)

 

 



RARITY
 

Moissanite created by Charles & Colvard is by far the rarest jewel on earth.

Naturally occurring quantities of moissanite are so minute, they are not suitable for use in jewellery. After a century of research, only one company in the world is capable of growing moissanite crystals suitable for use as a precious jewel. Still the process is so complex, that it is as much an art as a science.

Charles & Colvard, Ltd. use our own uncommon combination of art and science to turn these rare jewel-quality crystals into a very limited quantity of created moissanite jewels.