History of Moissanites
Moissanite is a popular gemstone that has become increasingly popular over the years, and is now widely used as an alternative to diamonds. The gemstone is known for its exceptional brilliance, hardness, and fire, which make it a perfect choice for jewelry.
But how did this gemstone come to be, and what is its history? In this article, we will delve into the fascinating, starcrossed history of moissanites as a gemstone.
The Discovery of Moissanite
Moissanite was first discovered in 1893 by French scientist Henri Moissan, who was studying fragments of a meteorite that had crashed in the Arizona desert. He was inspecting Canyon Diablo which is a meteor crater.
While examining the meteorite, Moissan discovered some sparkling crystals that he initially thought were diamonds. However, upon further inspection, he discovered that the crystals were not diamonds but a previously unknown mineral. Moissan named the mineral "silicon carbide," its chemical composition.
The initial discovery of moissanite was met with great interest from the scientific community, as the mineral was found to be one of the hardest substances known to man. However, at the time, there was little interest in using moissanite as a gemstone in jewelry due to its rarity and expense.
Moissanite as a Gemstone
It was not until the 1990s that moissanite began to gain popularity as a gemstone. In 1995, Charles & Colvard, a North Carolina-based company, developed a process to create lab grown, gem-quality moissanite crystals.
These crystals were virtually identical to natural moissanite, but were much more affordable and abundant. With the availability of high-quality moissanite, the gemstone began to gain traction as an alternative to diamonds.
Moissanite is now widely used in jewelry, including engagement rings, earrings, and necklaces. The gemstone is known for its exceptional brilliance, which is due to its high refractive index.
Moissanite Properties
One of the reasons why the moissanite has become so popular as a gemstone is its affordability. Moissanites is significantly less expensive than diamonds, making it an attractive option for consumers who want a high-quality gemstone. For example, a one-carat moissanite is at least one-fifth the price of a one-carat earth-mined diamond ring.
However, moissanites are not just a financially-savvy option as it stands its ground as its own type of gemstone to be enamored with.
One of the main advantages of moissanite is its hardness. Moissanite is one of the hardest substances known to man, with a hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale.
Diamonds are the only natural substance that is harder than moissanite, with a hardness of 10. This makes moissanite an excellent choice for jewelry that will be worn every day, as it is resistant to scratches and chips.
Another advantage of moissanites is its brilliance. As mentioned earlier, moissanite has a higher refractive index than diamonds, because it is double refractive as opposed to diamonds which are only single refractive.
Any light passing through will be split into two, making moissanites appear sparklier than diamonds, and produces what is called a rainbow sparkle. These make them a great choice for jewelry aficionados who prefer a more brilliant appearance than diamonds.
Brilyo Moissanites
Our Brilyo Moissanites in particular, are specially crafted to mimic the beauty and sparkle of diamonds. It is often even difficult or impossible to tell them apart unless you have a trained eye. Moissanites also have a similar durability to diamonds, being the second hardest gemstone next to them.
Brilyo Moissanites are designed to closely mimic the beauty of a diamond, minimizing its rainbow flare as much as possible.
Each Brilyo Moissanite is carefully cut and curated from Australia, with DEF color and VVS clarity grade to ensure that it showcases its brilliance as you wear your jewelry piece.
This means that Brilyo Moissanites fall into the colorless range and are eye clean; free from inclusions to the naked eye.
The advancement of gemstone technology has revolutionized the way that we create and cut moissanite gemstones, allowing for a level of precision and quality that was previously unimaginable.
At Brilyo, we take advantage of these technological advancements to provide our clients with the highest quality moissanites available on the market. We use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to create our moissanites, ensuring that each gemstone is cut to perfection and sparkles with brilliance.
Whether you're looking for a classic round cut or a more unique shape, our team of skilled jewelers can secure a moissanite that meets your exact specifications.
For more about our moissanites with stellar treatment, discover our collection by going to our Quezon City, Manila showroom. Book an appointment now through our different social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram, or email us here.