Henri Moissan, a French chemist and a Nobel Prize winner, is the person who discovered Moissanite in 1893. The discovery happened when he was poking around Canyon Diablo, Arizona, which is a meteor crater. At first, he thought it was diamond he found but he eventually concluded it to be silicone carbide or SiC. Moissanite is a very rare mineral and as such, those that are circulating around today are mostly synthesized or made from laboratories.
Moissan’s initial confusion about his find is understandable because the mineral has qualities that are very much like that of a diamond. Moissanite ranks 9.25 in the Mohs scale, meaning it is almost as hard as diamond, which ranks 10. Since it is a very tough mineral, it is not surprising at all that it can withstand up to 52.1 Gigapascals of pressure. Aside from being strong though, it also has the luster and brilliance that is comparable to some of the most precious gemstones out there. As such, this stone is now being used to produce ornaments and industrial tools, specifically abrasive and cutting equipment. In fact, Moissanite instruments are now replacing some of the diamond cutting implements in the market because they are easy and cost-effective to obtain without sacrificing the quality factor.
If you are wondering how Moissanite is manufactured, a method called thermal decomposition is employed. This allows the creation of a pure synthetic product. When this stone is made into necklaces, rings, earrings, and other accessories, it will undergo cutting and polishing phases, just like a diamond. A faceting machine is used to shape it. All the finished jewels are considered of “very good” quality, meaning you cannot find some looking imperfect. In purchasing a piece of Moissanite jewelry, take note that its price would vary based on the materials it is set into, eg gold, silver, or platinum. However the cost of Moissanite wedding bands, for example, would still be roughly one tenth that of a diamond equivalent. So, if you are looking for a cost-effective but definitely beautiful body embellishment, consider Moissanite!