Additional Moissanite Readings

Synthetic Moissanite: A New Man-Made Jewel

Charles and Colvard is a company that specializes in creating lab-grown moissanite, also known as synthetic moissanite. The material is made of silicon carbide and is created through a process called chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which involves heating a gas containing silicon and carbon until it decomposes and deposits on a substrate to form crystals. The resulting moissanite is a durable and attractive material that is second in hardness only to diamond, but without the pronounced cleavage that diamond has. This makes it a popular alternative to diamond in jewelry and other applications. Read Full Article

Synthetic Moissanite: A New Diamond Substitute

It is true that synthetic moissanite is a new diamond imitation and is produced by several companies including Charles and Colvard and C3 Inc. Synthetic moissanite has a refractive index that ranges from 2.648 to 2.691, a dispersion of 0.104, a hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale, and a specific gravity of 3.22, which makes it closer in overall appearance and heft to diamond than any previous diamond imitation. These properties make it an attractive and durable gemstone material for jewelry purposes. The articles referenced provide more information on the development and characteristics of synthetic moissanite. Read Full Article

Nassau, Kurt "Synthetic Moissanite: A New Man-Made Jewel." Current Science, Vol 79, No 11. Dec 2000. Nassau, McClure, Elen, Shigley "Synthetic Moissanite: A New Diamond Substitute." Gems & Gemology. Winter 1997.