Moissanite and Charles & Colvard History

Moissanite is a shimmering mineral with unparalleled fire and brilliance, discovered by Nobel-Prize winning scientist Henri Moissan in 1893. The mineral was discovered in fragments of a meteorite that had crashed into the Arizona desert fifty thousand years ago, near Diablo Canyon. After extensive research, Dr. Moissan concluded that this mineral was made of silicon carbide. It was in honor of Dr. Moissan's contribution that well-known gem expert and mineralogist, George Kunz, suggested the name "moissanite" for the new jewel.

Despite the extraordinary discovery, naturally occurring quantities of Moissanite are incredibly small, and it would be another century before this magnificent mineral would emerge as the brilliant jewel we know today. In the late 1980s, a North Carolina company named CREE developed a proprietary process for producing large single crystals of Moissanite, inspired by Dr. Moissan's discovery.

In 1995, a master diamond cutter observed samples of Moissanite and recognized that properly cut crystals would make a brilliant new jewel. CREE and eventually Charles & Colvard worked on a three-year research project to bring the fire and brilliance of Moissanite jewels to consumers. Charles & Colvard has been the primary source for Moissanite gems, with American and international patents barring any competitor gems from entering the market until late 2015. Since then, several new overseas sources have entered the American market.

At MoissaniteCo.com, we take pride in offering our customers the best quality Moissanite gems, including those from Charles & Colvard. This incredible jewel, with its fascinating history, offers a unique and ethical alternative to traditional diamonds.