Moissanite, also known as silicon carbide, is a gemstone unlike any other. With more brilliance and fire than diamond, this stone has been a source of intense interest ever since its discovery more than a century ago. Moissanite dances with sparkles of light that draw the eye and delight the senses. Its unique internal beauty lends a captivating allure to jewelry, making a magnificent statement at a fraction of the cost of other gemstones. But only you know what you paid - envious passers-by see only a grand statement of opulence.

 

Today's alluring moissanite gemstones are the end result of a 110-year-old geological discovery. Moissanite was first discovered in 1893 by the Nobel Prize-winning French chemist Dr. Henri Moissan at the site of a massive meteorite strike in Arizona. The tiny particles he unearthed were initially mistaken for diamond due to their hardness and brilliant reflectiveness, but after painstaking testing, were identified as naturally-occurring silicon carbide. This intriguing new stone was named moissanite in his honor, and Moissan spent the rest of his life attempting to re-create this exceptional mineral, which is among the hardest materials on Earth.

 

Moissanite jewels created by Charles & Colvard deliver more fire, brilliance, and luster than any other hard jewel. Moissanite's superior optical properties offer a visual difference for all to see, and in the process demands attention for those who choose to wear it.

 

Moissanite vs Diamond 

The resulting gemstones exhibit more brilliance than diamond and are more durable than ruby, emerald, and sapphire. With a refractive index of 2.65-2.69, moissanite is truly the World's Most Brilliant Gem. And thanks to a dispersion level that produces 2.4 times the fire of diamond, moissanite bends light into mesmerizing rainbow flashes of fire. By day and by night, moissanite's conspicuous brilliance is spectacular.

 

The unrivaled fire and brilliance of moissanite are guaranteed to last forever. The sparkle that makes this gemstone so beloved will never fade or dull, and is protected by a limited lifetime warranty from Charles & Colvard. Due to a hardness that is second only to that of diamond, moissanite is highly unlikely to ever break, scratch or chip. And unlike diamonds, moissanite stones are conflict-free and sustainable, grown as they are in a lab rather than mined from the earth.

 

Why C&C's Created Moissanite 

Natural moissanite is incredibly rare on Earth; in fact, the largest natural moissanite gems are too small to be set into jewelry. Nearly one hundred years after Dr. Moissan's discovery, scientists at a research laboratory in central North Carolina perfected and patented the innovative process that creates silicon carbide crystals for Charles & Colvard. Within a controlled environment that mimics the forces of nature, our researchers produce durable, super-hard crystals with a minimum of ecological impact, and absolutely no mining.

 

In 2016, the patent ceased and more manufacturers are entering the market, trying to match Charles & Colvard's superior cutting. Today, Charles & Colvard remains committed to producing the highest quality moissanite gemstones using innovative techniques and technologies. And, because of this, we are still premier partners with them, to provide you with these magnificent gemstones. 

 

The 3 Types of C&C Moissanite 

Forever One - [D-E-F Color] The ultimate expression of art and science: Charles & Colvard Forever One, a gem in the coveted D-E-F range that is so pure, so white, so incredibly brilliant that it promises to change forever how fine jewelry is made and enjoyed. Forever One is available in a large variety of shapes and sizes, an heirloom- quality gemstone that fulfills every promise of purity and brilliance.

 

Forever Brilliant - [G-H-I Color] In the prized G-H-I range, the color becomes less intense, more ephemeral. This is the realm of Charles & Colvard Forever Brilliant, a scintillating near-colorless gem which allows consumers to acquire jewelry in an array of unique cuts and dazzling large sizes that would otherwise be out of reach for all but the most affluent.

 

Forever Classic - [J-K Color] Charles & Colvard Forever Classic was the breakthrough innovation which proved that pure, high-quality gemstone crystals could be sustainably and reliably created. The fulfillment of decades of development, Forever Classic provides affordable luxury in the J-K range, its characteristic faint color making it the perfect companion gem to a wide range of jewelry designers.

 

The JFire Unit

Charles & Colvard developed the JFIRE Unit to demonstrate the superior optical properties of Moissanite. Using a relatively simple technique of shining a light source through a similar sized moissanite jewel and diamond placed in water, the JFIRE Unit dramatically demonstrates the superior fire and brilliance of moissanite. Below, you can see the comparison between moissanite (left) and diamond (right).