Moissanite is chemically known as silicon carbide – is both exceptionally brilliant and amazingly unique. It was discovered in 1893, fifty thousand years ago, by Henry Moissan, Nobel-Prize winning scientist, in a meteor crashed into the Arizona desert creating what is now known as a "Meteor Crater." Fragments of this meteorite were scattered across the desert. Hidden in these fragments was a brilliant secret waiting to be discovered. However, the rarity of large natural Moissanite crystals prohibits their use in jewelry. Using an uncommon combination of art and science, moissanite is now available on earth! In 1995, jewelers realized that Moissanite would make an ideal gemstone, and the rest, as they say, is history. It’s such a good substitute for diamonds that many jewelers cannot easily tell the difference. (Any underlined words will have an expanded function to see further explanations)
Cost Comparison: 1.00-Carat Round, Very Good-cut, I-color, and VS1-clarity diamond comes accompanied by a diamond grading report from the GIA. Price $4,565 (From Blue Nile) Round 6.5 mm (1.0 carats), certified by Charles & Colvard Retail - $735.
Quality Comparison: Moissanite has more brilliance, fire and luster than diamonds and cubic zirconias. The only jewel harder than moissanite is diamond. Moissanite will never fade, cloud, change color nor look different from the day you purchased it. Moissanite is at 9.25 on the hardness scale. Diamond is 10.
Comparison Chart
BEAUTY
DURABILITY
SPECIFIC GRAVITY
BRILLIANCE Refractive Index
FIRE Dispersion
LUSTER
HARDNESS Mohs
TOUGHNESS
2.65-2.69
0.104
20.4%
9.25
excellent
3.21
2.42
0.044
17.2%
10
excellent *
3.52
1.77
0.018
7.4%
9
excellent **
4.00
1.77
0.018
7.4%
9
excellent **
4.00
1.58
0.014
4.8%
7.5
good to poor
2.72
* except good in cleavage direction ** except twinned stones
Size & Weight Comparison: Moissanite is slightly less dense than diamonds, it is better to refer to moissanite stones in terms of size. However, we understand that most people understand gemstones by carat rather than mm. Here is a chart:
3. Why Should I Buy Moissanite Instead of Other Gemstones?
1) Moissanite makes Luxury affordable. With over twice the sparkle of a diamond, more women today are choosing Moissanite jewelry for themselves because it is luxurious looking with an affordable price. Its unique origins and unmatched beauty makes it one of the fastest growing personal choice jewels available. Properly cut by master cutters, moissanite has incredible fire, brilliance and luster exceeding that of any known gemstone or other man-made material. These faceted jewels now offer you a variety of choices as they are available nearly colorless to very slightly tinted and are available in round, oval, marquise, pear shape, radiant cut octagon, heart shape, triangle, trillion, princess cut squares, and antique squares. With a fraction of the price compared to diamond, it gives fashionable women an ability to choose any size they desire.
2) Moissanite gives you more flexibility on your ring setting. Spending less on the stone means you can spend more on the setting. Since people notice the setting more than the stone itself, the lower cost of moissanite means you have far more options to make your ring unique while keeping within your budget. Side stones, crafted bands and bezel-set accents are all suddenly within your budget.
3) Engagement / wedding rings have sentimental value, not asset/investment value. Wedding rings do two things: (1) look pretty and (2) provide a symbol/memento of the event. Accordingly, you are best served by purchasing a high quality that meets these two criteria at the lowest possible cost. The cost/quality/durability attributes of moissanite make it much more attractive than diamonds for use in wedding rings.
4) All moissanite gems are near flawless. Since moissanite can be reliably made in a laboratory, it’s easy to do quality control. Instead of selling anything that comes out of the ground, flawed moissanite can be identified and discarded. This means the moissanite you buy will be a much better quality stone than a more expensive diamond.
5) Eco-friendly Moissanite is not mined. It is definitely eco-friendly.
6) Only your jeweler can tell the difference Moissanite is like a quality diamond, it is developed with identical physical, chemical and optical properties to those found in nature. It is hard to tell the difference by the naked eye. Only your jeweler can tell. Why not enjoy the beauty of moissanite with only a fraction of the price of a diamond?
7)Computer Modeling The cutting specifications for moissanite jewels are designed to maximize the brilliance and fire inherent in the material. To maximize the light reflecting from a faceted moissanite jewel requires the design of shapes with proportions and angles unlike any other jewel.
Using computer modeling, proprietary is created with designs to display the maximum light reflection based on the optical properties (i.e. fire, brilliance and luster) of moissanite jewels. A unique version of the round brilliant cut was the first shape developed applying these computer models. Recently new fancy shapes have been created that eliminate dark areas commonly found in other gemstones with these fancy cuts. We believe these proprietary designs enhance moissanite's physical properties for the superior optical performance observed in faceted moissanite jewels.
Round Brilliant
Baguette
Baguette, Tapered
Cushion
Heart
Marquise
Octagon
Oval
Pear
Princess
Radiant
Square Brilliant
Triangle
Trillion
8) Durability The durability of a gemstone is determined by its hardness, i.e., resistance to scratching, and its toughness, i.e., resistance to chipping or cleaving.
Moissanite created by Charles & Colvard, at 9.25 Mohs, is second in hardness only to diamond and incredibly tough. During the development of created moissanite jewels, extensive real-world wear tests were performed by women in a variety of professions, from bank teller to dog groomer to office worker. These wear tests confirmed that moissanite jewels out-perform most jewels in terms of durability.
9) Superior Heat Resistance Moissanite has heat resistance properties superior to many other jewels, offering the following distinct advantages for using moissanite in fine jewelry.
Moissanite jewels can be cast in place, allowing the jewelry designer to offer innovative, exact-fit designs.
Moissanite jewels are less likely to experience heat damage during jewelry repair operations.
Moissanite jewels can survive the extreme temperatures found in typical house fires.
The following pictures demonstrate the superior heat resistance of created moissanite jewels compared to diamond.
A moissanite jewel and a diamond are placed in a high temperature oven. The temperature in the oven is increased and a flow of oxygen is introduced.
As the oven reaches 1100° C, the diamond catches fire and begins to vaporize. At this point, the heat to the oven is turned off and the diamond will continue to burn until...
...the diamond has completely vaporized. The moissanite jewel remains intact and as brilliant as the day it was created.
10) Rarity Moissanite created by Charles & Colvard is by far the rarest jewel on earth.
Charles & Colvard, Ltd. uses a unique combination of art and science to turn these rare jewel-quality crystals into a very limited quantity of created moissanite jewels.
The chart below shows the number of carats of created moissanite produced in 1999 in comparison to the millions of carats of the other four precious jewels imported into the United States.
The intervening years have seen only slight modification in these ratios and today, Moissanite is by far still the rarest of all jewel quality gemstones available.
11) Warranty All Charles & Colvard created moissanite jewels come with the following 'Certificate of Authenticity and Limited Lifetime Warranty' card.
Moissanite is extremely hard, durable, and resistant to abrasion and chipping, like other jewelry, it is not indestructible. Care for your Moissanite jewelry just as you would any other fine jewelry, taking care not to wear rings or bracelets when doing rough work or sports. Moissanite can be safely cleaned the same way you would care for your other fine jewelry using a jewelry ultrasonic cleaner or a commercial (non-acid based) jewelry cleaner. Never use household chlorine solutions to clean jewelry. Chlorine is very strong and can pit or even dissolve alloy metals. TIP for the athletic types: Long-term submersion in chlorine treated swimming pools can also damage your jewelry.
1. What is Moissanite? Moissanite is chemically known as silicon carbide – is both exceptionally brilliant and amazingly unique. It was discovered in 1893, fifty thousand years ago, by Henry Moissan, Nobel-Prize winning scientist, in a meteor crashed into the Arizona desert creating what is now known as a "Meteor Crater." Fragments of this meteorite were scattered across the desert. Hidden in these fragments was a brilliant secret waiting to be discovered. However, the rarity of large natural Moissanite crystals prohibits their use in jewelry. Using an uncommon combination of art and science, moissanite is now available on earth! In 1995, jewelers realized that Moissanite would make an ideal gemstone, and the rest, as they say, is history. It’s such a good substitute for diamonds that many jewelers cannot easily tell the difference.
2 Is there any Certification for Moissanite? We have a limited warranty and certificate of authenticity from Charles & Colvard, the manufacturer.
3. Does your jewelry come from natural Moissanite? Naturally occurring moissanite is extremely rare and found only in microscopic crystals that are too small to use in jewelry. Our moissanite jewelry is created by Charles & Colvard, the sole producer of moissanite in the world. Charles & Colvard is a publicly listed company on NASDAQ [CTHR] each moissanite jewel is grown in the laboratory from a moissanite seed crystal. It takes months from start to finish growing a single jewel. Created diamonds are grown by a similar process.
4. The 3 C’s, Cut, Color and Clarity, that apply to diamond, are they the same as Moissanite? In some cases yes, and some no. The cutting for any given shape of moissanite is done in slightly different proportions than those for a diamond. Each Moissanite jewel is hand cut to specifications that maximize the appearance and beauty of Moissanite. This special hand-cut faceting gives each Moissanite jewel an unbelievable brilliance and fire. The color of Moissanite compares to diamonds of I-J color. The clarity of Moissanite is clean to the eye and can be generally compared to a VS1 diamond. It's very important to note, each Moissanite jewel is unique and no two are identical.
5. What is the Value or Benefit of Moissanite? It is private ownership and affordable luxury just like any other fine jewel.
6. Is Moissanite durable? The durability of a gemstone is determined by its hardness, i.e., resistance to scratching, and its toughness, i.e., resistance to chipping or cleaving.
Moissanite created by Charles & Colvard, at 9.25 Mohs, is second in hardness only to diamond, at 10 Mohs. Moissanite is incredibly tough. During the development of created moissanite jewels, extensive real-world wear tests were performed by women in a variety of professions, from bank teller to dog groomer to office worker. These wear tests confirmed that moissanite jewels out-perform most jewels in terms of durability.
7. Can I order Moissanite under my special request? ( like Size? Shape? Clarity? Color? Cut?) Yes, you can. But please be aware that the cutting for any given shape of moissanite is done in slightly different proportions than those for a diamond. Each Moissanite jewel is hand cut to specifications that maximize the appearance and beauty of Moissanite. This special hand-cut faceting gives each Moissanite jewel an unbelievable brilliance and fire. The color of Moissanite compares to diamonds of I-J color. The clarity of Moissanite is clean to the eye and can be generally compared to a VS1 diamond. It's very important to note, each Moissanite jewel is unique and no two are identical.
8. Can I request to set the Moissanite on your other collection? Absolutely.
SiliconCarbide: A compound mineral composed of silicon and carbon that occurs in nature only in extremely tiny, rare amounts.
Brilliance: The flashes of white light exiting jewelry or gemstone, typically seen by the eye as the white flashes leaving the crown and table area.
Fire: The dispersion of a jewel combined with the cutting design results in the "fire," or the breaking of light rays into the spectrum of colors and is measured by the amount of colored flashes viewed when the jewel is moved in various lighting conditions.
Luster : Luster is the amount of light that is reflected back to the observer from the surface of the jewel.
Rarity : Rarity is the availability or perceived availability of a jewel.
Mohs hardness: The Mohs scale of mineral hardness characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. It was created in 1812 by the German mineralogistFriedrich Mohs and is one of several definitions of hardness in materials science.
Special Gravity: Density of Minerals. Each kind of precious stone has its own density. That is, if pieces of different stones were taken all of the same size, the weights would differ, but like-sized pieces of one and the same material always have the same weight. It is the custom among scientists to compare the densities of substances with the density of water. The number which expresses the relation between the density of any substance and the density of water is called the specific gravity number of the substance. For example, if, size for size, a material, say diamond, is 3.51 times as heavy as water, its specific gravity is 3.51. It will be seen that since each substances always has, when pure, the same specific gravity, we have here a means of distinguishing precious stones. It is very seldom, if ever, the case that we find any two precious stones of the same specific gravity.
Chatham was named after Carroll Chatham who was intrigued by chemistry and created a lab in his father’s garage at the age of 12. In 1931, after many failures, he successfully grew his first Emerald by accident. In the following years after that, rubies, alexandrite, blue sapphire and orange sapphires, all came to fruitions in the hands of Carroll Chatham. Chatham gemstones are cultured just as many pearls natural components are placed in an environment created to duplicate nature's. Once the required combination of chemical and environmental factors is created, the crystals grow over the course of a year, the length of time depending on the gemstone. As a result, quality diamonds and gemstones are developed with identical physical, chemical, and optical properties to those found in nature.
Chatham gems are not imitation gemstones. The natural process of nature is recreated in the Chatham Research Labs. Chatham gemstones have the same optical and chemical properties of the natural gems and they are composed of the same natural elements. All emeralds have telltale inclusions locked in each stone. Only the trained eye of a gemologist can distinguish the subtle variations between a Chatham gemstones and one grown naturally in the earth. Unless you're a certified gemologist with a powerful microscope, you won't be able to tell the difference between created and mined gemstones. Every gemological laboratory in the world has reference samples of Chatham gemstones to aid in the separation. Why pay a fortune to buy something that you can pay less by far?
3. Why Buy Chatham Gems Instead of Other Gem Stones?
1) Chatham gems make luxury affordable Chatham gems gives you glamorous looking and yet unbelievably affordable. It is dream comes true to have Chatham as wonderful alternatives for your fashion.
2) Chatham gems are indistinguishable from precious gems to the Human eye Chatham stones boast top quality and color. Under advanced laboratory conditions the crystal growth is more predictable and consistent, yielding a superior end product.
Chatham strives to offer only best qualities and colors found in nature. Lower qualities are not released for sale.
3) Chatham gems are unique jewel with exceptional brilliance. Whether it’s the latest fashion trends in the finished jewelry of Chatham or the brilliance of Chatham loose stones, Chatham enthusiasts around the world agree: Chatham is Smart, Beautiful, Real.
4) Chatham gems are big, bold and sparkle. You can buy any size your heart desires. Finely designed and manufactured, Chatham is sure to give women fashionistas a big bang for their buck. Chatham gems delivers quality, beauty, and value like no other gemstone. Chatham gems’ price differences significantly between Chatham created and natural gemstones of like quality that are notable.
5) Certificate of Authenticity protect your investment Trust, integrity, and value are at the heart of Chatham’s products. For your peace of mind, Chatham provides a lifetime warranty with your Certificate of Authenticity. Chatham will gladly repair or replace your gemstone at no charge if it should hip or break under ordinary circumstances, or any defect in the workmanship or materials become apparent. (Exclude labor, normal wear and tear damage) If you question whether your damaged jewelry is covered under the warranty, return the damaged jewelry, along with the sales receipt when the item was purchased.
6) Chatham gems are eco-friendly and Chatham gems are conflict-free. For green-minded and budget savvy consumers, we're proud to offer you eco-friendly and conflict-free Chatham-created gems for your gorgeous custom ring. Choose from a variety of lab-grown synthetic gemstones including rubies, sapphires, emeralds, alexandrites and diamonds.
7) Chatham gems mirror the true essence of precious gemstones Only your jeweler can tell the difference. Chatham gems reflect the true essence of precious gemstones.
Chatham is hard, durable, and resistant to abrasion and chipping. Like other jewelry, it is not indestructible. Care for your Chatham jewelry just as you would any other fine jewelry, taking care not to wear rings or bracelets when doing rough work or sports. Chatham can be safely cleaned the same way you would care for your other fine jewelry using a jewelry ultrasonic cleaner or a commercial (non-acid based) jewelry cleaner. Never use household chlorine solutions to clean jewelry. Chlorine is very strong and can pit or even dissolve alloy metals. TIP for the athletic types: Long-term submersion in chlorine treated swimming pools can also damage your jewelry.
1. What is Chatham? Chatham was named after Carroll Chatham who was intrigued by chemistry and created a lab in his father’s garage at the age of 12. In 1931, after many failures, he successfully grew his first Emerald by accident. In the following years after that, rubies, alexandrite, blue sapphire and orange sapphires, all came to fruitions in the hands of Carroll Chatham. Chatham are gemstones that are cultured just as many pearls natural components are placed in an environment created to duplicate nature's. Once the required combination of chemical and environmental factors is created, the crystals grow over the course of a year, the length of time depending on the gemstone. As a result, quality diamonds and gemstones are developed with identical physical, chemical, and optical properties to those found in nature.
2. Is there any Certification or Warranty for Chatham? Chatham provides a lifetime warranty with your Certificate of Authenticity. Chatham will gladly repair or replace your gemstone at no charge if it should hip or break under ordinary circumstances, or any defect in the workmanship or materials become apparent. (Exclude labor; normal wear and tear damage) If you question whether your damaged jewelry is covered under the warranty, return the damaged jewelry, along with the sales receipt when the item was purchased.
3. Are Chatham gemstones real or imitation? Chatham gemstones are real. Chatham gemstones are cultured just as many pearls natural components are placed in an environment created to duplicate nature’s. Once the required combination of chemical and environmental factors is created, the length of time depending on the gemstone. As a result, quality diamonds and gemstones are developed with identical physical, chemical and optical properties to those found in nature.
4. Can I tell the difference between created gemstones and minded gemstones? Unless you are a certified gemologist with a powerful microscope, you won’t be able to tell the difference between created and minded gemstones. Every gemological laboratory in the world has reference samples of Chatham gemstones to aid in the separation. Chatham is at the forefront of full disclosure, contributing samples and updates whenever something new is released.
5. What is the Value or Benefit of Chatham? It is private ownership and affordable luxury just like any other fine jewel.
6. Why do Chatham gemstones and diamonds often look better than their mined counterparts? Under laboratory conditions, computers control temperatures, while foreign materials found in the earth are eliminated from Chatham starting chemicals. This makes Chatham’s crystal growth more predictable and consistent. Chatham strives for the best qualities and colors found in nature. Lower qualities are not released for sale.
7. Can I request to set the Chatham on your other collection? Absolutely.
8. Are there cost savings with Chatham Gemstones? Price differences between Chatham created and natural gemstones of like quality are significant.
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