Moissanite Gemstone is a Perfect Bargain Diamond

For over twenty-five years, cubic zirconia has been the go-to gemstone for those seeking a brilliant, inexpensive simulated diamond. Now moissanite, an artificial diamond so similar they literally can't be told apart by many jewelers, puts cubic zirconia to shame. If you're looking for a necklace, earrings, or even an engagement ring with the beauty of a diamond but that'll do less damage to your budget, look no further than moissanite.

History of Moissanite
Moissanite was first discovered in 1893 by Nobel Prize-winning chemist Henri Moissan in a meteor crater in Diablo Canyon, Arizona - and was mistaken for small diamond crystals. The rare mineral, called silicon carbide and later named after Moissan, was also found in other meteor sites.

In the late 1950's, moissanite was discovered for the first time in something other than a meteor impact site, in a diamond mine in Yakutia, Russia. It is found as small, natural inclusions in diamonds and other stones.

The mineral was still much too rare to be used for jewelry until 1995, when large, single moissanite crystals began to be synthesized by North Carolina company Cree Research. The gemstone hit jewelry markets in the late 1990's.

What is Moissanite?
Moissanite is the common name of a rare mineral, silicon carbide. Its clarity, hardness, and sparkle make it the best diamond replica known to exist.

The moissanite found in pendants, rings, and other jewelry is a synthetic, man made gemstone with amazing clarity, sparkle and hardness. Moissanite is nearly colorless and it is almost indistinguishable from real diamonds – making rhinestones, glass and even cubic zirconia look like the poor fakes they are. Nothing compares to a diamond… except for a moissanite.

Moissanite Engagement Rings and Other Jewelry
Moissanite is very popular in engagement rings, as well as wedding bands, necklaces, pendants, earrings, bracelets, and any other types of jewelry where diamonds might be found… at roughly a tenth of the cost of a diamond the same size.

With an appearance that literally cannot be told apart from real diamonds, moissanite is often used in settings where a real diamond might be at risk of damage or loss, such as an engagement ring that will be worn every day or a pendant on a less-than-secure chain.

Moissanite stones can also be use to create convincing replicas of real diamond jewelry that can be worn without worry, while the costly original stays at home in the safe.



Read more: "Moissanite Gemstone is a Perfect Bargain Diamond: Simulated Diamond So Realistic, It Can Fool Expert Jewelers" - http://gemstones.suite101.com/article.cfm/moissanite_gemstone_is_a_perfect_bargain_diamond#ixzz0A6wIsLTv

Further Reading:
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