For years, jewelers have struggled to find a truly exceptional diamond substitute to offer their customers. Diamonds are the rarest, most expensive jewels on earth. Because of its popularity as the wedding or engagement jewel, many people covet the prestige of diamonds. However, most people do not have the money to immediately purchase a diamond. As a result, people have turned to diamond substitutes like cubic zirconia. These substitutes fall short of the brilliance of diamonds. Fortunately, a new diamond substitute is available. It is called moissanite and it resembles a diamond so closely that even jewelers have a hard time distinguishing the two.

In 1893, Dr. Henri Moissan discovered meteor particles in the Arizona desert. He examined these particles and found miniscule pieces of a sparkling, shiny substance. After further study, he realized that this substance was silicon carbide. It was later named moissanite in his honor. It is also referred to as stardust, because it was originally found in meteor fragments.

By 1980, a materials manufacturer known as Cree was able to replicate this substance in a scientific laboratory. Jewelers and scientist collaborated to realize the value of moissanite jewelry. The company Charles & Covard became the premier vendors of moissanite jewelry and began the first national advertising campaign in 1988.

Though moissanite jewelry is synthetic, it is extremely desirable because of its uncanny resemblance to diamond jewelry. In fact, it encompasses the same characteristics of diamonds only to a slightly lesser degree. Diamonds are the hardest mineral substances on the earth. Moissanite is the second hardest mineral and the third hardest of all substances known to man. Because of this, moissanite jewelry is extremely sturdy and is meant to last a lifetime. Another feature that makes moissanite jewelry so attractive is its radiant dispersion of light. This is known as a jewel’s fire. Moissanite is celebrated for its intense fire and for its luster. Many jewelers argue that natural diamonds often do not possess the fire and sparkle of moissanite jewelry.

The only aesthetic difference between moissanite jewelry and diamonds is the color. Diamonds are esteemed for being colorless or clear. Moissanite jewelry has a slightly darker tint. This discrepancy is so small that distinguishing between diamonds and moissanite is only possible when comparing loose jewels. If the two jewels are placed in the same jewelry setting, then it is almost impossible to tell the difference. In identical ring bands – one with moissanite and the other with diamonds, the average consumer will not know the difference.

Because moissanite jewelry is synthetic, the price is much less expensive than diamonds. Diamonds only occur in nature and take millions of years to form. In addition to this, diamonds are fairly rare jewels. The ones with few to no flaws are even rarer. These two facts alone make diamonds extremely expensive gems. Moissanite jewelry is quite the opposite. It is synthetic and therefore, produced in a laboratory. It can be made in a short period of time. And, it hardly ever contains visible flaws. This makes moissanite jewelry much more affordable. In fact, it is approximately one-tenth the cost of diamonds. Just because moissanite jewelry is less expensive, does not mean it is a less desirable jewel. Only fine jewelry shops that are certified by Charles & Covard are allowed to sell moissanite. It is the premier diamond substitute.