MOISSANITE - MYSTERIOUS GUEST FROM SPACE
When it comes to precious stones, the first and foremost rightly is the diamond. Exquisite products with this noble representative of the mineral kingdom have always been a symbol of luxury, wealth, influence and love. However, today another jewelry stone, moissanite, is gaining more and more popularity - the result of high-tech production and the development of scientific thought.
A little background
Moissanite is one of the rarest minerals in the world. On earth, it can only be found in kimberlite rock, igneous deposits of corundum or in some fallen meteorite that have not undergone changes and in very small quantities. In space, vice versa, this mineral is widely spreaded, it is especially abundant in dust clouds around carbon-rich stars.
Moissanite got its name in honor of the French chemist, Nobel laureate Henri Moissan(1852–1907). The scientist discovered it in 1893 during the study of rocks, found at the site of a meteorite fall in the Arizona desert (Canyon Diablo, Arizona, USA). At first, a previously unknown mineral was mistaken for a diamond, they looked so much alike. And only in 1904 it became possible to conduct an accurate laboratory analysis and determine the composition including silicon carbide crystals (SiC).
Moissanite production
Due to the great rarity of natural moissanite, crystals obtained industrially are used in jewelry production. For the first time the mineral formula was painted by the American chemist Edward Acheson back in 1893. He synthesized powdered silicon carbide (SiC) - carborundum and organized the production of moissanite through the invention of a special furnace. Modern technologies allow to "grow" crystals in laboratories under conditions as close as possible to natural.
The process of creating moissanite does not stand still and now there is the possibility of obtaining not only transparent white but also a wide range of colored minerals. For example red, green, blue, gray, black, yellow, cognac and ever pink as well as their various shades. From pale to rich.
For today several large factories in America, China and India are engaged in the production of moissanite. Crystals are carefully checked for compliance with quality standards and only then fall into the hands of jewelers.
Properties and benefits of Moissanite
At first sight it is almost impossible to distinguish moissanite from diamond. At the same time it is a self-sufficient jewelry stone with a unique appearance and properties.
- Moissanite has a higher refractive index than diamond (2.65 and 2.42 accordingly), with its brilliance and radiance it outperform it by 25%.
- Moissanite has a higher dispersion- 0,104 against 0,044 which means that its iridescent overflows even in poor lighting will be much brighter..
- The density of moissanite is less than a diamond, therefore their masses will differ with the same diameter of the stones which allows the use of larger stones in a piece of jewelry.
- The rival of the diamond surpassed it in terms of resistance to temperature withstanding performance in 1500-2000 degrees Celsius which gives additional advantages and opportunities to specialists when working with stone, e.g. in case of product restoration.
- Moissanite has exceptional resistance to abrasion and is only slightly inferior to diamond in this parameter.
- The hardness of moissanite (9.25) on the Mohs scale is almost equal to the hardness of diamond (10.0). This property allows products to maintain their flawless appearance and aesthetic appeal for many years, and also significantly increases the design possibilities for jewelers. Moissanite is cut both in classical forms and experimented with new types of stone processing. The high hardness of moissanite allows you to make precise geometry, perfectly polished surfaces, clear edges and angles that reveal the beauty of the mineral.
- In order to get a quality diamond with the desired characteristics, you need luck and huge funds to process hundreds of tons of rock, and the result is not guaranteed. Thanks to modern technologies, it is possible to create moissanites with initially set parameters: color, transparency and size.
- Jewelry with moissanite is practically not subject to fatty contamination and is easy to care for. They can be worn every day or put on on the occasion of significant and festive events, as well as not to part with them on long journeys.
- Possessing a cool sheen, quality colorless moissanite looks great in settings made of white gold or platinum. Less often it is set in silver and yellow gold. Colored moissanites do not limit the imagination of the master or the buyer in choosing a frame.
- But perhaps the most important advantage is the price. The cost of moissanite is several times less than that of a diamond. Many jewelry designers have unrealized projects in their archives, as they often focus on their budget. The 21st century is the time of new opportunities and the realization of the most daring creative ideas!
Many ideas and projects can be realized because moissanite has appeared, which is not inferior to the beauty and quality of a diamond. The cost of jewelry even with small-sized diamonds is high, but the affordability of moissanite makes it possible to create entire collections of jewelry for work, parties and a wide variety of occasions. Now every woman can become the owner of luxurious, truly royal jewelry!
And some astrology
Such an amazing stone was not attention by astrologers and esotericists. According to mystics, the fact that moissanite is grown in a laboratory does not diminish its impact, as it exactly reproduces the structure of its cosmic original.
Moissanite gives and enhances emotional stability to its owner. Gives a sense of security and helps to cope with anxiety. It helps to feel the strength of the spirit and faith in oneself. It fully reveals the potential of the person wearing this stone.
Moissanite helps to focus on the goal, thereby helping to achieve high results in business. It also has a positive effect on memory and thinking.,promotes clarity and order in the mind.
Wearing moissanite is possible and useful for all people, regardless of the sign of the zodiac. But astrologers especially recommend moissanite to representatives of the elements of Fire and Air.