Moissanite is a rare mineral that occurs naturally on Earth only in minute quantities and only in places where meteorites have fallen. People first noticed it about a hundred years ago, when scientist Henri Moissan investigated a fallen meteorite in South America.
Muassanite, or rather its smallest particles, were first found in the meteorite debris. The stone was named in honor of its discoverer, who at the beginning of the XX century attracted the attention of scientists to space crystals. Henri Moissan announced that these are not just meteorite fragments, but new precious stones! For the discovery of the mineral, the scientist was awarded the Nobel Prize.
Although similar in appearance to a diamond, the composition of these stones is different:
diamond consists only of carbon atoms (C), while moissanite is formed where silicon is mixed with carbon (Si + C)
Diamond burns completely at 800C°, while the melting point of moissanite is 2400C°.
For the atoms of these two nonmetals to line up in a slender row of the crystal lattice, you need high temperature and pressure, which are physically impossible on our planet.
Therefore, muassanite is formed in abundance only in areas of intense energy release – where there are large-scale cosmic catastrophes.
The brightest stone in the world
In its pure form, these meteorite stones are so rare that there are only a few handfuls of natural moissanite on Earth. Nevertheless, this stone turned out to be so attractive, spectacular and superior in its parameters to a diamond that in the twentieth century the world’s first moissanite was created.
Studies of the crystal’s optical properties yielded astonishing results:
The light refractive index of moissanite is a quarter higher than that of diamond.
The dispersion (the ability to produce flashes of color deep within the stone) is two and a half times that of a diamond!
This stone shines stronger and more expressively than even perfectly cut diamonds.
The only reason it is not very famous is because most gemstones (sapphires, emeralds, diamonds) have been known to mankind for a long time, while the first moissanite was created only at the end of the XX century.
Comparative characteristics of Moissanite and Brilliante
Dispersion |
Refractive index |
Shine |
Mohs hardness |
Density |
|
Moissanite |
0.104 | 2.65-2.69 | 20.4% | 9.25-9.5 | 3.21 |
Diamond |
0.044 | 2.42 | 17.2% | 10 | 3.52 |
Ruby |
0.018 | 1.77 | 7.4% | 9 | 4 |
Sapphire |
0.018 | 1.77 | 7.4% | 9 | 4 |
Emerald |
0.014 | 1.58 | 4.8% | 7.50 | 2.72 |
Ecological and conflict-free to nature
Moissanite is a friend of nature and this is its great advantage. The cultivation of Muassanite does not destroy the subsoil and resources of our planet. Its production is eco-friendly and friendly to nature!
We used to think that the most beautiful gemstone is a diamond. You will be surprised, but in fact the most beautiful and brightest stone in the world is Moissanite. In terms of brightness, brilliance and radiance it exceeds the parameters of a diamond several times. It is a new stone in the jewelry space, but the demand in the U.S. and Europe for several years has already reached the highest marks and has become a real trend.
Connoisseurs of precious stones treat the moissanite with great attention and warmth and consider it the crown of creation among precious stones. It is present in the collections of jewelry aficionados, because its beauty and characteristics are admirable.
Muassanite refracts light so strongly that it is almost two and a half times more beautiful than any diamond.
And its hardness is equal to diamond hardness and is the highest among other stones.
These qualities allowed the space stone to so quickly become the center of attention of the entire jewelry world. If you want to buy quality gold jewelry with moussanite, our online store is at your service.
