收藏: Moissanite Jewelry

What exactly is moissanite? Is it a laboratory-grown diamond substitute? Not at all. 

Moissanite is naturally occurring silicon carbide and its various crystalline polymorphs. It has the chemical formula SiC and is a rare mineral, discovered by the French chemist Henri Moissan in 1893. 

Moissanite is the name given to a naturally occurring and laboratory-grown mineral made up of silicon carbide. Its occurrence in nature is extremely rare and has only been found in upper mantle rock and meteorites. Discoveries have shown moissanite occurs naturally as inclusions in diamonds, xenoliths, kimberlite, and lamproite.

Discovered over 120 years ago, moissanite gems have come so far from being just silicon carbide. Today, because of its rarity, moissanite is lab grown with minimal environmental impact. Due to its durability, moissanite can be found in a variety of cuts, which give jewelry designers a plethora of options for moissanite engagement rings and other jewelry settings.