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Moissanite: The Rarest Natural Gemstone on Earth
Posted by GuestPoster in Men's and Women's Fashion
Moissanite jewelry is very commonplace, as an inexpensive alternative to lab created diamonds. But beware of dealers and websites that advertise “natural” Moissanite, because this particular crystal does not exist on our planet. Moissanite is in fact one of the the rarest natural gemstones that the world has ever known!
Moissanite can only be found in meteors. It does not exist in nature on Earth; not even in the Earth’s mantle or any other normal diamond-forming strata or environment. Moissanite is a compound crystal, constructed of covalent-bonded Silicon and Carbon, one of the rarest combinations in nature.
Moissanite is only found in 5 percent of chrondrite meteorites, and even then the amounts are so small that practical jewelry applications are nonexistent. Websites that advertise Moissanite jewelry are referring to Moissanite created in a laboratory. However, this in no way detracts from the beauty and refractory characteristics of the crystal.
Just because it is a lab jewel does not make this any less beautiful or desirable. As a gemstone, it has the same double-refractory characteristics as a diamond, and corresponding hardness (9.5). The color scale is on par with the I, J, K scale for a diamond. It has a wonderful shine and sparkle, and can be cut along the same fractures as a diamond due to its crystalline structure.
Moissanite jewelry is in demand as an upgrade on the cubic zirconium. While both stones mimic diamonds in clarity and color, the Moissanite is definitely the better quality stone for brightness, color, and durability. Moissanite lab stones are a fine addition to any gold or platinum jewelry, and make fantastic earrings and rings for semiformal events and casual occasions. If you ever look up at the night sky, however, and see a long flash of a meteor land nearby, make sure you get to it first. Maybe you can find some natural Moissanite after all!
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