Moissanite - Gem or Gyp?
Filed in archive Jewelry News by tammy on December 23, 2006

Moissanite, also known by its chemical name, silicon carbide
(SiC), is a naturally occurring mineral found in very limited quantities or as minute particles in the earth. The rarity of natural moissanite crystals large enough for jewelry prohibits their use.For years, scientists tried to re-create this extraordinarily brilliant material. Only recently, through the power of advanced technology, Charles & Colvard developed a way to produce in a laboratory, large gem-quality crystals which can be faceted into near-colorless jewels with incomparable fire and brilliance. Charles & Colvard created Moissanite™ is truly a unique and beautiful blend of art and science.
I'd love to know if any of my readers have seen this in person. From the images (which I've included a few below) it looks pretty much like a diamond, but I have to wonder how much sparkle it has in person.


This holiday season should be a happy time for Charles & Colvard, the maker of moissanite gems.
After fighting for recognition for nearly a decade, moissanite finally appears to be getting the acceptance of mainstream jewelers. The manmade jewels are lining the cases of major retailers including J.C. Penney, Kohl's, Helzberg Diamonds and Zales.
Customers are piling into trunk shows across the country. And consumer awareness, although only about 8 percent, has steadily increased, said Bob Thomas, president and chief executive of Charles & Colvard.
"We feel very good about what's happening at the consumer level," Thomas said.
The investor level is a different matter.
In the past year, even as moissanite distribution has increased throughout the jewelry industry, its stock has been steadily declining. Shares dropped nearly 70 percent since December 2005 and fell 20 cents Monday to close at $8.12.
What gives?
Thomas thinks investors probably got too excited about sales growth in 2005, when the company was enjoying 100 percent quarterly growth.
"The stock got ahead of the company a little bit," Thomas said Friday during a telephone interview. "In my opinion, it's not possible to sustain that growth."
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