I don't know anyone who has seen moissanite. However, after reading your entry, I searched the Orchid archives, and surprisingly, it hasn't even entered a discussion there. I could ask if you like. I did find that the actual natural origins of moissanite derive from a meteor crater, Diablo Canyon, right here in Arizona. Otherwise, it looks like what is sold is lab-created.

Miachelle - That would cool if you could post something over there. Thanks for checking on that.

I've looked at moissonites on many occasions. You can look at them online at http://www.landaujewelry.com/.
I've bought many piece from this company but never a moissonite. Firstly, the designs are very conservative. I don't know if this is the case at all outlets selling this faux diamond but it is at Landau. I prefer more contemporary designs. Second, is the cost. If I'm going to purchase a piece of jewelry that I KNOW is a simulated gemstone I don't want to pay "diamond-like" prices for it. For instance the regular retail price for a 7.5 carat moissonite 14K white gold bracelet is $9,890.00. You can purchase a cubic zirconia bracelet for under a thousand dollars. I don't know about anywhere else but yes, I've had to return a cubic zirconia piece to Landau (usually because I stepped on it or a clasp broke) and have taken it back years later and was handed a new piece right then and there or had it repaired no questions asked. I can't tell a diamond from a cubic zirconia from a moissonite. I also have plenty of fine jewelry and no one knows when I slip in a cz or two. For the price, I just can justify the price of the moissonites. If I'm going to pay that much, I'd just as soon purchase the real thing. If not, I could buy 3 or 4 really cool cz pieces in stead. Just my two cents! Thanks for an interesting blog!

This from the Landau website on the origins of the Moissonite: "It was 1893 when Dr. Henri Moissan, a Nobel Prize winning scientist, discovered brilliant, diamond-like particles in a meteor that rivaled the most beautiful diamonds the world had ever seen. In his honor, in 1905 this jewel was named Moissanite (Moy-san ite).

Moissanite is so rare in nature, that it would be almost impossible to make even a single pair of stud earrings! Through a stunning fusion of technology and nature, this rare and beautiful jewel is now available to you." This blog is about JEWELRY and not about gemstones vs crystal vs beading, etc. I formed my own opinions regarding Moissonites long ago and it seems that while awareness in the stone may be going up, investors may be thinking along the same lines I do. For the price, I can't justify the product. I'd rather buy a diamond or several nice cz pieces set in gold. Whether gem or crystal, it's all jewelry.

Tammy, my answer is gyp. To my eye the doubly refractive moissanite is a less realistic diamond simulant than cubics and at a significantly heftier price tag.

Jewellery retailers offer all kinds of merchandise I wouldn't buy (witness all the I1-3 clarity diamonds selling at malls). Moissanite falls into that category.

Hmmm. I'm watching this train of with some interest. To the Barbers, I would offer that perhaps if you had initiated your discussion with a presentation of information instead of personal attacks, you might not have received the response that you did. Even if Tammy's information is incorrect, for whatever reason, you chose to color your responses, however factual, with your own biases. In rhetoric, that demeans your ethos just as much as your stated claim of Tammy's "yellow journalism." For the record, the creation of gemstones is a heated debate in the jewelry community-some are staunchly for it, and some are for it. I think it's ok if we agree to disagree on these things. Beauty is in fact in the eye of the beholder. And, Tammy does make a valid point, one that many jewelry designers discuss when it comes to created gemstones: as long as the seller makes the buyer aware, there is no harm done. For Tammy, I've posted the question on the Orchid Forum. I also have confidence from your previous response that you have done some research and will post your information at some point in the near the future.

Ms. Powley, please do not worry about the comments you have made. Wilson has a very biased financial interest. He lost all his money on the stock and is pumping the product in hopes of recovery. The world has seen what a scam this product is. It is the most expensive simulated diamond in the world today. The patents are not even for the development of moissanite, but a simulated diamond jewel. The product is synthetic silicon carbide and nothing more. Nobody has ever had any "real" moissanite to copy in the lab. The jewel Charles & Colvard sells is a fake diamond substitute. It is tinted green and can chip quite easily by the consumer. It's nothing more than the pet rock of the jewelry industry and the interest is fading just as fast. There is nothing extraordinary anout this product except the price, it's EXPENSIVE!

Here's some interesting reading for more on Moisssanite, Charles & Colvard, Wilson Barber, etc.
http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Stocks_%28A_to_Z%29/Stocks_C/message
sview?bn=4641

And this is probably the best information yet on Moissanites and why they will not do well in the long run. Very interesting! http://orgs.comm.virginia.edu/mii/website/MII_Literature/Memo/CTHR_CLE
FEUVRE.pdf

Hmm! It looks awesome. I never saw anyone wearing moissanite around me; but it appears to be quite beautiful and gorgeous.

I found a site blog Moissanite Perspectives has some very interesting counter arguments.

http://wbmoissanite.blogspot.com

Here is another interesting blog, seems factual;

http://moissanitefacts.blogspot.com/

I purchased a Moissanite solitaire and pendant for my wife last year from http://www.moissaniteco.com
and she absolutely loves them.

After doing some research on the subject, I've realized that many of the posts here are not factually correct. Moissanite does not chip easy, in fact, it is hard than a cz, sapphire, virtually every other gemstone available other than a diamond.

I have noticed that Moissanite does have a slight tint in some lighting (i.e. cloudy days) but looks very white on sunny days or in well lit rooms.

But the most fascinating thing about Moissanite is the brilliance which is more than double that of a genuine diamond.

Comparing Moissanite to a cz, cz's do have a white color. However, cz's are softer and are notorious for losing their color brilliance after a few months, maybe a year or two if you take good care of them. They are like disposable jewels. My wife's Moissanite jewelry is just as pretty as the day we bought it. It comes with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer to never lose its color or brilliance.

In summary, don't dismiss Moissanite so quickly as an expensive, tinted diamond simulant without seeing it first hand and undestanding what it is (and what it isn't).

But is it really worth the price paid? This is the real question and it is not as marketed. They are getting better, but not quite there yet. The whiter the gemstone, the better, whether diamond or the Russian gemstones. Most everything counter stated is true, but they don't want you to know it!

Naturally occurring moissanite is found only in minute quantities in certain types of meteorite and in corundum deposits and kimberlite. Virtually all of the silicon carbide sold in the world, including moissanite jewels, is synthetic. Natural moissanite was first found in 1893 as a small component of the Canyon Diablo meteorite in Arizona by Dr. Ferdinand Henri Moissan, after whom the material was named in 1905. Moissan's discovery of naturally occurring SiC was initially disputed because his sample may have been contaminated by silicon carbide saw blades that were already on the market at that time.

I have gotten a 1 carat Moissanite ring as my engagement ring, with a super modern Gelin Abaci white gold tension setting. After giving up finding anything pretty enough in my price range (all "real" diamonds looked tainted, yellowish, greenish, whatever) , I started looking around. I will never forget when we opened the box and looked inside! This one carat stone is the most beautiful I have ever seen, kills all others bar none, and there is absolutely no green tint whatsoever (it's very, very "white".) I love my ring, I love moissanite and I love that its origins are a meteor, and not a blood bath in Africa.

I would rather pay $900 for a 2.0 carat diamond simulant ring with high brilliance and fire than the upward of $15,000 for a similar diamond. Actually, I've done some research and a "really good cut of CZ" (aka Diamond Nexus labs) is more expensive than moissanite - same thing with the Russian diamonds. That 2 ct ring Moissanite ring - $895. A Russian diamond or Diamond Nexus - 2 ct ring is $2,000 or more. Hmmmm...

My engagement ring is also a 1 ct. Moissanite with 1/3 ct worth of stones on the sides. It is by far the most beautiful & brilliant ring my fiance' & I looked at while engagement ring shopping. We looked for weeks at diamonds from boutiques & chain jewelers alike & found nothing that either of us liked. I had finally decided on choosing a colored stone when we happened to stumble across Moissanite. It was about 1/3 the cost of a comparable diamond & much more beautiful. I get many more compliments on my ring, then my friends who have diamond engagement rings! We also have it insured & it has a lifetime guarantee for brilliance, as well. Politically friendly, it is also a good choice as it is not associated with the violence in Africa (Good point, Angela!).

My fiance bought me a moissanite engagement ring and it's gorgeous! I love it. In the sunlight it can look very slightly green, hardly noticable. The size of the rock is much larger for the price than we would have been able to purchase for a real diamond. Another positive is that we know where this stone came from, no blood diamonds or blood moissanite. I am very happy with this ring and would recommend moissanite to anyone.

Moissanite is beautiful and fiery, yes; but it's not an investment type gem as a real diamond would be, and the double refractive property tends to make it look fake, depending on the size of the stone. If you want cute and showy, go moissanite; if you're make an investment, get a diamond.

I love Moissanites. My girlfriend turned me on to a site http://www.MoissaniteFineJewelry.com
and I was blown away! They were very helpful and patient with all of our questions. We know we did the right thing by buying Moissanites (in more ways than one) and not a diamond. Call it the benefit of good karma, but we're totally happy with our decision and with our purchase. Go Moissanites!

i always find it funny when people refer to diamonds as "investments". How many people know anyone who has sold a diamond for MORE than its' original purchase price? an expectation for profit is what makes an investment.

I have done a lot of research on Moissanite and looked at my fair share of them before finally making the decision to buy my wife's jewelry as moissanite rather than CZ. Both Nexus and Russian brilliants are scams, as I discovered that they buy their cz from the same place as everyone else... there is nothing different about their CZ at all.

My wife gets compliments all the time on her ring. Even jewelers think that it is a real (and very expensive) diamond. We found a great deal on it and found a coupon code online that allowed us to save 15% off of a price that already was almost half of what I found in the stores! I have given the code out to friends, and it is still good until Jan 09. Just enter it at checkout and the discount will be applied. it is: savebig

use it at:

http://www.moissanite-collection.com/



Here is the ring I bought my wife.

http://www.moissanite-collection.com/detail.cfm?mid=798&series=2957R&s
tone_ctw=1.350&cat=&subcat=rings&sh=detail


I noticed several posts about moissanite styles not being very contemporary... These guys have some great styles that are very modern. anyhow, hope you all enjoy!



jamie

I have never seen such a fabulous selection of Moissanite Jewelry at www.MoissaniteFineJewelry.com. I ordered a ring and couldn't believe my eyes. It was fabulous. I was a little worried about buying online, but I would recommend them to everybody. Moissanites are prettier than diamonds. Wow, what compliments I receive. I like to share good news.
I told my husband that when ever he want to buy me something, buy me Moissanites.

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Is Moissanite a good investment? No! Anything created in a lab will one day be produced better and cheaper.

Is M a good diamond simulant? Not as good as cz.

That said, M is my favorite stone.

YOu can go to most JC Penny stores and see moissanite in person. I think they are very beautiful. I have talked to many jewelers about them and most agree that compared to the quality of diamonds offerd in local "mall jewelery" stores...moissanite stones are actually prettier.I agree. They are not a diamond of corse and will not increase in value...but I'd rather have a nice moissanite stone over a crappy included diamond any day.Most people are not buying investment diamonds anyway (which you can't buy at the mall)...if you want something unique and "real" then I would suggest looking into antique jewelery...or if you have an issue with the whole morals of buying a diamond ..then I would definitely get a moissanite.

.ps...any jeweler who can't tell the difference between a moissanite and a diamond is either lying to you or is a total idiot...it is quite easy to see the difference..