HISTORY OF MOISSANITE

Born From a Star
TThis stunning jewel has an extraordinary history. Fifty thousand years ago a meteorite crashed into the Arizona desert creating what is now known as a "meteor crater." Fragments of this meteorite were scattered across the desert. Hidden in these fragments, was a brilliant secret waiting to be discovered.

Discovered on Earth
In 1893, Nobel-Prize winning scientist Henri Moissan began studying fragments of this meteorite from nearby Diablo Canyon. In these fragments Dr. Moissan discovered minute quantities of a shimmering new mineral, with fire and brilliance never before seen on earth. After extensive research, Dr. Moissan concluded that this mineral was made of silicon carbide. In 1905, this mineral was named moissanite, in his honor. It would be another century before scientists were able to replicate the naturally occurring development of this jewel.

From the Mind of a Scientist
In the late 1980's, inspired by Dr. Moissan's discovery, a North Carolina company named CREE developed a proprietary process for producing large single crystals of moissanite. In the summer of 1995, a master diamond cutter observed samples of moissanite and suggested that properly cut crystals would make a brilliant new jewel. Within days, scientists from CREE and Charles & Colvard began an extensive research project to bring the fire and brilliance of moissanite jewels to consumers. Using a revolutionary combination of art and science, moissanite was introduced in the summer of 1998 by Charles & Colvard. Today, women in over 60 countries now wear this brilliant new jewel. Welcome to a world made brighter by moissanite, now available on earth.