Moissanite

[kristin]

Moissanite
Moissanite can be used as an imitation diamond. It is the name given to gem-like silicon carbide.

Discovery
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 new mineral, 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.
Despite this discovery, since naturally occurring quantities of moissanite are so minute, it would be another century before this mineral would emerge as the jewel it is today.

[kristin]

Gem Moissanite
Charles and Colvard introduced created gem quality moissanite into the commercial market the summer of 1998, where it created some confusion and excitement because although it is quite easy to differentiate from diamond, many jewellers used to rely on thermal conductivity probes to distinguish diamond from imitations, and as moissanite had a high coefficient of thermal conductivity, it used to give false positives for diamond. Other simple optical checks, such as noticing its strong birefringence (double refraction) are an easy way to distinguish it.