To explore the question: “Where does moissanite come from?” let us take a look at its history. The history of moissanite is one of the most inspiring sagas that can be told in billions of years and across the whole universe, starting in the cores of stars where the heat and pressure gave birth to the base components that would one day form this gemstone.

When these stars evolved to the point that they could no longer sustain fusion, they went out in a spectacular supernova, throwing the elements they were composed of into space, where they would eventually coalesce into new stars and planets and, among other things, the meteorites that would one day come to Earth carrying within them the mineral that would one day be known as moissanite.

Discovery of Moissanite by Henri Moissan

It was not until 1893 that a talented French scientist Henri Moissan got small crystals by examining the rock samples from a meteor crater in Canyon Diablo in Arizona and at first thought that they were diamonds, but when looked closely, showed something completely different and much more fascinating. This great finding that would be known as silicon carbide and named ‘Moissanite’ after its discoverer opened a new era in the scientific research on space materials and the possibilities of producing gemstones in laboratories.

Tracing Moissanite's Cosmic Footprints

When discussing the question: “Where does moissanite come from?”, Moissanite’s cosmic link does not end with the meteorite from which it was first isolated since this gemstone has been identified in other celestial bodies such as interstellar dust clouds, stellar spectra, and even in comet samples, which only serves to strengthen moissanite’s place as one of the celestial gemstones. Due to the scarcity of natural moissanite on the planet, while it is relatively more common in space, scientists have hypothesized that it might be used in the formation of planetary systems and that it can be evidence of extreme conditions in space, thus making it interesting to both gemologists and astronomers.

The Earthly Search for Natural Moissanite

Although moissanite is known to originate from space, however as the quest continues about: “Where does moissanite come from?”, the attempts to find natural moissanite on Earth have been rather fruitless and it has only been discovered in small quantities in certain geological deposits including kimberlite pipes which are pipes of volcanic rock that bring diamonds to the surface, lamproites which are ultra-potassic volcanic rocks, and ophiolites which are slices of the Earth’s oceanic crust which have been exposed on land. Because Moissanite is extremely rare on Earth and most of the natural crystals are very small, it is very difficult to use them for jewellery, which is why there is a demand for lab-created Moissanite.

The Birth of Modern Moissanite: A Technological Wonder

The cosmic curiosity which later on became a desirable gemstone received a breakthrough in mid mid-20th century when scientists in the Union Carbide Corporation were able to synthesize moissanite and this led to further innovation in laboratory-grown crystals. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that scientists based in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina managed to create large and high-quality moissanite crystals that were suitable for use in jewellery which sparked the start of a new age in the field of fine jewelry and offered people an environmentally friendly option to the traditional diamond engagement rings and other precious gemstones.

Science Behind Moissanite Creation

This is a clear indication of the human spirit and advancement in technology with intricate techniques used to synthesize the precious moissanite under the earth’s crust or any other similar condition. The most frequently used one is the thermal decomposition process that involves heating silicon dioxide and carbon to temperatures of about 2500°C to produce silicon and carbon monoxide vapour which is then cooled and made to deposit on a seed crystal. This process takes several weeks to several months to produce high-quality moissanite crystals which are chemically and physically the same as the natural ones but with the advantage of standard quality and no mining issues.

Moissanite vs. Diamonds: Understanding Differences

Although moissanite is considered similar to diamonds in terms of look and resistance, some differences define the two gemstones, for instance, moissanite has a higher refractive index as compared to a diamond of the same size thus offering more fire and brilliance. Additionally, moissanite ranks 9.25 on the Mohs scale of hardness, only next to diamond which has a perfect score of 10, thus suitable for rings and other jewellery that are likely to encounter an ordinary amount of impact or friction. In addition, the artificial nature of moissanite has its perks regarding the concerns of the sources of minerals used in the making of the gemstone and the negative impact on the environment that can be caused by conventional diamond mining.

The New Generation of the World of Fine Jewelry

As the population becomes increasingly knowledgeable about the special characteristics of moissanite and its environmental friendliness, the gemstone is increasingly being used as a substitute for diamonds in engagement rings, wedding bands, and other types of jewellery. Moissanite with its high brilliance, high durability, and affordable prices has become one of the most sought-after gemstones in the market, especially by consumers who are aware of the need to get value for their money while at the same time ensuring that they are not contributing to the purchase of conflict diamonds.

For those who are seeking high-quality moissanite jewellery that will reveal all the possibilities of this gemstone, Panpanxi offers a diverse choice of lab-created, ethically sourced moissanite jewellery carefully made and checked for quality and comfort, so that every client can enjoy the cosmic beauty of moissanite in a tastefully designed setting that enhances the stone’s fire and brilliance.