In visiting some other websites, a discussion has arisen over the
existence of any natural moissanite in jewelry. In the discussion, it
was established that most of what is sold is of course lab-created
moissanite. But, moissanite allegedly was discovered from the Diablo
Canyon meteor crater here in AZ.
Has anyone on the forum ever seen or worked with natural moissanite?
Does it really exist other than what is made in the laboratory for
jewelry purposes?
Thanks ahead,
Miachelle
In visiting some other websites, a discussion has arisen over the
existence of any natural moissanite in jewelry. In the discussion, it
was established that most of what is sold is of course lab-created
moissanite. But, moissanite allegedly was discovered from the Diablo
Canyon meteor crater here in AZ.
Has anyone on the forum ever seen or worked with natural moissanite?
Does it really exist other than what is made in the laboratory for
jewelry purposes?
Thanks ahead,
Miachelle
Natural Moissanite occurs in tiny microscopic crystals ONLY, so
there isn’t anything large enough to “work with”. I believe it has
only ben found in meteorites of a specific type or in a meteoritic
impact zone.
Even the lab grown material (which is silicon carbide) is tightly
controlled and NO rough is available to cutters or anyone else. All
products are produced and sold finished, whether for the jewlery
industry or as heat sinks in computer products.
There ARE a couple of overseas sources of material large enough to
cut, but the material has a greenish, brownish or yellowish cast, not
very attractive.
Why anyone uses this as a diamond simulant is beyond me. The double
refraction is so obvious in syn Moissanite that it is quite
disturbing in carat or larger sizes (to me anyway). The stones look
oily. Optically, it is tough to beat cubic zirconia WHEN CUT TO
PROPER ANGLES, with good meets and a good polish. If durability is a
problem, my choice would be colorless YAG, Yttrium Aluminum Garnet,
also called Yttrium Aluminate) much more durable than CZ.
The YAG is available in a Tanzanite-like color that has the same
blue-purple color change seen in high end Tanzanite…it’s popular
with some custom jewelers because it, again, does not chip or
scratch easily, endures the ultrasonic and re-tipping easily, and is
a fraction of the cost of Tanzanite…and is brighter as well!
And, yes, the markup is greater, too!
I have cut a number of diamond “replicas” in colorless YAG for
customers who want one to avoid paying high insurance premium on
large diamonds while wearing them. Everyone seems happy and none
have scratched or chipped. CZ wouldn’t last a week.
Wayne Emery
The Gemcutter