Fifty thousand years ago a meteorite crashed into the Arizona desert creating what is now known as "Meteor Crater." Fragments of this meteorite were scattered across the desert. Hidden in these fragments was a brilliant secret waiting to be discovered. In 1893, Nobel-Prize winning scientist Henri Moissan began studying fragments of this meteorite in 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, well-known Tiffany & Co. gem expert and mineralogist, George Kunz, suggested the new jewel be named moissanite in Dr. Moissan's honor. Despite this amazing discovery, since naturally occurring quantities of moissanite are so small, it would be another century before this stunning mineral would emerge as the brilliant jewel it is today.
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. From there scientists from CREE and eventually Charles & Colvard began a three-year research project to bring the fire and brilliance of Moissanite jewels to consumers.
