Charles & Colvard is the original creator of moissanite, the world’s most brilliant gem with a brilliance refractive index at 2.65-2.69 and a fire dispersion of 0.104.Forever One moissanite is a lab-created gem, meaning it’s both ethically and responsibly sourced. Have you ever wondered how this beautiful gemstone is manufactured? If you want to know more, keep on reading.
How does Charles & Colvard create moissanite?
To begin the moissanite production process, Charles & Colvard receives single silicon carbide crystals from Cree. The crystals are precision cut into small pieces called preforms, as shown in (Step 1).
The preforms are then sent overseas to high-volume faceting vendors who hand-cut and polish the preforms to Charles & Colvard standards, which are designed to maximize the gemstone’s brilliance and fire. As (Step 2) shows, the vendor then attaches the preform to a guidance tool, or dop to aid in the grinding process. Moissanite jewels are shaped with a tool called a faceting machine. To understand this tool, imagine a record player. The faceting machine acts as the record table, spinning around.
It is made of either steel or aluminum, and has industrial-grade diamond chips embedded in it (that’s what cuts and polishes). The dop acts as the record player needle, gently guiding the moissanite preform down to the spinning faceting machine.
It’s the friction between the gemstone and faceting machine that shapes the stone. The faceting vendor uses the faceting machine to cut and polish each moissanite preform. Using the dop, the gemstone is rotated for an even shape and polish.
The lower portion of the gemstone, or pavilion is formed by grinding the pavilion (Step 3). Then the girdle (the edge of the stone that is grasped by the setting) is cut and polished (Step 4), and then the pavilion facets are cut (Step 5) and polished (Step 6).
Next, the gemstone is removed from the dop and reattached with the top of the stone, or crown, exposed for cutting (Step 7). The crown facets are cut and polished. Finally, the table (the upper flat surface) is polished (Step 8). The resulting gemstone (Step 9) is returned to Charles & Colvard for inspection, sorting, grading, and shipping to select Jewelry stores.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
What steps are taken to ensure each moissanite gemstone is of the highest quality?
We have taken care to develop a rigorous process to produce created moissanite. This process follows exact specifications and maintains very high standards of quality control for each individual gemstone. After its creation, moissanite must pass our stringent quality and purity tests, along with many rounds of grading before it is sold to the consumer.
Is moissanite an ideal cut stone?
An ideal cut gemstone can be rare, because it means the stone has the perfect proportions and angles to maximize light reflection. To ensure that our moissanite has the most fire and brilliance, each gemstone is examined by a specialist who determines where the natural cuts in the stone lie. Charles & Colvard created moissanite gemstones are both carefully and precisely cut, per the exact angles and proportions prescribed by each shape, to enhance its unrivaled fire and brilliance.
How is moissanite graded for clarity?
At Charles & Colvard, we employ graduate gemologists certified by the Gemological Institute of America to examine our gemstones. Each gem is meticulously studied by trained grading specialists using a 10x jeweler’s loupe. This loupe will expose any inclusions that may inhibit Forever One moissanite’s optical performance. The gemstones that pass through the grading process are the highest quality created moissanite and are sold to our distributors and consumers.
Whether you want to know more about the physical characteristics of moissanite or the repair and care of the stones, our Moissanite FAQ page will provide you with the answers you’re looking for. We also encourage you to compare moissanite with diamonds or white sapphires, as each stone has its own characteristics just like the unique person wearing them.