| When we think of precious gems, we usually | | | | realisation that moissanite could be reproduced in |
| spare little thought to the hard work that it takes | | | | controlled circumstances, leading to the dawn of |
| to bring them to us in the beautiful jewelry that | | | | lab made diamonds. |
| we love to wear, but diamond mining is, in fact, | | | | It was discovered in 1995 that moissanite could |
| an expensive and dangerous procedure, reflected | | | | be reproduced under laboratory conditions, and |
| to the consumer in the price that must be paid to | | | | the unique beauty of the stone made scientists |
| own one. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were | | | | realize that there would be a huge market for |
| some way to recreate that same brilliance and | | | | these lab created diamonds. While the difficulty |
| beauty in a less dangerous, and hence less | | | | involved in growing these lab made diamonds |
| expensive way? Today's technological innovations | | | | remains quite high, the price for moissanite |
| mean that this does not have to be a pipe dream | | | | jewelry is higher than you might expect in a |
| any longer - with lab created diamonds, we can | | | | diamond substitute, but today, many |
| wear beautiful gemstones produced by the | | | | gemmologists consider the moissanite stone to be |
| intelligence of mankind, rather than the trials and | | | | a gem in and of its own right. Unlike previous |
| tribulations of nature, and without the expense | | | | substitutes, moissanite is in many ways superior |
| that mining brings. Lab created diamonds are now | | | | to diamonds, with more sparkle and brightness |
| very good and becoming as popular as the real | | | | that the mined gem. |
| thing. | | | | Previously, choosing a gem that looked like a |
| The popularity of diamonds have urged experts | | | | diamond but wasn't one was seen as a step |
| to try to find more cost effective ways of | | | | down, a compromise, but with the quality of |
| providing the brilliance of the stone in our jewelry, | | | | today's lab created diamonds, this is no longer the |
| and over the years there have been many | | | | case. So take advantage of today's great |
| alternatives to diamonds put forward, including cut | | | | moissanite prices while they last, because |
| glass, rhinestones and cubic zirconium. While these | | | | someday soon, the brilliant sparkle of this stone |
| have proved satisfactory for some purposes, | | | | will make lab made diamonds even more sought |
| these lab created diamonds have consistently | | | | after than the 'real thing'. |
| lacked the brilliance and beauty of a genuine | | | | Lab created diamonds, and Moissanite in particular, |
| diamond. This was until the discovery of | | | | are now as good as the real thing. |
| moissanite in meteor fragments, and the | | | | |