The natural moissanite has a fascinating history, and we can thank Nobel laureate Dr. Henri Moissan for revealing to the world this gift of a meteorite that crashed in the Arizona desert many thousands of years ago. Today, moissanite is being manufactured artificially - with amazing results.

Natural moissanite is far too minute to be of much interest to jewelers or jewelry enthusiasts. However, the synthetic version that is presently being manufactured exclusively by Charles & Colvard, Ltd. is a different story.

Ever since research and development of the process began by CREE in the 1980's, the market now features stones of amazing clarity and sparkle. Moissanite stones are of a hardness and durability that is comparable with diamonds. Cubic zirconium, the 'synthetic diamond' of choice until moissanite came along, cannot hold a candle to this mineral.

In fact, a conventional testing protocol will not detect the difference between moissanite and diamond at all. Yet, it sells for as little as 1/10th of what a diamond does in larger sizes and 1/5th of the cost in smaller ones.

A moissanite stone can be immaculately shaped by a cutter. Loose stones are now available for a limitless range of imaginative jewe

lry ideas. Presently, the most popular formats for 'stand-alone' moissanite stones appear to be the Pear or Heart shape, the trillion, the Round and Square Brilliant, the Oval, the Radiant and the Marquise. They are nearly colorless, eminently affordable and available at select outlets that guarantee genuineness.

The fact that moissanite stones surpass diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies in brilliance - and that a stone is available for as little as $400 - assures this remarkable stone a place in history. The stone is now so popular that far less valuable cubic zirconium, previously known only as imitation diamonds, are now being passed off as moissanite. Care in purchase is therefore highly advisable.

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