Wikipedia is the free online encyclopedia often used by content writers as a source for a variety of topics. Wikipedia is open to participation for anyone who wants to contribute to the site. In this spirit of collaboration, information is compiled very efficiently and enables Wikipedia to construct a huge knowledge base. Because of Wikipedia’s free and open accessibility it is a very popular source of reference. On the other hand that very openness can be abused by participants with a biased agenda. Rather than be a steady source of reliable information, Wikipedia can easily become a propaganda tool. Such is the case with Charles & Colvard Created Moissanite.
Moissanite is fast becoming the hottest fine jewel available today, but consumer awareness is still very small – only 8% awareness. With such intense competition and “special interests” always vying for a greater share of the tremendously profitable Jewelry Market, misinformation campaigns about moissanite have emerged within many venues.When you begin a search by entering “moissanite” in Wikipedia’s homepage, you are not directed to definitions or articles specifically about moissanite. Instead Wikipedia redirects your “moissanite” search to a page for its mineral composition - Silicon Carbide (SiC). More rationally, Wikipedia does have article entries for “diamond” and “cubic zirconia” that do not redirect search inquiries to the gemstones’ respective chemical components of Carbon and Zirconium Dioxide. This is just the beginning of how Wikipedia short-changes the publics’ efforts with online research, in order to properly find information about moissanite.
When you reach the SiC page, you’ll find an article about moissanite’s origins in the Discovery section of the article. Edward Goodrich Acheson is attributed as the discoverer of SiC “around” 1893. According to this article, Acheson developed an electric batch furnace to produce an SiC abrasive he called “carborundum”. This account is followed by a "later" discovery of SiC in a subsection called "In Nature" by Dr. Ferdinand Henri Moissan. That account reads as follows:
Naturally occurring moissanite is extremely rare, as it is not formed naturally in any quantity within the Earth, and thus is found only in tiny quantities in certain types of meteorite and as microscopic traces in corundum deposits and kimberlite. Virtually all of the silicon carbide sold in the world, including moissanite jewels, is synthetic. Natural moissanite was first found in 1905 as a small component of a meteorite in Arizona by Dr. Ferdinand Henri Moissan, after whom the material is named in the gem market. Moissan's discovery of naturally occurring SiC was disputed at first because his sample may have been contaminated by silicon carbide saw blades that were already on the market at that time.
However by cross-referencing this account in the Wikipedia article on Dr. Moissan, you will find this information: In 1893, [Dr.] Moissan began studying fragments of a meteorite found in Meteor Crater near Diablo Canyon in Arizona. In these fragments he discovered minute quantities of a new mineral and, after extensive research, Moissan concluded that this mineral was made of silicon carbide. In 1905, this mineral was named Moissanite, in his honor.
Clearly there is a discrepancy because Dr. Moissan could not have discovered Moissanite in both 1893 and 1905. Fortunately, Mr. Bob Thomas, the CEO of Charles & Colvard related the correct version of moissanite’s discovery in a recent company presentation. As was told in his presentation, moissanite was indeed discovered by Dr. Henri Moissan in 1893 and in 1905 the gem was named in his honor by Tiffany’s lead gemologist of that time.
The misinformation presented about moissanite in the Silicon Carbide article, is false and is presented in a manner that belittles moissanite jewelry. Listed below are several affronts to moissanite that are quoted from throughout the referenced article:
- Moissanite is somewhat similar to diamond in several important ways: it is transparent and hard (9, although a patent states 9 1/4, on the Mohs scale compared to 10 for diamond).
- Moissanite is somewhat harder than common cubic zirconia.
- Unlike diamond, Moissanite is strongly birefringent. This is a desirable quality in some optical applications, but is not desirable in gemstones. For this reason, Moissanite jewels are cut along the optic axis of the crystal to minimize birefringent effects.
- Moissanite has a slightly higher index of refraction (brilliance) and much greater dispersion (fire) than diamond.
- [M]oissanite is easy to distinguish from diamond, as it is doubly refractive.
- [Moissanite] has a slight green tint to it that becomes more noticeable with increasing gem sizes.
Notice how the use of the words “similar”, “slightly” and “somewhat” are deliberately chosen to obscure moissanite’s superior properties and capabilities, when it’s compared directly to diamond and other gemstones.
Moissanite is second in hardness to diamond on all hardness scales. The Mohs scale is perhaps the most useful of the hardness scales, since it measures a gemstone’s resistance to scratching. This is an issue of greater concern to jewelry buyers. The other scales measure the gem’s ability to withstand pressure. While this may be useful to the designers and manufacturers of fine jewelry, it is a non-issue to jewelry buyers unless they intend to use their rings and pendants as door stops and furniture mounts.
Moissanite birefringence or double refraction represents the ability of the jewel to disperse light. It is this very important characteristic that gives moissanite its superior fire that is 2½ times that of a diamond. Ironically diamonds are cut to maximize its fire. Diamonds that are cut to ideal specifications still don’t come close to yielding the fire of moissanite. Because moissanite possesses such overwhelming fire, it is cut to maximize its brilliance instead. It is the superior abundance of fire, luster, and brilliance above all other gemstones that makes Charles & Colvard Created Moissanite so highly desirable in fine jewelry.
Fortunately, moissanite’s advocates can take advantage of Wikipedia’s openness and correct the misinformation on their web site. In addition, advocates should submit or petition Wikipedia for a separate article entry for moissanite. Moissanite has a different origin, history, and composition than does the other form of SiC discovered by Mr. Acheson during a similar timeframe. This is an opportunity for advocates to assist others who are interested in learning the truth about moissanite, and to offer a definitive reference to this popular research tool.
Charles & Colvard, Ltd., the global source of created jewel moissanite, saw its net sales increase 3 percent in the three months ended December 31, 2006 to US$12.1 million as compared to US$11.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2005.
