Some will say that a diamond is a girl’s best friend, but maybe that friendship has become over-rated? A woman anticipating a proposal may want to let her beloved know that an option to purchase a superior ring is available. Imagine displaying a ring with gorgeous color, cut and clarity, without compromising the size of stone you dream of, all for an affordable price? Any man would be happy to learn about moissanite engagement rings. Today‘s woman wants a beautiful piece of jewelry that shows as wonderfully as a diamond, but also reflects her sense of eco-consciousness, as well as her concerns for the safe mining practices of obtaining natural diamonds. Moissanite is the perfect alternative.
Named after the scientist Ferdinand Frederick Henri Moissan, it is a laboratory-made compound called silicon carbide. In the 1890s, while exploring in Arizona, Moissan came upon some sparkly items he believed to be diamonds. While his determination of the type of material he held was incorrect, he was likely just as happy to discover that he had in fact stumbled upon an even more valuable treasure. His desert trek had put him in direct contact with traces of extremely rare silicon carbide, thought to have been carried to earth some 50,000 years earlier, when it caught a ride with a meteorite.
In time, silicon carbide would enjoy a life in the industrial world. Nearly indestructible, it was used in technical applications by major corporations that utilized semi-conductors. In this realm, a hard working scientist came to realize that this element was the perfect alternative to a naturally occurring diamond. As durable as the real thing, it could be cut to mimic a diamond, and modern scientists and artisans were soon at work making the Moissanite show as beautifully as a diamond.
As a quality stone used in the creation of all types of jewelry, it has the unique ability to compete directly with a naturally occurring gem. It is in fact stronger than rubies and sapphires, as well as other gemstones, and second in hardness only to diamonds. It offers exceptional brilliance, due to a refractive index of 2.65, which tops the index of 2.42 found in diamonds. It is remarkably tolerant, withstanding temperatures of 2,000 degrees. It is also impervious to destruction from many of the chemicals and solutions used in the jewelry making industry.
For this reason, Moissanite is far superior to other simulated diamonds or stones in jewelry making. While rhinestones and colored glass may be fun, they are not considered a long lasting alternative. Cubic Zirconium lacks spirit and brilliance, and may leave a consumer feeling somehow they were duped into obtaining something counterfeit.
As a treasured piece of jewelry, the Moissanite engagement ring will never disappoint. Available in all of the styles you would find in a traditional ring, a quality Moissanite diamond engagement ring can be chosen from a beautiful selection of pre-set pieces, available to view at a retail jeweler or internet location. These rings, in the traditional designs you might find for any engagement jewelry, are available in yellow and white gold, and the option to purchase a platinum Moissanite engagement ring is also available. Loose stones may also be obtained to design a custom setting.
Moissanite diamond engagement rings are not inexpensive, and should never be regarded as a cheap substitute. They are created to be a high-end jewelry offering, with all of the style and quality expected from a good piece of jewelry, while allowing the consumer to purchase it for a savings over standard diamond prices. It is set in exceptional metals, and should be cared for and enjoyed, as any piece of fine jewelry deserves.
One might expect to pay substantially less to purchase a Moissanite ring, but it should still be considered an investment piece. While a traditional 2 ct diamond solitaire ring may be financially unavailable to a young couple, the purchase of this size and style may be a realistic option when considering Moissanite. Costing only a fraction of the same ring of a similar quality and measure, it might be realistically obtained at a cost of about $1500.00 to $2000.00. This is in consideration of a solitary stone set into quality white or yellow gold.
When purchasing moissanite engagement rings, all of the standards normally desired should be accounted for. Exceptional cut and color of the gem is to be expected, with a fire that delights the senses. Available exclusively through the distributors of Charles and Colvard, they are manufactured for the market in conjunction with a research and development lab in North Carolina in the United States. Here old world style meets high-tech science, and the result is an amazing gem that is enjoyed and celebrated all over the world. No future bride will hide her hand because her ring is not genuine. Instead, she will proudly display her gorgeous work of art.
erun:y? ? *(?*ese aren’t items buyers will find in a department store but more likely in a sole proprietor jewelry or artisan jeweler. Other colors of gold such as green, blue and black are extremely rare and jewelry made from these materials is very valuable. These can most often only be obtained through private dealers and artisans which charge a premium for hand crafted and custom designed jewelry from precious metals. The more common colors of white, silver and the reds are easy to find and are always an interesting topic of discussion for interested admirers of jewelry especially for mens white gold rings with ornate designs or unique construction. Colored gold prices run parallel and are often times more than prices for typical gold jewelry even though the content of pure gold in the alloy mixture is less than for jewelry made of basic gold alloys at higher percentages of purity.