Moissanite is a kind of gem born from the stars. It was first discovered in 1893 by a French scientist named Henri Moissanite, who went on to win the Nobel Prize in chemistry. In a crater in Arizona, he discovered microscopic particles of a gemstone that would eventually be named after him. He initially thought he had discovered diamonds, but later determined that the crystals were made of silicon carbide.
Moissanite, known as diamond imitations, is designed to resemble the illusion of a diamond, but is completely different in composition and vision from the real thing. The two stones are very different in durability, glossiness and color. One of the common properties of diamonds and moissanite is that they are very good heat conductors.
Moissanite shows a different luster from diamonds because of its different surface patterns. The fiery, iridescent flash of moissanite is loved by some, but others feel its high brightness can create a "disco ball" effect, especially in the sun. The larger the moissanite, the more pronounced the difference. Moissanite has a refractive index of 2.65-2.69, higher than natural diamonds.