We all know that moissanite is famous for being a strong diamond alternative (a 9.5 on the hardness scale!) and a fabulous man-made gem in its own right, but did you know that there are multiple ways that colored moissanites are made?
Colorless moissanite is made from silicon carbide, a single carbon atom surrounded by four silicon atoms in a pyramid-like shape. It’s formed using a combination of pressure and heat in a highly controlled environment.
During the crystal's growth, a different element would be introduced via vapor depending on the desired color, such as nitrogen for yellow or light green, boron for blue, or iron for brown or champagne colors. This results in the crystal being colored from within.
Sometimes, specific colors are caused by impurities and imperfections that happen during the gem's formation process. For example, red and pink can be formed by a deformation in the crystal’s lattice structure. This is a method that is harder to control and is often an accidental byproduct of creating moissanites. A happy accident!
Another method is via chemical vapor deposition (or CVD), which takes a fully formed colorless or near-colorless moissanite and adds a bonding agent to the bottom of the gem. It’s then put in a vacuum chamber where a gas is introduced to create a thin but durable permanent coating of color. This method allows for the creation of any colored stone.
Even though the coating is only applied to the bottom of the gem, it’s visible through the top, so it gives the appearance of a fully colored stone. This coating stands up to everyday wear and tear but can be damaged with extreme heat or chipping. A durable setting can help protect your stone, and proper cleaning and care can keep the color vibrant.
Automic Gold’s green, blue, and black moissanites are not coated. All other colorful moissanites are coated.
