In 1893, Nobel Prizewinning French scientist Dr. Henri Moissan discovered minute quantities of a new mineral, natural silicon carbide. The mineral was located in an ancient meteorite found in the Diablo Canyon in Arizona. Later named moissanite in honor of Dr. Moissan, this minerals supply was too limited for jewelry use.More than a century later, Cree developed a process for producing large, single crystals of moissanite. In 1995, a master diamond cutter observed samples of the silicon carbide crystals and suggested to the founders of Charles & Colvard th­at, if properly cut, the crystals could make a beautiful jewel. Charles & Colvard recognized the minerals potential. They also realized that in order for the moissanite jewels to be used, they would have to be manufactured there is essentially no natural supply for this stone. In 1995, Charles & Colvard partnered with Cree a NCbased R&D lab to develop larger gemstones for Charles & Colvard to use in the Cree colorless development program. In conjunction with Cree, Charles & Colvard is the exclusive worldwide manufacturer and marketer of labcreated moissanite gemstones.

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