Moissanite sparkles like diamonds
February 6, 2006 | 12:00am
When Moissanite Philippines introduced in May 1999 moissanite jewelries during the first international distributors’ meeting in Shangrila Makati, many operators of pawnshops and jewelers vowed to prevent their entry because they felt these would affect the local diamond business.
But Moissanite Philippines chairman Renato A. Florencio was unfazed and was able to convince those daring enough among the current jewelers and pawnshop owners to invest P15,000 (then at P12,000) for a tester where they would accurately detect diamond from moissanite and thus sustain their business without any apprehension.
Moissanite Philippines is one of the companies under Recomira Ray Corp. – which also sells diamond jewelry, watches and other gemstones. In December 1998, Moissanite Philippines joined the Guild of Philippine Jewellers exhibition at the World Trade Center, which was immediately followed by the establishment of the first shop in Glorietta in February 1999.
Now there are four Moissanite Jewellery shops namely Glorietta, SM City North EDSA, SM Megamall and SM Davao, Florencio said.
Even if moissanite originates from the US, it made waves first in the Philippines and only recently in the US shops where it is now present in JC Penney, Macy’s, Marshall Field’s and Lord & Taylor.
Moissanite is fast expanding its international network and is present in 28 countries/territories with 35 distributors/jewelry manufacturers and exclusive shops in Taiwan, Korea and Australia, Florencio said.
"To those who invested, they can readily tell if the jewelry piece being pawned is a diamond or a moissanite and thus charge the appropriate rates instead of the bulk of pawnshop owners who flatly refused to accept pawned diamonds because they might actually be moissanite," Florencio said.
Moissanite is a silicon carbide gemstone discovered in 1893 by Henri Moissan, a French chemist and Nobel Prize winner, who discovered silicon carbide in a meteorite deposit in Arizona, USA. Since the discovery, silicon carbide was extensively used for industrial purposes like glass cutter and the outside surface of the space ships since it is sturdier than diamonds.
Florencio said moissanite is more brilliant (based on scientific refractive index), has more fire, more luster and tougher than diamond and only second to diamond in hardness. But its price is 90 percent less than diamond. A carat of diamond is P220,000 to P250,000 while a carat of moissanite is only P32,000.
"Because it is an inert material, its properties never changes therefore Charles & Colvard (currently the exclusive manufacturer and marketer of moissanite from 1997 until 2012) is able to give lifetime guarantees to its customers," Florencio said.
Moissanite Philippines was the first exclusive global distributor of Moissanite for the past seven years.
In the 80’s , Cree Research developed a process for producing large single crystals of moissanite by combining the natural minerals of silicon and carbon. In 1995, a master diamond cutter said that properly cut, moissanite crystals would make a magnificent shimmering jewel since it has more fire, brilliance and luster (properties that made diamond famous the world over) than any other material available on earth.
Charles & Colvard also developed the tester model 590 and J-Fire to accurately identify moissanite from diamond.
Moissanite caters not just to women who love jewelry but also to men who like to look fashionable without having to pay the stiff price of a single piece of diamond.
Moissanite Philippines president Mia Florencio, a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America recently launched "Spectrale," a collection of rubies, sapphires and tourmalines crafted with moissanite gems and 18 karat gold to create a stylish jewelry collection. Each piece is an elegant statement specially designed for smart women who express themselves with flair and confidence.
In the UK, US and Taiwan, moissanite is aggressively being marketed in Home TV Shopping channels, a venue which still has to gain acceptance in the Philippine market.
Moissanite Philippines
2F Agustin Bldg. Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center
Pasig City
Tel : 6311615
But Moissanite Philippines chairman Renato A. Florencio was unfazed and was able to convince those daring enough among the current jewelers and pawnshop owners to invest P15,000 (then at P12,000) for a tester where they would accurately detect diamond from moissanite and thus sustain their business without any apprehension.
Moissanite Philippines is one of the companies under Recomira Ray Corp. – which also sells diamond jewelry, watches and other gemstones. In December 1998, Moissanite Philippines joined the Guild of Philippine Jewellers exhibition at the World Trade Center, which was immediately followed by the establishment of the first shop in Glorietta in February 1999.
Now there are four Moissanite Jewellery shops namely Glorietta, SM City North EDSA, SM Megamall and SM Davao, Florencio said.
Even if moissanite originates from the US, it made waves first in the Philippines and only recently in the US shops where it is now present in JC Penney, Macy’s, Marshall Field’s and Lord & Taylor.
Moissanite is fast expanding its international network and is present in 28 countries/territories with 35 distributors/jewelry manufacturers and exclusive shops in Taiwan, Korea and Australia, Florencio said.
"To those who invested, they can readily tell if the jewelry piece being pawned is a diamond or a moissanite and thus charge the appropriate rates instead of the bulk of pawnshop owners who flatly refused to accept pawned diamonds because they might actually be moissanite," Florencio said.
Moissanite is a silicon carbide gemstone discovered in 1893 by Henri Moissan, a French chemist and Nobel Prize winner, who discovered silicon carbide in a meteorite deposit in Arizona, USA. Since the discovery, silicon carbide was extensively used for industrial purposes like glass cutter and the outside surface of the space ships since it is sturdier than diamonds.
Florencio said moissanite is more brilliant (based on scientific refractive index), has more fire, more luster and tougher than diamond and only second to diamond in hardness. But its price is 90 percent less than diamond. A carat of diamond is P220,000 to P250,000 while a carat of moissanite is only P32,000.
"Because it is an inert material, its properties never changes therefore Charles & Colvard (currently the exclusive manufacturer and marketer of moissanite from 1997 until 2012) is able to give lifetime guarantees to its customers," Florencio said.
Moissanite Philippines was the first exclusive global distributor of Moissanite for the past seven years.
In the 80’s , Cree Research developed a process for producing large single crystals of moissanite by combining the natural minerals of silicon and carbon. In 1995, a master diamond cutter said that properly cut, moissanite crystals would make a magnificent shimmering jewel since it has more fire, brilliance and luster (properties that made diamond famous the world over) than any other material available on earth.
Charles & Colvard also developed the tester model 590 and J-Fire to accurately identify moissanite from diamond.
Moissanite caters not just to women who love jewelry but also to men who like to look fashionable without having to pay the stiff price of a single piece of diamond.
Moissanite Philippines president Mia Florencio, a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America recently launched "Spectrale," a collection of rubies, sapphires and tourmalines crafted with moissanite gems and 18 karat gold to create a stylish jewelry collection. Each piece is an elegant statement specially designed for smart women who express themselves with flair and confidence.
In the UK, US and Taiwan, moissanite is aggressively being marketed in Home TV Shopping channels, a venue which still has to gain acceptance in the Philippine market.
2F Agustin Bldg. Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center
Pasig City
Tel : 6311615
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