Dark Green Moissanite, Loose Faceted Gemstones Blue Green

These are faceted dark blue-green moissanites.  They are deep in color but still brilliant and quite beautiful.

Some of these stones have growth needles.

This is moissanite, also known as silicon carbide. It is an excellent gem, with incredible hardness (around 9.25-9.5) and greater brilliance and fire than a diamond. It is perfect for use in all kinds of jewelry.

Though it is well known in the gem world it is also highly valued in the world of science and industry. It is a semiconductor just like pure silicon but far more durable and heat-resistant, so it is used to make computer chips that need to endure high stress environments like in a car engine. Fortunately for us these uses require very exacting standards and sometimes crystals are rejected.  These crystals had growth defects and atmospheric contamination, resulting in hollow needles and a deep green color, rendering them unsuitable for use but excellent for gem usage.

Though the gem world sometimes thinks of it only as a diamond stand-in I prefer to think of it as a gem all its own. It has greater luster, more brilliance and fire and a cooler range of colors than diamonds do and I just find it more appealing visually.