Moissan: Diamonds from the Stars

This publication aims to deepen awareness of Henri Moissan's legacy and the jewelry inspired by his work

The editor of the book, Denise Wendel-Poray, in her introduction outlines the vision behind the Moissan Company, founded by Jos Sacre and Ernesto Ibarra, rooted in ecological, artistic, and entrepreneurial values.
Henri Moissan, awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1906, discovered a new mineral-silicon carbide-while studying meteorites from Diablo Canyon, Arizona. This mineral, later named moissanite, is extremely rare in nature, composed of pre-solar grains. Moissan also developed the electric arc furnace, enabling the synthesis of artificial diamonds. Olivier Lafont reveals Moissan as not just a scientific genius but also a passionate art collector-combining the minds of a scientist and artist.
Mwape Chama critiques traditional diamond mining's environmental toll: deforestation, biodiversity loss, toxic waste, and massive landscape damage. Mines often leave scars visible from space. This chapter argues that Moissan diamonds-lab-created and eco-friendly-offer a sustainable alternative, challenging the romanticized view of natural diamonds.
Jewelry historian Bianca Cappello explores moissanite's role in design from the early 20th century onward, including iconic pieces like the Tennis Bracelet-popularized after Chris Evert's 1987 US Open match-and other classic forms such as Cuban Link Chains and engagement rings.