Miss Cassie--thank you so much for the detailed explanation. This makes more sense to me than anything else that was written about it. I hope that we can buy it here in North America before 2015...

Since you are so wise, would you please take a look at my Snooty Jeweler thread and have a say on that as well. I value your opinion.

We will know this spring/early summer as to whether or not the patent in the USA will be overturned, but really, considering they granted a patent re-examination in the first place and the fact that C&C isn't even trying to defend its patent, I am very confident that we will see the Amora Gem sold in the USA come summer/fall of next year. If not, well, there is always Mexico!

Actually, that is not quite right. Moissanite grown by C&C is moissanite, as is the Amora Gem. All silicone carbide is moissanite. As Less described it, it is like Ford naming the model T "car". Sure the model T was a car, but it had a specific name too. C&C named their silicone carbide structure moissanite; so it is Moissanite moissanite technically. And the Amora Gem is technically Amora Gem moissanite. Although we wouldn't say that anymore than we would say "my Honda Accord car".

I see, I guess I had thought of it more as silicon carbide being the "generic name" and moissanite and Amora being "brand names" so to speak,like carbon is carbon but can be "graphite" or "diamond" depending on the structure. I metaphorically moved my decimal place back one too many spots. Thanks for the correction jcent!

C&C made it pretty confusing by using the same name Slight presumptuous perhaps...

I wonder if anyone has ever become bored enough to devise a binomial nomenclature name system for gemstones ? Remind me, if I ever grow my own gemstone, to come up with something more original than the name it already has!

Maybe this will help clarify a bit:

Moissanite = all crystals formed using Silicon and Carbon (200+ sub-types). Generically tends to refer to naturally formed crystals, in honour of Dr. Henry Moissan who discovered it in the meteorite.

Silicon Carbide = also refers to all crystals formed using Silicon and Carbon (200+ sub-types). Tends to refer more to the lab grown and is the preferred 'scientific' term. You will not find semiconductor papers referring to any of these crystals as "moissanite" for example.

You can see, that we have 2 generic family names, for a family of over 200+ crystals that all share one feature - namely being composed of silicon and carbon.

As noted, C&C took a specific form of Moissanite / Silicon Carbide and named it "Moissanite by C&C".

The Amora Gem, by BTD, is a different form of Silicon Carbide...in other words, a different type of crystal than "moissanite by C&C", but still a member of the 200+ Silicon Carbide family.

So, two differing crystal types, but both fall within the domain of being termed either Moissanite or preferably, Silicon Carbide.

You can thus see how C&C basically took one title of the family's last name and basically used it as a first name, which has thus created confusion.

If they had called their crystal ABC gem, and we called our's the Amora Gem, then there would not be so much confusion

Best regards
Less

Yes, that clarifies immensely, thank-you Less. It's good to know that moissanite and silicon carbide are interchangeable for the "family name."

This is one of the prettiest stones I've ever seen! WANT ONE!! - the down side-expensive! The upside-I've got LOTS of time to save my pennies to have one of my own some day. I hope they R available in 1/2 caret sizes in the future-can U say KILLER stud earrings?

Less, can/will you refer to the Amora Gem as moissanite (with a little 'm') at all or would you prefer not to for advertising/marketing purposes?

On one hand it would be easy to reach those who already have a positive image of moissanite for use as a gem stone. Amora would improve the image of moissy. On the other hand, perhaps there is too strong a link to C&C. Many people do not have a positive image of Moissanite...they have seen some ugly stones or will never appreciate it because it is not a diamond. The latter will also be an issue for Amora.

Either way, it is still moissanite but it is confusing to try to explain/understand Amora Gem without associating it with moissanite...which most people strongly associate with C&C.