Masonic Jewelry

Originally discovered by Henri Moissan in 1893, moissonite is a hard, transparent mineral also known as silicon carbide (SiC). Moissan and other scientists initially believed that moissanite could only be found in meteorites, but in the 1950s, deposits were found in diamond mines and rock formations in the US. Still, moissanite in its natural form is extremely rare.

Registering a 9.5 on the Mohs scale, moissanite is an extremely hard and durable mineral. Although it’s primarily used in moissanite jewelry, its hardness lends itself well to high-pressure experimentation. Since moissanite can be created synthetically relatively cheaply, and its thermal conductivity is comparable to that of diamonds, it’s an ideal alternative to diamonds in these situations.

Despite the fact that the Freemasons have been around for over 400 years, most of the inner workings of the organization remain shrouded in mystery—which is exactly the way they like it. In the past century, the public has been able to glean a fair amount of information on the religiously based group, but aside from the basic tenants of their philosophy and structure of their hierarchy, it’s difficult to find any substantive information. The Freemasons now have an estimated six million members from a variety of different “Grand Lodges” around the globe.

The stonemason symbols, which have become synonymous with the freemasons, have several connotations. Since the organization is religiously affiliated, there are obvious allegories to building relationships with God, through both yourself and the community. The square and compass with the “G” in the middle can be fond on everything from Masonic lapel pins to shirts and apparel.