Buying moissanite: the complete guide

Buying moissanite is simpler than buying diamond. There are fewer grades to weigh up, the price follows the size, and a grown stone doesn't carry the rarity premium that makes diamond pricing so hard to read. What is left is a handful of real decisions. This guide takes them in the order we suggest you make them.

1. Choose the cut

Start with the shape, because it is the choice you will see every day. We cut ten, and all ten are priced by weight alone, so choose on looks, not cost.

• Round. The classic brilliant and the most popular choice. Its faceting is built to return as much light and fire as possible.
• Oval. A round drawn out into an ellipse. Brilliant faceting, with a longer outline that sits along the finger.
• Cushion. Square to slightly rectangular with softly rounded corners. A gentler, vintage look.
• Pear. A teardrop: rounded at one end, pointed at the other. Worn point up or point down.
• Marquise. Long and slim, pointed at both ends. Plenty of outline for its weight.
• Princess. A square with sharp corners and brilliant faceting. Modern and crisp.
• Asscher. A square step cut with clipped corners. Layered, geometric and Art Deco in feel.
• Radiant. A rectangle or square with clipped corners, faceted as a brilliant. The outline of an emerald with the sparkle of a round.
• Emerald. A rectangular step cut with long, open facets. Broad flashes of light rather than scattered sparkle.
• Heart. Exactly what it sounds like. Best in the larger sizes, where the shape reads clearly.

If you are unsure, the round is the safest choice. Moissanite's fire depends on precise faceting, and the round brilliant shows it off best. Pointed shapes such as the pear, marquise, princess and heart need their points protected in the setting, which any good jeweller will do.

2. Choose the size

Moissanite is a little lighter than diamond, so its size is given in DEW (diamond-equivalent weight): the weight a diamond of the same size would have. A 1 ct DEW moissanite looks the same size as a 1 ct diamond. The millimetre measurement is the more exact guide, so look at both.

A few of our round sizes, to give you a sense of the range:

Every size we sell is listed in our moissanite price guide. We sell stones from 0.5 ct to 4.5 ct DEW, which for rounds is 5 mm to 10.5 mm.

Numbers only go so far. A stone that sounds modest on paper can look generous on a slim finger, and the other way round. That's why every stone's page shows it at true size on a hand, calibrated to your screen with a bank card. Hold the card to the screen once, and what you see is the real size.

3. Choose the grade

Moissanite is graded for colour and clarity much as diamond is. Colour is the one you will notice: colourless stones (D, E, F) look white in any metal, while near-colourless stones (G, H, I) carry a faint warmth that shows in larger sizes and in white gold or platinum. Clarity matters less, because grown moissanite is typically very clean, but VVS means clean to the eye and very hard to fault even under magnification.

We sell only DEF colourless, VVS clarity. There is no cheaper tier, so you can't end up with a warm stone by accident. Our colour chart and grading guide explain the scales in full.

4. Check that it is genuine

Cubic zirconia and glass are sometimes sold as “moissanite-style” or “simulated” stones. Two checks protect you:

• A certificate of authenticity. Every stone we sell comes with one. Keep it with the stone for setting, valuation and insurance.
• A moissanite tester. A jeweller can confirm a stone is moissanite in seconds with a tester that reads electrical conductivity. A thermal diamond tester on its own can read moissanite as diamond, so it is not enough.

5. In stock or ordered in

Popular sizes are held in stock in South Africa and ship the day you order. Other sizes in the range are ordered in for you and take about two weeks, at the same price; sizes that aren't listed are cut to order in about three weeks. Each stone's page tells you which it is before you buy, so plan around a proposal or an occasion accordingly.

6. What's included

With every stone we sell:

• A certificate of authenticity
• A lifetime warranty
• Free tracked courier
• 14-day returns

Moissanite is stable: it doesn't cloud, fade or change colour. If it ever looks dull, it needs a clean, nothing more.

7. Loose stone, then setting

We sell loose moissanite. You choose the stone; a jeweller sets it in the ring, pendant or earrings you have in mind. Buying the stone loose means you see exactly what you are paying for, and any good jeweller can work with it. Moissanite is hard (9.25 on the Mohs scale) and tough, so it sets and wears well. Jewellers buying for their own clients can use our trade programme.

When you are ready, browse every stone, or talk to us if you would like help choosing.