Moissanite Engagement Rings

What moissanite is

Moissanite is silicon carbide — a crystal made of silicon and carbon. It is not a diamond, and it is not a cheaper grade of diamond. It is its own material with its own optical properties. The natural mineral is vanishingly rare (it was first found in a meteor crater), so nearly all moissanite used in jewellery today is grown in a lab. That means it is a real, durable gemstone, just not a diamond.

Because it is laboratory-made, the quality is consistent and the supply chain is clean and traceable. You can read more about the stone itself on our moissanite gemstone guide. The short version: it is a tough, sparkly, affordable stone that performs beautifully in an engagement ring.

Moissanite vs diamond: the honest comparison

Here is where the differences actually matter. We will keep it straight rather than sell you on one stone over the other.

• Hardness. Diamond is the hardest natural material known, sitting at the top of the Mohs scale at 10. Moissanite ranks about 9.25 — just below diamond, and harder than almost everything else you would put in a ring, including sapphire and ruby. For everyday wear, both are extremely scratch-resistant.
• Brilliance and fire. "Fire" is the rainbow flash you see when light splits inside a stone. Moissanite has a higher dispersion than diamond, which means it throws off more of that colourful fire. Some people love the extra sparkle; others find it too flashy and prefer the calmer, white-and-grey return of a diamond. Neither is wrong — it is a matter of taste, and we will let you compare both in person.
• Price. This is the biggest gap. A moissanite stone costs a fraction of what a diamond of similar size costs. That difference lets you choose a larger stone, a richer setting, or simply keep more money in your pocket.
• The trade-off. Moissanite is not a diamond, and a trained eye can sometimes tell the difference in certain lighting because of that extra fire. If owning a diamond specifically matters to you, no other stone replaces that. If you care about how the ring looks and what it costs, moissanite is hard to beat.

For the diamond side of this comparison, the GIA's 4Cs (cut, colour, clarity and carat) explain how diamonds are graded. If a lab-grown diamond is on your shortlist too, see our lab-grown diamond rings page.

Durability & everyday wear

An engagement ring gets worn every single day, so durability is not a side issue — it is the whole point. At Mohs 9.25, moissanite resists scratches and scuffs from daily life extremely well. It will not cloud, fade or lose its sparkle over time, and it does not need any special handling beyond an occasional clean with warm water and a soft brush.

It also stands up to heat and chemicals better than many softer coloured stones, which makes it practical for someone who works with their hands, exercises in their ring, or simply does not want to fuss over it. In short, you can wear a moissanite ring the way you actually live, not the way a delicate stone forces you to. If you are weighing moissanite against other durable options, our alternative engagement stones guide lays them out side by side.

Custom settings & pricing

Every moissanite ring we make is designed and built in our Coquitlam workshop by our on-site goldsmith. Nothing is sent out. We set moissanite in solid gold — yellow, white or rose — or in platinum, in whatever style suits you: a clean solitaire, a halo to make the stone read larger, a vintage-inspired band, or something drawn from scratch around your idea.

Because moissanite costs so much less than diamond, the budget tends to go further. People often use the savings to size up the centre stone, add side stones or detailing, or step up to platinum. We start every project with a free consultation where we show you loose stones and settings, talk through the trade-offs honestly, and give you a clear price before any work begins. A custom ring usually takes about four to six weeks from approved design to finished piece.

If you already know you want something made to order, our custom engagement rings page walks through how the process works from first sketch to final ring.

Is moissanite right for you?

Moissanite is a strong choice if you want maximum sparkle and size for your budget, you like the idea of a lab-grown, traceable stone, and you are not set on owning a diamond specifically. It is also a sensible pick for an active lifestyle, since it is genuinely hard-wearing.

It may not be for you if owning a natural or lab-grown diamond carries personal or symbolic weight, or if you find the extra rainbow fire too showy for your taste. There is no single right answer — there is only the right stone for the person wearing it. We are a Canadian Jewellers Association member with more than 150 five-star Google reviews, and our job in the consultation is to help you decide, not to push one stone. Drop by, see the stones under real light, and choose with your own eyes. You can plan your visit on our visit us in Coquitlam page.

Moissanite questions