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Several years ago when my sister got engaged, they chose a moissanite engagement ring instead of a diamond. At that point, I had never heard of this stone, and knew nothing about the conflict in the diamond industry. When I first saw her ring in person, I thought it looked exactly like a diamond and didn’t notice any difference at all. The stone had all the beauty and clarity I was used to seeing in a diamond, and I was truly impressed with it’s stunning sparkle-factor!
I am a wedding florist in Chattanooga, Tennessee, so I interact with a ton of brides each year. And since my first interaction with moissanite years ago, many of my clients have chosen moissanite. So, I started doing research to find out all the reasons why a couple would choose this alternative stone, and here’s what I found:
What is Moissanite?
Moissanite is a natural mineral, silicon carbide, that is found in very small quantities in the earth. Although moissanite exists in nature, it is so rare that it must be created in a lab to produce pieces large enough to cut into gemstones for a ring. When cut and faceted, moissanite is by definition, the world’s most brilliant gem (this refers to light refraction and sparkle). Learn more about the differences between Moissanite and Diamonds HERE.
Why Moissanite?
If you have done any research about diamonds, you may have heard the term “conflict-free”. Did you know that in recent history there has been massive amounts of conflict and corruption within the diamond industry oversees? The jewelry company Brilliant Earth explains; “Although many diamond-fueled wars have now ended, conflict diamonds remain a serious problem. In 2013, a civil war erupted in the Central African Republic, with both sides fighting over the country’s diamond resources. Thousands of people have died and more than a million have been displaced.”
For this reason and many more, some decide to look beyond of the diamond engagement ring tradition. Jewelry companies have developed astonishing processes to create diamonds (made of carbon) and moissanite (made of silicon carbide) in a lab. These lab-created stones result in a more ethical and sustainable process, smaller carbon footprint, and best of all, a much lower price tag! There are many reasons to look outside of the traditional diamond engagement ring options, so we’re excited to share with you these 5 resources for beautiful moissanite engagement rings!
1. Forever Moissanite
If you’re just beginning your search for a moissanite engagement ring, Forever Moissanite should be your first stop because of their AMAZING quality and variety of styles! You can customize any style with your desired metal type and stone size, and their website is really easy to use. I love that they have matching bridal bands, so you can order your whole bridal set at once.
I’ve noticed that the ring photography on their website is either VERY professional studio photography or renderings (I can’t tell which). However, I personally like to see real-life photos of rings as well. If you’re the same way, you can head over to their INSTAGRAM page to see more shots of these gorgeous rings in a real-life setting.
Many of the moissanite engagement rings from Forever Moissanite run around $1,000-$1,800, which puts it right in the middle to high end of the price points we’re suggesting. So, why would you spend a little more? Here’s what Forever Moissanite says about their quality:
Commercial moissanite comes in three different color grades: faint color, near colorless, and truly colorless. While some of our competitors’ stones can fall into those first two cheaper categories, all of our moissanite gemstones are produced for perfect colorless stone.
Forever Moissanite Website
… All Forever Moissanite Gems come with our lifetime manufacturing warranty to protect against defects and flaws.
French Pave Cut Moissanite Engagement Ring
I recently got a Forever Moissanite ring of my own, and I absolutely LOVE it!!! I can atest to the fabulous quality of these rings! If you want to read my whole story about choosing my moissanite engagement ring from them, you can check that out HERE. But here are some pictures of it. It’s their Graduated Split Shank Pear Cut Moissanite Engagement Ring with a 1.25 Carat Stone in Yellow Gold. This is a wonderful example of how their website pictures don’t do them justice. I feel like my ring is 10 times as beautiful and high quality looking than I expected.
1.25 Ct Gold Split Shank Pear Cut Moissanite Engagement Ring
UPDATE: I’ve now had my Forever Moissanite ring for over a year. I get so many compliments, and it’s holding up beautifully. I think I love it more now than when it was brand new. I’m getting used to seeing it on my hand, and I’m just in LOVE with the quality and the delicate details of the design.
And if you love the details of this ring, check out the oval cut version too!
Oval Cut Split Shank Moissanite Engagement Ring
2. Etsy
Did you know that Etsy has some AMAZING jewelry shops? You can even filter any search to look at US-based shops. Start at this link to go straight to US-based shops. Most of these rings are $250-$600, which makes them our MOST AFFORDABLE option, all while supporting American small businesses!
You may ask yourself why Etsy Shops are able to sell their jewelry at such a lower cost. Well, the jewelry industry as a whole is known for having an extremely high markup. But if an Etsy Jeweler marks their product up more like other hand-made items on Etsy, that could easily be the reason you’re seeing a lower cost.
You may ask yourself why Etsy Shops are able to sell their jewelry at such a lower cost. Well, the jewelry industry as a whole is known for having an extremely high markup. But if an Etsy Jeweler marks their product up more like other hand-made items on Etsy, that could easily be the reason you’re seeing a lower cost.
Of course there are SO many options here on Etsy, so how do you know which shop to start with? Well, we’ve done the research to help you discover only shops with GREAT reviews and TONS of successful sales:
3. Kobelli
Kobelli
is a jewelry shop that sells gorgeous moissanite and lab diamond jewelry on Amazon. Since they’re an Amazon seller, they have a TON of reviews on each item, so you can check out what other customers have to say. You’ll spend around $600-$1200 on a Kobelli ring through Amazon.
4. Charles and Colvard
A Charles and Colvard ring is what recently peaked my interest in Moissanite engagement rings, years after my sister got hers. We had a bride with a Charles and Colvard ring, and I just remember noticing how sparkly and stunning it was. If you are a fan of simple and elegant solitaire engagement rings, Charles and Colvard will have a ton of options you love. My favorite is this oval side stone ring. It has the simplicity of a solitaire stone, with the added detail of the small side stones.
There are several places online you can buy a Charles and Colvard ring. But I have found that their amazon store is the place that has the most consistently good deals. Plus, if you have any apprehension about making such a large purchase online, you can breath easy making that purchase on a site you’ve probably used hundreds of times before.
Most Charles and Colvard engagement rings run around $900-$1,800.
5. Smilest Gemstone Jewelry
Smilest Gemstone Jewelry sells gorgeous moissanite jewelry through amazon, like this 1.5 Ct Oval Cut Ring.
They have lots of beautiful ring designs, and if you’re on a really tight budget, you’ll love that Smilest Moissanite engagement rings are under $100!
If you are on your way to planning a wedding, check out THIS ARTICLE I recently wrote about wedding color pallets. And of course, you’ll need a great wedding budget tool….so CLICK HERE for a free downloadable wedding budget spreadsheet. If you are planning a wedding in Chattanooga or the surrounding areas, we’d love to discuss wedding flowers and decor with you!
I wish you luck finding the perfect engagement ring, and of course, the perfect mate!
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Lang Floral Designs is a premier wedding florist in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We do wedding and event flowers in the surrounding areas of East Tennessee and North Georgia, and we also love providing brides everywhere with useful ideas and information for their wedding day. For a better idea of all we can do at your wedding, click here. Contact us today if you’re interested in hiring us for your wedding or event.
An engagement ring is a very personal and treasured piece of jewelry for any person. I really love diamonds, but way out of my budget and moissanite is really affordable giving all the feels, just like diamond.
An engagement ring is a very personal and treasured piece of jewelry for any person. I really love diamonds, but way out of my budget and moissanite is really affordable giving all the feels, just like diamond.
Thanks for writing a blog on the top 5 moissanite engagement ring sites. I recommend the number 1 website mentioned in this blog, Forever Moissanite. I had a great shopping experience with them. Do check out their website https://forever-moissanite.com/.