Buying a Moissanite Ring - the Ultimate Guide

Moissanite is fast becoming a leading option for engagement rings as tastes shift towards a preference for gemstones being more sustainable, and affordable. Chemically, moissanite is known as silicon carbide. It was first thought to be diamonds by French scientist Henri Moissan, which should say something about their beauty compared to the pricey stones, making them a wonderful cost-effective alternative. Here are all the things you should know before buying a moissanite engagement ring.

The 4 Cs are most commonly used to grade diamonds, but they can also provide a helpful framework for understanding moissanite. These four qualities, being colour, cut, clarity and carat, all influence a gemstone’s overall appearance. While moissanite is a unique gemstone in its own right, the 4 Cs remain a useful way to evaluate its quality. At Cullen, our moissanite is chosen to an exceptionally high standard. Every moissanite we offer is in the DEF colour range, Excellent for cut, and VVS clarity or above. This means each gemstone is selected for its bright, colourless appearance, beautiful light return, and remarkable visual clarity.

Moissanite price varies according to the 4 C’s, but is more affordable than a comparable diamond and great if you’re working with a tight budget. Engagement rings are a huge commitment, life-long some may say, and so if you have a particular vision in mind, innovations like moissanite and lab grown diamonds are making the fine jewellery industry more accessible. If you are opting for a coloured stone, moissanite can also be a great choice as coloured diamonds can get quite expensive depending on their clarity, size and colour grading.

A ring ‘setting’ describes how a stone is mounted onto a ring, and this can be done in more ways than you realise. If you like the look of a centre stone that jumps out, a “high set” ring will be perfect, as the stone is perched on top of the band and looks great for a glamorous look. For the opposite, go for a “low set” engagement ring. Another aspect to think about is the metal type you’re going for. Yellow gold engagement rings are currently all the rage as the quiet luxury aesthetic still remains popular amongst the fashionistas of the world. If you like the look of a platinum engagement ring, white gold is a less costly alternative; however, over time the polish can wear off to reveal the yellow gold underneath, making platinum a harder-wearing metal type.

Moissanite is a hard stone at 9.25 on the MOHs scale [a scale of mineral hardness] whilst a mined diamond is 10 and so is almost as durable as diamonds and therefore doesn’t require too much maintenance. That’s not to say you shouldn’t give your ring some TLC from time to time. To clean your moissanite engagement ring, fill a shallow bowl with soapy water – dish soap is perfect. Soak your ring for around 15 minutes, and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to loosen any dirt. You can do this as often as you like, and we also recommend having your ring professionally cleaned by a jeweller annually. We offer complementary ultrasonic cleaning for the lifetime of your ring, and if you want more information, check out our ring care guides.