A Budget-Friendly & Ethical Alternative to Diamonds

Hey Ana, not off the top of head, but I actually just discovered this Moissanite retail locator.  Check it out!  I'm going to edit my review and add that link :)

I don't think I would ever take advantage of the Moissanite trade up, but it's good to know that it's there! The reason I say that is because Moissanite isn't too expensive to begin with. For example, the difference of a 1 carat vs a 2 carat Moissanite is a few hundred dollars, while the same difference in size in a diamond is tens of thousands of dollars. Since the price difference is minimal, I say go as big as you'd like the first time around so that you don't have to waste money and time on an upgrade later.  Be reasonable though. You don't want something so gaudy that you'd never wear it ;)

There are plenty of trustworthy sites out there that sell Moissanite, but I would suggest going to a store.  It's nice to be able to physically see and try on something that you're about to fork over $1000+ for.  Plus it's nice to be able to be serviced and have your questions answered in person.  You just have to find a good jeweler.  Good luck! :)

My pleasure! And wow, I didn't realize that that company upgraded lost or chipped stones. That's like insurance! :) You don't have to worry about your Moissanite chipping though. They're really close to being as hard as diamonds, which is the strongest substance in the world, and they're pretty much always ideal cut since they're lab created!

My pleasure! And thanks for your comment, Corrina. Very true! :)

Amen, sistah! Glad you're enjoying your Moissanite ring :)

Moissanite does reflect an extremely slight faint pink and green color, but one would have to be super professional with a really keen eye to tell the difference. Otherwise, it's a dead ringer for a diamond and people wouldn't know unless you told them! White diamonds sometime reflect a slight blueish tint, too. Though that depends on the characteristics of the diamond itself.

No problem!  For comparison, I have this picture that I took of a pair of Moissanite studs with a diamond jacket.  The stud in the foreground is a little hazy and out of focus, but in the other one, you can see that the stones are identical in color.

Thanks for your comment, Miss Bling2Be!  Buying a moissanite engagement ring is no biggy;  I've had customers get CZ, too, because, like you said, the money could be going towards a house!  Maybe in the future when money isn't so tight, you can swap a diamond into the mounting if you want.

Plus, if you want a 2 carat (which is a great size.  My ideal size, actually!) that has a high color and clarity grade, it's going to cost you.  I recently quoted a customer a bit over $60,000 USD for one.  A 2 carat size moissanite shouldn't cost you more than $2000 USD, tops.  Plus the cost of the mounting, of course.

To answer your other questions, unless someone who knows what they're looking for is holding the stone under a bright light and looking at it through a 15x loop or something, it looks EXACTLY like a diamond.  All color and scintillation differences are extremely subtle to the naked eye.

I have no idea where to buy moissanite in Toronto, but your best bet is probably calling a bunch of mom and pop stores and asking if they carry moissanite.

Good luck shopping for your ring, and let us know how that moissanite works out for you! :)

Huh, interesting question, because in all of my years of working with Moissanite, no one has ever ask me that before! But yes, Moissanite is available in several colors and cuts! If you want a colored stone though, I would suggest getting a naturally colored stone, like tourmaline for pink, orange, or green, and aquamarine for blue, etc. It's natural and depending on what type of stone you get (precious vs. semi-precious), can be less pricey than a Moissanite.