Celebrity Endorsement: Why So Many Stars are Choosing Lab-Grown Diamonds

Lab-grown diamonds have been gaining popularity in recent years due to their ethical and eco-friendly production process, as well as their high-quality and affordability compared to natural diamonds. Celebrities are not exempt from this trend, as many have opted to wear lab-grown diamonds in their jewelry.

One such celebrity is actress and activist Emma Watson. Watson has been a vocal advocate for sustainable fashion and ethical jewelry, and has been spotted wearing lab-grown diamonds on several occasions. In 2018, she wore a pair of earrings made with lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold to the Oscars, sending a message to the fashion industry that sustainability is possible and stylish.

Another celebrity who has embraced lab-grown diamonds is actor Leonardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio is a well-known environmental activist and has invested in the lab-grown diamond industry. He also gave his then-fiancée, now wife, Camila Morrone a lab-grown diamond engagement ring, further highlighting his support for ethical and sustainable practices in the jewelry industry.

Actress and singer Mandy Moore also joined the lab-grown diamond trend when she received a custom-made engagement ring from her fiancé Taylor Goldsmith. The ring features a lab-grown diamond center stone and recycled platinum band, making it both beautiful and eco-friendly.

But why are so many celebrities opting for lab-grown diamonds? For one, lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled environment, ensuring that they are free from the ethical concerns that plague the natural diamond industry, such as human rights violations and environmental damage. Additionally, the production process for lab-grown diamonds requires significantly less energy and water compared to mining natural diamonds, making them a more eco-friendly choice.

Furthermore, lab-grown diamonds are often more affordable than natural diamonds, allowing celebrities to wear high-quality jewelry without breaking the bank. This affordability also makes lab-grown diamonds more accessible to the general public, democratizing the luxury jewelry industry.

Lastly, lab-grown diamonds offer the same quality and brilliance (often better!) as natural diamonds, making them a desirable choice for those who prioritize aesthetics and style in their jewelry choices. In fact, many argue that lab-grown diamonds are superior to natural diamonds due to their lack of inclusions and imperfections, resulting in a more consistent and flawless appearance.

Despite the benefits of lab-grown diamonds, there are still some who argue that they lack the sentimental value and rarity of natural diamonds??? However, as more celebrities and consumers embrace lab-grown diamonds, it is clear that the ethical and environmental concerns surrounding the natural diamond industry are becoming increasingly important to many.

In conclusion, lab-grown diamonds have become a popular choice for celebrities who prioritize sustainability, affordability, and style in their jewelry choices. With their ethical and eco-friendly production process, lab-grown diamonds offer a viable alternative to the natural diamond industry, making luxury jewelry more accessible and responsible for all.

Moissanite or Diamond Engagement Rings? The Ethical Choice

Diamond engagement rings have been the traditional choice for couples for generations. However, many people are now looking for more eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to diamonds. One such alternative is moissanite, a mineral that is becoming increasingly popular as an engagement ring stone. Here are some of the environmental benefits of buying a moissanite engagement ring instead of a diamond engagement ring.

Lower carbon footprint

The diamond industry has a large carbon footprint, with emissions from mining, processing, and transportation. Moissanite, on the other hand, is a lab-created stone that requires significantly less energy to produce. According to some estimates, the carbon footprint of a moissanite engagement ring can be up to 80% lower than that of a diamond engagement ring.

No mining required

Diamond mining can have significant environmental impacts, such as habitat destruction, soil erosion, and water pollution. In addition, diamond mining can be associated with human rights violations and labor abuses. Moissanite, on the other hand, is created in a laboratory, which means there is no need for mining. This makes moissanite a more ethical and sustainable choice for engagement rings.

Affordable

Moissanite engagement rings are generally more affordable than diamond engagement rings. This means that couples can get a high-quality engagement ring without breaking the bank. In addition, because moissanite is lab-created, there is a more consistent supply of the stone, which helps to keep prices stable. This affordability also means that couples can invest in other sustainable and eco-friendly aspects of their wedding or relationship.

Conflict-free

Diamonds have a long history of being associated with conflict and war, often referred to as “blood diamonds” or “conflict diamonds”. These diamonds are mined in war zones and sold to fund armed conflict and human rights abuses. Moissanite, on the other hand, is a conflict-free alternative to diamonds. Because moissanite is lab-created, it is not associated with any human rights abuses or conflicts.

In conclusion, moissanite engagement rings are a more sustainable and eco-friendly choice than diamond engagement rings. They have a lower carbon footprint, no mining required, are more affordable, and conflict-free. Choosing a moissanite engagement ring can help reduce the environmental impact of the jewelry industry and make a positive impact on the planet. With its durability and beauty, moissanite is a great alternative to diamonds for couples who want a beautiful and ethical engagement ring.

Is Morganite Suitable for an Engagement Ring?

In the past few years, colored gemstones have become quite popular, especially morganite – but is morganite suitable for an engagement ring?  What makes a particular stone suitable for an engagement ring is not just a person’s taste but also durability.  Durability means it’s ability to withstand chipping, cracking and scratching but along with those characteristics come other things that you might not think of.  For instance, if a stone is not hard enough, of course it will scratch which will dull down the surface. It will also absorb soap, lotion, sunscreen, oils… anything that you would get on your hands.

Unfortunately, morganite is a softer stone that falls into this category.  Morganite has a Moh’s rating (GIA scale) of 7.5 – 8.  Many websites and people will tell you this is a very durable gem that makes morganite suitable for an engagement ring but it definitely is not a stone for an everyday ring (such as an engagement ring). It will not stand the test of time like a diamond or a moissanite.  You want your engagement ring stone to look as beautiful 20, 30, 50 or more years down the road – bright, sparkling and void of chips and. scratches.

If your heart is really yearning for a pink stone, why not try a sapphire?  Sapphires score a 9 on the Moh’s scale coming in just under moissanite and diamond. They are very durable, don’t absorb oils, soap etc and are extremely resistant to scratching and chipping.  Sapphires come in almost every colour you can imagine – 4 shades of pinks! From champagne pink to light pink, hot pinks and deep pinks, even purplish pink. They also come in blues, yellows, greens, whites…a whole other blogpost really to sing the praises of sapphires or corundum as it is also called. (Stay tuned for that blog post – coming soon)

We don’t agree with mining or mined gems but we do offer synthetic sapphires – don’t leave at the mere mention of synthetic stones – they probably aren’t what you think they are. I have written an earlier post on synthetic gems, please check it out before ruling out synthetic.  Brief explanation: they are synthesized – originally grown from a seed of a sapphire so they are entirely 100% the same properties as a mined sapphire. They are then reseeded and so on and so on.  This makes them ecologically sound and a better price point.  We use Chatham synthesized gems which are of a high quality in clarity, cut and color.

I love seeing the variety in styles and the many colors of gemstones women choose these days but morganite is not suitable for an engagement ring.  If you still long for one, maybe chooses it for an occasional ring that doesn’t need to worn when washing the dishes, showering, gardening or many of the others daily tasks we tackle.

Is Moissanite the Best Diamond Alternative?

Is Moissanite the best diamond alternative or is Moissanite even better than a diamond?! We think it’s better no matter which way you look at it. When shopping for a diamond, let’s be honest – you are mostly looking at whether it first fits in your budget and then size and quality factor in after that. For many there is going to have to be some give – either go in to debt or sacrifice the size or quality or both. Moissanite however, is top notch in all of these areas – quality, budget friendly and it’s extremely strong (diamond measures a 10 on the Moh’s scale with Moissanite coming in just under at 9.25). A Moissanite competes head to head for strength with a diamond, therefore, can withstand the test of time and be passed down from generation to generation.

We have heard from many of our clients that their Moissanite engagement rings are by far the prettiest in their group of friends, co-workers etc. Unfortunately, it seems most don’t share that it’s a Moissanite. It’s a true testament to Moissanite, that no one suspects it isn’t a diamond so doesn’t ask.

My husband and I were chatting the other day that it would be interesting to have a Moissanite section or kiosk in a conventional jewelry store. For some, they would still need a diamond for superficial reasons but the majority would see that Moissanite is prettier than the average diamond (don’t believe the rubbish you read on diamond websites that it’s green or whatever other crazy things they say – diamonds and Moissanite are graded side by side on the same color scale so Colorless means exactly that – no color – no green). The average diamond in a jewelry store is a J color while Moissanite comes in DEF Colorless or GHI Near Colorless. Both the Colorless and Near Colorless Moissanite are a fraction of the cost of their equal diamond counterpart and I do mean a fraction. If purchasing an equal 1 ct flawless colorless diamond you would be spending approximately $20,000 USD compared to $500 USD. There is the added bonus that a Moissanite has 10% more sparkle than a diamond – nothing flashy, it just makes it look like it is the better quality stone when next to a diamond.

Back to our jewelry store scenario. For sure, most people would not see the value in a diamond when side by side with a quality Moissanite (we prefer the NEO and Charles and Colvard brands – high quality control and superior manufacturing). The reason you don’t see this section (a large Moissanite section in the local jewelry store) is the jeweler makes much more profit with a diamond sale than with Moissanite.  In fact, we have found many jewelers who have one token Moissanite ring in their store (to bring anyone in who might be calling around to locate a Moissanite engagement ring) and it seems they actually use it to dissuade people from buying a Moissanite (there are also many websites out there that advertise Moissanite, they know it’s popular so they use it as click bait but when you get to their website, it is void of Moissanite or they talk it down). In a physical jewelry store our experience is they either put the price of the Moissanite up to almost equal the diamond price or they try to shame you out of purchasing it or they have an older version that is not up to today’s quality. I wrote a prior blog post on our first experience with Moissanite shopping which has happened a few more times or the jeweler just acts disinterested in us. It’s amazing how unscrupulous some people are. It’s your money, don’t let anyone tell you how to spend it or make you feel inferior! In fact, you should feel quite superior for being financially and ethically responsible!

A customer called the other day to purchase his fiancé’s wedding band after purchasing her engagement ring with us last year. I shared the chat my husband and I had after he mentioned that his fiancé’s girlfriends all covet her Moissanite ring. He totally agreed and said we should rent a corner in jewelry store but when I told him we would take the business away from the diamond jeweler’s, he totally got it and agreed. Our hypothetical conversation was fun and it made both of us feel good about our Moissanite choice. So to say Moissanite is the best diamond alternative is actually quite an understatement. Moissanite is better than a diamond!

Let’s talk about Synthetic Gems.

When I hear the word “synthetic”, I cringe a little. No matter the medium, it sounds cheap, not the best, sub par. However! What synthetic actually means is “synthesized”. I don’t know where the bad rap came from but when it comes to synthesized diamonds or gems, it couldn’t be more opposite. Synthetic gems are better in every way! In no particular order, they are better for the planet – they are ecologically friendly, humane, less expensive and a better product all around. When I say a better product all around, I am strictly speaking about Moissanite, lab created diamonds and lab created gemstones such as sapphires, rubies, emeralds etc – not crystals or cubic zirconia.

With lab created gemstones and Moissanite, you get a superior product – optically and quality wise every time, at a far lower price. Being as these gems are grown in a lab controlled environment, the conditions are optimal for each and every gem, every time. The fact that they can produce more means they do not have to use subpar gems. It may interest you to know that the average diamond color grade in an engagement ring in North America is a J color. A J color means that the diamond has a very warm – yellow color to it. A coveted diamond color would be a colorless color grade of DEF or a near colorless grade, which would be GHI. So you can see the J falls below ideal but yet, the average engagement ring cost in the US is $5000 to $6000 USD. ..for a J colored diamond. You can get a synthetic “synthesized” lab created diamond or gemstone for a fraction of the price, with a better color grade and clarity.

A lab created diamond or gemstone is grown from a seed diamond and is exactly the same in all properties as a diamond dug from the ground but without the negative ecological and humane impact. Due to the fact that these gems are grown in a controlled environment they have far fewer flaws – pins and inclusions that are caused from debris etc in a natural environment.

We have all heard of the 4 C’s when it comes to a diamond – cut, color, carat size, and clarity. The better quality of your diamond means a more ideal cut can be achieved – to achieve this ideal cut, your diamond needs to be free of visual inclusions, it needs to be clear. The 4th C is clarity, it’s not hard to imagine that if you are purchasing a larger diamond (1 carat or more), you’re either going to be paying a very hefty price or you are going to be getting a lower quality diamond.

There are instances where someone prefers a warmer stone and that is a personal preference but most people would prefer a more colorless stone or they can’t tell the difference under jewelry store lights. They all sparkle and look dazzling in a jewelry store environment. It’s hard to believe they are not all top quality but if you are comparing a J color to an I color, you won’t be able to see a difference. If however, you compared that J color to a D color, you would notice immediately that the D color stands out in beauty . Clarity is important as well. It impacts the sparkle and overall beauty of the gem – you want as clear of a gem as possible. If it’s a colored stone, the lack of clarity will diminish not only the sparkle but the richness of color. You also want it to be as flawless as possible. Flawless is fairly self explanatory but some inclusions can actually affect the durability of a gem. Experienced stone cutters know how to cut a gem to bring out it’s best qualities while taking into account it’s deficiencies but with all things, something has to give.

So when thinking of purchasing a quality piece of jewelry, you don’t want to buy on a whim while standing in a brightly lit jewelry store. You want quality that will last and bring as much enjoyment 10, 20, 40 years down the road as it did the day you bought or received it. I’m not saying you can’t buy quality in a jewelry store, of course you can but you want to do your research and get the best for your money… and that maybe a synthetic gem in the form of Moissanite and or lab created diamonds and gems.

Moissanite FAQ’s

Is Moissanite a real gem?

Yes! We get this question often. I think though, when most people ask us this, they mean “Does it come from the ground?” Moissanite doesn’t come from the ground, it actually comes from space and was first discovered in 1912 when a meteorite crashed to the earth. Fortunately there aren’t many meteorites crashing to earth, making Moissanite extremely rare so it is lab created.

 

Is Moissanite a real diamond?

Moissanite looks like a diamond but with 10% more sparkle. Moissanite is comprised of silicon carbide and diamond is carbon.

 

Are all moissanite gems created equal?

No. Just as with diamonds, not all are of the best quality. The clarity and color (or actual lack of color) indicate a better stone when purchasing a moissanite – just like diamond. We only offer the industry leading Charles & Colvard and NEO brands. We believe their moissanite gems to be of the highest quality consistently. Charles & Colvard held the Moissanite patent for 20 years and in this time they perfected moissanite to the colorless and near colorless status that is available today. These 2 brands will never discolor as some other brands do. The stone you purchase today will stay exactly the same clarity and color for the lifetime of that gem – eternal.

 

Does Moissanite look like a diamond?

Yes, it would be hard to find someone including a jeweler that can tell them apart without a jeweler’s loop. Even with a jeweler’s loop, they would need a well trained eye that is well versed in Moissanite.

Does Moissanite have a green or yellow hue?

The earliest generations of moissanite did have a yellow or even a green hue to them and some brands still do. In our jewelry we only use Charles and Colvard and NEO colorless and near colorless, which DO NOT look green or yellow. We should note thought, that if you see Charles and Colvard at your local Department store and it looks warm (yellow) it is because the colorless and near colorless gems are and will only ever be available to authorized jewelers and not the big box stores.

 

Is Moissanite as durable as a Diamond?

All gemstones are measured on the MOHS scale of mineral hardness.

You can see by the graph that Moissanite has a 9.25 rating making it nearly as hard as a diamond. The MOHs scale is a quantitative and comparative tool to measure gems by. Moissanite can definitely withstand the demands of everyday life. Moissanite is the 2nd hardest white gem used in jewelry making and the 2nd hardest gem period.

Is Moissanite a real gem?

Yes! We get this question often. I think though, when most people ask us this, they mean “Does it come from the ground?” Moissanite doesn’t come from the ground, it actually comes from space and was first discovered in 1912 when a meteorite crashed to the earth. Fortunately there aren’t many meteorites crashing to earth, making Moissanite extremely rare so it is lab created.

 

Is Moissanite a real diamond?

Moissanite looks like a diamond but with 10% more sparkle. Moissanite is comprised of silicon carbide and diamond is carbon.

 

Are all moissanite gems created equal?

No. Just as with diamonds, not all are of the best quality. The clarity and color (or actual lack of color) indicate a better stone when purchasing a moissanite – just like diamond. We only offer the industry leading Charles & Colvard and NEO brands. We believe their moissanite gems to be of the highest quality consistently. Charles & Colvard held the Moissanite patent for 20 years and in this time they perfected moissanite to the colorless and near colorless status that is available today. These 2 brands will never discolor as some other brands do. The stone you purchase today will stay exactly the same clarity and color for the lifetime of that gem – eternal.

 

Does Moissanite look like a diamond?

Yes, it would be hard to find someone including a jeweler that can tell them apart without a jeweler’s loop. Even with a jeweler’s loop, they would need a well trained eye that is well versed in Moissanite.

Does Moissanite have a green or yellow hue?

The earliest generations of moissanite did have a yellow or even a green hue to them and some brands still do. In our jewelry we only use Charles and Colvard and NEO colorless and near colorless, which DO NOT look green or yellow. We should note thought, that if you see Charles and Colvard at your local Department store and it looks warm (yellow) it is because the colorless and near colorless gems are and will only ever be available to authorized jewelers and not the big box stores.

 

Is Moissanite as durable as a Diamond?

All gemstones are measured on the MOHS scale of mineral hardness.

You can see by the graph that Moissanite has a 9.25 rating making it nearly as hard as a diamond. The MOHs scale is a quantitative and comparative tool to measure gems by. Moissanite can definitely withstand the demands of everyday life. Moissanite is the 2nd hardest white gem used in jewelry making and the 2nd hardest gem period.

 

Are you rings solid gold or are they gold plated?

We get this question once in a while due to the lower cost of the setting and overall ring. They are all solid gold just like you would get from any jewelry store. Either 14kt, 18kt, platinum or palladium. It is our goal to offer much better prices on engagement rings than the “traditional” engagement ring – so not only the much more budget friendly Moissanite but also a reduced rate on the setting.

 

Are your sidestones diamond or Moissanite?

Our rings are completely 100% Ethical so do not contain diamonds – anything that is mined cannot be Ethical.

 

Can I get diamond sidestones?

Not in our rings but here’s something worth mentioning: when purchasing a ring with melee (small sidestones) the diamonds are typically of a lower quality – they won’t normally take a near colorless or colorless diamond that is rarer, therefore more expensive and cut it up to make small melee. Whereas with Moissanite, it is lab grown and is a higher quality stone every time.

 

Can I special order a ring?

Yes, absolutely! There is an extra fee though for the CAD rendering (to see what your ring would look like in a computer generated, real life format) and if you were to go forward with the design there is a fee for the mold. You then have a unique ring, like no other!

 

Does a custom ring take a long time to produce?

Once the design is approved the actual process of making of the ring generally takes 7-10 business days.

 

Is a custom ring refundable?

No.

 

What if I just want a small change to a ring you already offer, is this custom?

Yes. A CAD rendering still needs to be done and a new ring mold must be made.

Fun Fact: Most people can figure out the savings of a Moissanite engagement ring by comparing with a diamond engagement ring. However, most people think it’s probably 1/2 to 1/3 the price of a diamond ring – it is actually 1/40th + depending on the size and shape of the stone. The average price of a diamond engagement ring in North America is $5000 and the average center stone size is 1ct. This means the cut, clarity, and color are far below ideal. The ideal is near flawless (flawless to the naked eye), colorless or near colorless (color grade D,E,F for colorless and G,H,I for near colorless). This means the average engagements ring’s diamond is a J color or lower which gives it a yellow or brownish hue (you may not notice the warmth unless held next to a near colorless or colorless gem and then it’s obvious). The average diamond will also have visible inclusions (flaws). Each diamond is cut based  on these inclusions (in part) so can have a less than ideal cut as well in an effort to cut around poor areas in the rough. The Moissanite we carry has a D,E,F color grade (Colorless) or G,H,I (Near Colorless). Since Moissanite is lab grown, it is free from inclusions caused by debris in the ground and the cut is ideal every time! So to sum up, if you were to purchase a 1 carat round diamond, colorless with a comparable cut and clarity to the Charles & Colvard or NEO brand Moissanite, you would be shelling out approximately $23,000 compared to the $460 C & C Colorless or the $450 NEO Colorless (at the time of article – prices subject to change without notice).

This always brings about the next question: Why do people buy diamonds then? Many reasons I guess… For some, it’s just not real if it’s not a diamond. Others don’t even think about, it’s just what you do, isn’t it? And for many, they haven’t even heard of Moissanite yet but Moissanite is becoming more and more popular – even more popular that most people could imagine. There are a lot of people out there sporting Moissanite and passing them off as diamonds. I bet everyone has admired someone’s ring that they were told was a diamond or just assumed it was and no harm in that! It really is undistinguishable from a diamond. More often than not, we get an order from someone who saw a friends Moissanite ring, thought it was a diamond and was stunned that it wasn’t and was even more surprised at the savings.

 

This brings us to the next top question:
How do I know which Moissanite to get? Colorless or Near Colorless?

Well, there is no hard and fast rule but some of the things that I like to keep in mind are: skin tone – is she fair, pale? If so, you may want to go with Near Colorless which has a slight bit of warmth – not noticeable unless you hold it up to the coolness of the Colorless. The coolness of the Colorless gem can make pale skin look too pale. You may also want to go with the Near Colorless if you are choosing a yellow or rose gold which are warm colored metals. Another consideration, if choosing a warm gold color, the gold will reflect on the gem giving it a warmer hue anyway so you can save yourself a little extra money by going with the warmer Near Colorless.

I tend to recommend the Colorless if someone is choosing the white gold, platinum or palladium settings as these metals are cool toned. However, either gem is suitable but if looking for a very cool, bright white, I would definitely go with the Colorless.

If you have any further questions we haven’t answered here, we are always happy to help. You can either email us at info@laraci.com or call us toll free 1-844-452-7224 10AM – 6PM PST

 

Also, please check out our Moissanite Education page
https://www.laraci.com/moissanite-education.php

Our Moissanite Video page
https://www.laraci.com/moissanit

Is Moissanite a real gem?

Yes! We get this question often. I think though, when most people ask us this, they mean “Does it come from the ground?” Moissanite doesn’t come from the ground, it actually comes from space and was first discovered in 1912 when a meteorite crashed to the earth. Fortunately there aren’t many meteorites crashing to earth, making Moissanite extremely rare so it is lab created.

 

Is Moissanite a real diamond?

Moissanite looks like a diamond but with 10% more sparkle. Moissanite is comprised of silicon carbide and diamond is carbon.

 

Are all moissanite gems created equal?

No. Just as with diamonds, not all are of the best quality. The clarity and color (or actual lack of color) indicate a better stone when purchasing a moissanite – just like diamond. We only offer the industry leading Charles & Colvard and NEO brands. We believe their moissanite gems to be of the highest quality consistently. Charles & Colvard held the Moissanite patent for 20 years and in this time they perfected moissanite to the colorless and near colorless status that is available today. These 2 brands will never discolor as some other brands do. The stone you purchase today will stay exactly the same clarity and color for the lifetime of that gem – eternal.

 

Does Moissanite look like a diamond?

Yes, it would be hard to find someone including a jeweler that can tell them apart without a jeweler’s loop. Even with a jeweler’s loop, they would need a well trained eye that is well versed in Moissanite.

Does Moissanite have a green or yellow hue?

The earliest generations of moissanite did have a yellow or even a green hue to them and some brands still do. In our jewelry we only use Charles and Colvard and NEO colorless and near colorless, which DO NOT look green or yellow. We should note thought, that if you see Charles and Colvard at your local Department store and it looks warm (yellow) it is because the colorless and near colorless gems are and will only ever be available to authorized jewelers and not the big box stores.

 

Is Moissanite as durable as a Diamond?

All gemstones are measured on the MOHS scale of mineral hardness.

You can see by the graph that Moissanite has a 9.25 rating making it nearly as hard as a diamond. The MOHs scale is a quantitative and comparative tool to measure gems by. Moissanite can definitely withstand the demands of everyday life. Moissanite is the 2nd hardest white gem used in jewelry making and the 2nd hardest gem period.

 

Are you rings solid gold or are they gold plated?

We get this question once in a while due to the lower cost of the setting and overall ring. They are all solid gold just like you would get from any jewelry store. Either 14kt, 18kt, platinum or palladium. It is our goal to offer much better prices on engagement rings than the “traditional” engagement ring – so not only the much more budget friendly Moissanite but also a reduced rate on the setting.

 

Are your sidestones diamond or Moissanite?

Our rings are completely 100% Ethical so do not contain diamonds – anything that is mined cannot be Ethical.

 

Can I get diamond sidestones?

Not in our rings but here’s something worth mentioning: when purchasing a ring with melee (small sidestones) the diamonds are typically of a lower quality – they won’t normally take a near colorless or colorless diamond that is rarer, therefore more expensive and cut it up to make small melee. Whereas with Moissanite, it is lab grown and is a higher quality stone every time.

 

Can I special order a ring?

Yes, absolutely! There is an extra fee though for the CAD rendering (to see what your ring would look like in a computer generated, real life format) and if you were to go forward with the design there is a fee for the mold. You then have a unique ring, like no other!

 

Does a custom ring take a long time to produce?

Once the design is approved the actual process of making of the ring generally takes 7-10 business days.

 

Is a custom ring refundable?

No.

 

What if I just want a small change to a ring you already offer, is this custom?

Yes. A CAD rendering still needs to be done and a new ring mold must be made.

Fun Fact: Most people can figure out the savings of a Moissanite engagement ring by comparing with a diamond engagement ring. However, most people think it’s probably 1/2 to 1/3 the price of a diamond ring – it is actually 1/40th + depending on the size and shape of the stone. The average price of a diamond engagement ring in North America is $5000 and the average center stone size is 1ct. This means the cut, clarity, and color are far below ideal. The ideal is near flawless (flawless to the naked eye), colorless or near colorless (color grade D,E,F for colorless and G,H,I for near colorless). This means the average engagements ring’s diamond is a J color or lower which gives it a yellow or brownish hue (you may not notice the warmth unless held next to a near colorless or colorless gem and then it’s obvious). The average diamond will also have visible inclusions (flaws). Each diamond is cut based  on these inclusions (in part) so can have a less than ideal cut as well in an effort to cut around poor areas in the rough. The Moissanite we carry has a D,E,F color grade (Colorless) or G,H,I (Near Colorless). Since Moissanite is lab grown, it is free from inclusions caused by debris in the ground and the cut is ideal every time! So to sum up, if you were to purchase a 1 carat round diamond, colorless with a comparable cut and clarity to the Charles & Colvard or NEO brand Moissanite, you would be shelling out approximately $23,000 compared to the $460 C & C Colorless or the $450 NEO Colorless (at the time of article – prices subject to change without notice).

This always brings about the next question: Why do people buy diamonds then? Many reasons I guess… For some, it’s just not real if it’s not a diamond. Others don’t even think about, it’s just what you do, isn’t it? And for many, they haven’t even heard of Moissanite yet but Moissanite is becoming more and more popular – even more popular that most people could imagine. There are a lot of people out there sporting Moissanite and passing them off as diamonds. I bet everyone has admired someone’s ring that they were told was a diamond or just assumed it was and no harm in that! It really is undistinguishable from a diamond. More often than not, we get an order from someone who saw a friends Moissanite ring, thought it was a diamond and was stunned that it wasn’t and was even more surprised at the savings.

 

This brings us to the next top question:
How do I know which Moissanite to get? Colorless or Near Colorless?

Well, there is no hard and fast rule but some of the things that I like to keep in mind are: skin tone – is she fair, pale? If so, you may want to go with Near Colorless which has a slight bit of warmth – not noticeable unless you hold it up to the coolness of the Colorless. The coolness of the Colorless gem can make pale skin look too pale. You may also want to go with the Near Colorless if you are choosing a yellow or rose gold which are warm colored metals. Another consideration, if choosing a warm gold color, the gold will reflect on the gem giving it a warmer hue anyway so you can save yourself a little extra money by going with the warmer Near Colorless.

I tend to recommend the Colorless if someone is choosing the white gold, platinum or palladium settings as these metals are cool toned. However, either gem is suitable but if looking for a very cool, bright white, I would definitely go with the Colorless.

If you have any further questions we haven’t answered here, we are always happy to help. You can either email us at info@laraci.com or call us toll free 1-844-452-7224 10AM – 6PM PST

 

Also, please check out our Moissanite Education page
https://www.laraci.com/moissanite-education.php

Our Moissanite Video page
https://www.laraci.com/moissani

 

Are you rings solid gold or are they gold plated?

We get this question once in a while due to the lower cost of the setting and overall ring. They are all solid gold just like you would get from any jewelry store. Either 14kt, 18kt, platinum or palladium. It is our goal to offer much better prices on engagement rings than the “traditional” engagement ring – so not only the much more budget friendly Moissanite but also a reduced rate on the setting.

 

Are your sidestones diamond or Moissanite?

Our rings are completely 100% Ethical so do not contain diamonds – anything that is mined cannot be Ethical.

 

Can I get diamond sidestones?

Not in our rings but here’s something worth mentioning: when purchasing a ring with melee (small sidestones) the diamonds are typically of a lower quality – they won’t normally take a near colorless or colorless diamond that is rarer, therefore more expensive and cut it up to make small melee. Whereas with Moissanite, it is lab grown and is a higher quality stone every time.

 

Can I special order a ring?

Yes, absolutely! There is an extra fee though for the CAD rendering (to see what your ring would look like in a computer generated, real life format) and if you were to go forward with the design there is a fee for the mold. You then have a unique ring, like no other!

 

Does a custom ring take a long time to produce?

Once the design is approved the actual process of making of the ring generally takes 7-10 business days.

 

Is a custom ring refundable?

No.

 

What if I just want a small change to a ring you already offer, is this custom?

Yes. A CAD rendering still needs to be done and a new ring mold must be made.

Fun Fact: Most people can figure out the savings of a Moissanite engagement ring by comparing with a diamond engagement ring. However, most people think it’s probably 1/2 to 1/3 the price of a diamond ring – it is actually 1/40th + depending on the size and shape of the stone. The average price of a diamond engagement ring in North America is $5000 and the average center stone size is 1ct. This means the cut, clarity, and color are far below ideal. The ideal is near flawless (flawless to the naked eye), colorless or near colorless (color grade D,E,F for colorless and G,H,I for near colorless). This means the average engagements ring’s diamond is a J color or lower which gives it a yellow or brownish hue (you may not notice the warmth unless held next to a near colorless or colorless gem and then it’s obvious). The average diamond will also have visible inclusions (flaws). Each diamond is cut based  on these inclusions (in part) so can have a less than ideal cut as well in an effort to cut around poor areas in the rough. The Moissanite we carry has a D,E,F color grade (Colorless) or G,H,I (Near Colorless). Since Moissanite is lab grown, it is free from inclusions caused by debris in the ground and the cut is ideal every time! So to sum up, if you were to purchase a 1 carat round diamond, colorless with a comparable cut and clarity to the Charles & Colvard or NEO brand Moissanite, you would be shelling out approximately $23,000 compared to the $460 C & C Colorless or the $450 NEO Colorless (at the time of article – prices subject to change without notice).

This always brings about the next question: Why do people buy diamonds then? Many reasons I guess… For some, it’s just not real if it’s not a diamond. Others don’t even think about, it’s just what you do, isn’t it? And for many, they haven’t even heard of Moissanite yet but Moissanite is becoming more and more popular – even more popular that most people could imagine. There are a lot of people out there sporting Moissanite and passing them off as diamonds. I bet everyone has admired someone’s ring that they were told was a diamond or just assumed it was and no harm in that! It really is undistinguishable from a diamond. More often than not, we get an order from someone who saw a friends Moissanite ring, thought it was a diamond and was stunned that it wasn’t and was even more surprised at the savings.

 

This brings us to the next top question:
How do I know which Moissanite to get? Colorless or Near Colorless?

Well, there is no hard and fast rule but some of the things that I like to keep in mind are: skin tone – is she fair, pale? If so, you may want to go with Near Colorless which has a slight bit of warmth – not noticeable unless you hold it up to the coolness of the Colorless. The coolness of the Colorless gem can make pale skin look too pale. You may also want to go with the Near Colorless if you are choosing a yellow or rose gold which are warm colored metals. Another consideration, if choosing a warm gold color, the gold will reflect on the gem giving it a warmer hue anyway so you can save yourself a little extra money by going with the warmer Near Colorless.

I tend to recommend the Colorless if someone is choosing the white gold, platinum or palladium settings as these metals are cool toned. However, either gem is suitable but if looking for a very cool, bright white, I would definitely go with the Colorless.

If you have any further questions we haven’t answered here, we are always happy to help. You can either email us at info@laraci.com or call us toll free 1-844-452-7224 10AM – 6PM PST

 

Also, please check out our Moissanite Education page
https://www.laraci.com/moissanite-education.php

Our Moissanite Video page
https://www.laraci.com/moissanite.php

Where is the best place to buy a Moissanite engagement ring?

Where’s the best place to buy a Moissanite engagement ring? We asked ourselves the same question when we were searching for our engagement ring.  Surprisingly, it turned out to be a frustrating process, to say the least.  We checked several websites that mentioned Moissanite but it turned out a lot of them  were just using Moissanite as click bait to get people to their diamond site! While a few others had several Moissanite rings but with very limited possibilities when it came to the right size gem and shape or even finger size – nothing customizable.  I finally called around to several jewelry stores until I found one that said they had one Moissanite engagement ring -ONE! That one ring turned out to be beautiful though and I knew that Moissanite was definitely what I wanted! The sales lady was another story, she downplayed the Moissanite harshly.  We were told by her that “we could purchase the Moissanite for now but save up for a diamond”.  Wow! We were  completely stunned that anyone would say such a thing.  I felt like she was trying to intimidate us by trying to humiliate us for not spending more money.  I knew however  after seeing that Moissanite engagement ring, I was definitely going to be getting a Moissanite…but for sure, not from her! This continued to be the general vibe we received from the few other jewelry stores we could find that carried any Moissanite. 

After the snobbish treatment from more than one Jewelry store, I decided I wanted my fiancé to build me a Moissanite website.  After all, for us, the whole reason for not wanting a diamond was for ethical reasons and for sure, we aren’t alone.  I also don’t get the concept of spending outrageous amounts of money on an engagement ring and it really infuriated me (ok, that’s the polite word we’ll use) that people would try to intimidate, basically trying to shame you into spending YOUR money!  Whether you can afford a diamond or not is no one’s business!  It still angers me actually, but it’s that passion that made me believe we could do this, we could become the best place to buy a Moissanite engagement ring! 

I know you are probably thinking that’s a big leap from shopping for a ring to building your own website but I’ll give a little background – My then fiancé Mark used to be in the online diamond jewelry business for several years prior to us being together.   He is also a genius computer programmer/web designer and a brilliant businessman. We both have been self employed for the majority of our adult lives but I was looking for a change after 22 years as a hairstylist.  I  felt passionate about Moissanite, that we could make a difference.  I have a deep concern for our planet and all of it’s inhabitants, I love to help others and I live to be creative!

Fast forward a couple of years and our website is built and the orders are coming in!  Moissanite is really increasing in popularity, especially with the recent creation of the colorless and near colorless Moissanite.  

We expect Moissanite and laraci.com to become synonymous with engagement rings in the very near future and we couldn’t be happier!  

As entrepreneurs we understand that it’s not enough to just have a great product or a great web-site, you also need to have great customer service.  This is where we are setting ourselves apart. As a successful hairstylist for 22 years, I am a good listener, perfectionistic & creative.  Mark has a vast knowledge of this industry and mad design skills! Together  we love what we do, we understand what an honour it is to be a part of such a special time in peoples lives.  I say this all of the time to customers and we hear back that it shows!  Sometimes, it’s as simple as shipping out an order but often times, people really need our guidance to pick out the right ring- this takes great listening skills and an innate knack for picking up on who that person is on the other end of the phone or email.  At the end of the day, it really comes down to “Caring”. Sometimes this takes a lot of emailing or a lengthy phone call/s to help guide them to just the right ring.  We are up to the task! We are so dedicated to customer service that we barely turn our phones off – whether we are at Sunday Brunch or an evening dog walk in the park – if we can take your call, text or email without disturbing others -we do!

It is really gratifying when we receive emails and texts from these guys who aren’t usually gushy but are just so excited, they can’t hardly wait until their fiancé’s ring arrives!  Or the women picking their own rings – the women almost always, immediately, send you a picture!

The one thing we hear over and over is “It’s Beautiful!!!” or “It’s Gorgeous!!!” – I can’t tell you how awesome it is to hear that -especially from the guys who don’t generally talk like that!. We are working really hard to bring our customer’s a top quality product at reasonable prices, with outstanding customer service. So in our minds, laraci.com is the beast place to buy a Moissanite engagement ring!  

Have the Engagement Rings of the Rich & Famous got you coveting?

These fabulously opulent celebrity engagement rings are not within most peoples budgets but they might be within your reach if you were to consider a moissaanite gem instead of a diamond. Quite honestly, we wouldn’t be surprised if there were a number of celebrities wearing moissanite themselves and why not?!

Moissanite is a stunningly beautiful gem and is a fraction of the cost of a diamond. Generally, moissanite is about 1/10th the price of a diamond of equal color and clarity. Even better news is, as the size of the moissanite increases so does the savings margin.

Moissanite has many great attributes, there really isn’t a downside to this beautiful sparkling gem. For us at Laraci Ethical Fine Jewelers Moissanite’s Conflict Free status is always #1 with us but if that isn’t enough to convince you, read on.
Moissanite looks like a diamond and is durable like a diamond which makes it a real viable option for those looking for a diamond alternative. To the average person and to most jewelers, moissanite is hard to pick out in a lineup. Most people pick the moissanite as the diamond because of its sparkle and clarity, thinking that the diamond would  have more sparkle and be clearer, but in fact, most diamonds pale in comparison. We have heard jewelers say over and over that it is easy to tell the difference between a diamond and a moissanite but in our experience this is not actually true. In fact, they have had to come up with a moissanite tester to distinguish moissanite from diamond. This moissanite tester tests the properties (chemical makeup) of a moissanite which does differ from a diamond.

A jeweler may also have you believe that a moissanite has a green hue to it which makes it easy to tell the difference. In the past there was only one manufacturer of moissanite gems (Charles & Colvard) and they did have a greenish hue to their Forever Classic line of gems but those are only available on television shopping channels and department stores selling moissanite. As technology has advanced it has allowed Charles & Colvard to improve the color of their new generation of moissanite gems. Charles & Colvard’s new line of Forever One are available in colorless (D-E-F) and near colorless (G-H-I). It may be of interest to know that the average color of a diamond purchased in North America for an engagement ring would be an H-I with a cost of around $4000-$5000 while a colorless D-E-F moissanite would be approx $735. To match the colourless status of the Forever One moissanite with a D-E-F color diamond you would be shelling out $10,000+. Granted, this is a mere drop in the bucket for some but for many this is inconceivable which is evident by the $5000-$6000 spent for the average engagement ring sold in North America. Unlike moissanite, diamonds prices climb steeply as the size of the stone grows. Diamonds are rarer in larger sizes, making them “more valuable” and far less attainable for anyone other than the uber social elite.

So if you are still craving a celebrity engagement ring it may be in your budget after all! You can save some serious money without sacrificing style – all with the ever important, added bonus of saving the ecology of the planet!!