How Expensive Is Moissanite? 2026 Prices Compared

Moissanite costs far less than a diamond of the same size. At Mariqe, a 1 carat solitaire ring is $79 and a pair of studs with a 1 carat stone in each earring is $88 (checked 21 September 2026). A loose 1 carat lab-grown diamond costs roughly $670 to $1,500, a natural one roughly $3,550 to $6,000.

What moissanite costs at Mariqe

Mariqe's Eterna range comes in three stone sizes: 1 carat (6.5mm), 2 carat (8mm) and 3 carat (9.1mm). Every stone is D colour, VVS1 clarity and excellent cut, set in 925 sterling silver with platinum or 18k gold plating. The table shows the same three sizes across the range. Mariqe runs sales, so the product page is the final word on today's price.

The carat sizes are per stone, so a pair of studs has one stone of that size in each earring. Each piece includes a GRA certificate and a warranty card. The stone is covered by Mariqe's Lifetime Moissanite Warranty, which covers the stone and not the metal. What a GRA report does and does not tell you is covered in our guide to GRA certificates.

How that compares with diamond

The figures below are for loose stones, so they exclude the setting. The two sources grade differently, which is why their ranges differ.

Lab-grown diamond prices have fallen sharply. Beyond Carat reports that wholesale lab-grown prices dropped 26% in 2025, with the pace of decline slowing to 4.7% in a single quarter, and that a 1 carat stone costing about $4,000 in 2020 now sells for roughly $700 to $1,500. That has narrowed the gap between moissanite and lab-grown diamond, but for a finished piece the gap is still large.

Price is not the only thing that separates them. Diamond has a Mohs hardness of 10 against moissanite's 9.25, and lab-grown diamonds can be graded by GIA or IGI, while GIA does not grade moissanite. If either of those matters more to you than price, a lab-grown diamond is a fair choice.

Moissanite in solid gold costs more

Charles & Colvard, the company that introduced moissanite to the jewellery market in 1998, sells moissanite set in solid gold. Its six-prong round moissanite stud in 14K white gold, listed as 1 carat, is $749, or $599.20 during its current 20% sitewide sale (checked 21 September 2026). Mariqe's studs with a 1 carat stone in each earring are $88 a pair in platinum plated 925 sterling silver.

These are not like-for-like products. The metal is the most obvious difference: 14K gold against plated silver. The two sellers also list carat weight differently, so check whether a listing means each stone or the pair. If solid gold matters to you, that is a real reason to pay more, and Mariqe does not sell solid gold.

Why moissanite prices differ between sellers

• Metal. Solid gold, platinum and plated sterling silver sit at very different price points, and the metal is often the biggest single factor in a finished piece.
• Size. Larger stones cost more. Compare millimetres as well as carats: Mariqe lists 1 carat as 6.5mm, 2 carat as 8mm and 3 carat as 9.1mm.
• Colour and clarity. Nearly all moissanite is sold as D colour and VVS1 clarity, so the grade rarely explains a price gap. Some sellers also offer near-colourless grades.
• Paperwork and terms. Certificates, warranty and returns vary between sellers. A certificate on its own does not add value.
• Discounting. Compare the price you would actually pay, not the crossed-out price.

What a lower price does and does not mean

A lower price does not mean a lesser stone. It usually means a less expensive setting. Plating is a thin layer over the silver and can wear with daily use, which is why our guide to sterling silver with plating versus solid gold sets out the cost over years of wear. None of Mariqe's jewellery is solid gold.

Is moissanite worth the price?

That depends on what you want from it. Moissanite has a refractive index of 2.65 against diamond's 2.42 and a hardness of 9.25 against diamond's 10, so it is bright and hard enough for daily wear. It is not a financial investment, and we do not sell it as one. Buy it to wear.

What this means for you

Decide on the metal first, then the size. If you want the lowest cost of entry, plated silver at 1 or 2 carats is where Mariqe starts, from $79 for a ring and $88 for studs. If you want solid gold, expect to pay considerably more and check the seller's current price yourself. Whichever you choose, compare the final price, the metal in full, the warranty and the returns terms.

Eterna Solitaire Ring

Six-prong round moissanite solitaire in 925 sterling silver with platinum or 18k gold plating. Choose 1, 2 or 3 carat. From $79, with a Lifetime Moissanite Warranty.

See sizes and prices

Frequently asked questions

How much does a 1 carat moissanite ring cost?

At Mariqe, a 1 carat Eterna solitaire ring is $79 in platinum plated 925 sterling silver and $99 in 18k gold plated 925 sterling silver (checked 21 September 2026). Moissanite set in solid gold costs considerably more elsewhere.

Is moissanite cheaper than a lab-grown diamond?

Yes, for a finished piece of the same size. A loose 1 carat lab-grown diamond costs roughly $670 to $1,500 in 2026 before any setting, while a 1 carat Mariqe moissanite solitaire ring costs $79 to $99 including the setting. The gap has narrowed as lab-grown diamond prices have fallen.

Does moissanite hold its value?

Treat moissanite as jewellery to wear, not as an investment. Mariqe does not sell it as one, and we would not advise buying any jewellery on that basis.

What is included in the price of a Mariqe piece?

Each piece comes with a leather box, a gift bag, a GRA certificate and a warranty card, and the stone is covered by Mariqe's Lifetime Moissanite Warranty. The warranty covers the stone, not the metal or plating.