Meet The Must-Have Gemstone Of The Moment: Moissanite

Precious gems are always in fashion, but in 2025 fine jewelry has hit dazzling new heights. Layered looks rule, and the current trend is heavy on sparkle and shine. The great news is there is a beautiful way to build a glittering collection of statement pieces that are not only incredibly affordable, but an earth-friendly, feel-good option too. Meet today’s hautest trending gemstone, moissanite.

If you love diamonds, you will absolutely adore moissanites. “They have an incredible fire and brilliance, and outshine other gemstones, including diamonds,” explains Justin De Bernardi, co-founder and COO of El&Elle, a stylish handcrafted Canadian jewelry brand focused exclusively on lab-grown moissanite. “Beyond its stunning shine, moissanite is an incredibly durable, hard gemstone which makes it ideal for everyday pieces.”

De Bernardi’s passion for moissanite began a few years back when he and husband Louis De Bernardi (who is the co-founder and CEO of El&Elle) were shopping for engagement rings. The couple couldn’t find anything they felt truly reflected them and their values that wasn’t tied to outdated social norms. 

 “The jewelry and wedding industry sometimes feels like it’s run by a set of rules dictating what your symbol of love should look like,” Justin shares. “We felt there had to be alternatives that aligned with our values without compromising on quality, durability, and shine. We didn’t set out to create a company, but when we couldn’t find anything, we decided to make our own. Moissanite was the perfect fit for our vision.”

The pair also love moissanite is an incredibly sustainable choice. “Lab-grown moissanites require fewer resources, generate minimal waste, and significantly lower environmental impact. With our brand, we strive to minimize our footprint while delivering luxury jewelry you can feel good about wearing. We combat overproduction by crafting all jewelry to order.”

Below, Justin and Louis break down some more specifics about moissanite including what you can expect to pay for pieces, and a few of their favourite engagement ring trends for women and men. — Alison McGill

How are you changing the conversation surrounding moissanite, making it a conscious selection rather than an alternative to diamonds?

“Our goal is to show there are premium choices within the jewelry industry,” Louis says. “We focus on the gemstone’s unique qualities and its positive impact, both environmentally and ethically. By leading with transparency, education, and exceptional craftsmanship, we are helping our customers to see moissanite as choice that stands on its own merit, not just as a diamond substitute.”

Price wise, what can you expect to pay for moissanite jewelry?

“Moissanite tends to be more affordable than some of its counterparts such as diamonds, whether lab-grown or mined,” Louis reports. “However, pricing still varies based on size, cut and quality. Customers shopping for jewelry, regardless of whether it’s moissanite or other gemstones, should be mindful of the exorbitant markups that dominate the traditional jewelry industry, which on average sees markups upwards of 500% or more. With our brand, we are committed to fair pricing. We price our jewelry in a way that closely reflects the costs of materials and production. We’re often asked why our jewelry is priced so ‘low’, what we should be asking as consumers is why everyone else priced so high?”

What styles of engagement rings are you currently loving?

“At El&Elle, we believe jewelry is for everyone and our pieces reflect that,” Justin shares. “We love unique cuts like marquise, which offers an art deco vibe while elongating the finger—a great choice for a smaller carat weight that appears larger. Statement pieces are also here to stay, perfect for stacking. We’re seeing custom requests for bigger stones on some of our classic settings, like the emerald cut, which are now very attainable thanks to moissanite. Our Bubble collection spotlights bezel settings and is also gaining popularity. Men’s jewelry, especially in the engagement and wedding category has traditionally been muted and minimal. We’re challenging that by showcasing men’s rings featuring bold designs and shiny moissanite, styles which have traditionally been reserved for women.”

You can find a wide selection of moissanite gemstones at Moissanite & Co, perfect for creating jewelry that feels both modern and timeless.