24 Moissanite Engagement Rings for the Eco-Friendly Couple

Moissanite is literally heaven-sent—Henri Moissan, the scientist who first discovered the diamond look-alike, found microscopic particles of the gem in a crater created by a meteor in the late 1800s. At first, he thought he'd stumbled upon space-delivered diamonds, but quickly realized that the sparkly stone was composed of silicone carbide (not carbon, the stuff of diamonds). Though he knew his discovery was a big one, Moissan probably didn't understand then that he'd come across one of the most prevalent diamond engagement ring alternatives of the future.

The moissanite you see today, however, doesn't come from nature (natural moissanite is incredibly rare!). Instead, this gemstone is made in a laboratory, which is why many environmentally conscious couples turn to the stone type when it's time to take that next step. Beyond its eco-friendly qualities, moissanite is also quite beautiful—at first glance, you might say that it's as beautiful as a diamond. In some ways, this is true: Both stones have a bright-white brilliance and score high on the Mohs Scale (a system that measures the hardness, or durability, of gemstones). There are, however, fundamental differences between moissanite and diamonds, the most obvious of which comes down to price.

A moissanite engagement ring will cost you a great deal less than a diamond one; that's what makes the stone a great choice for couples on a budget. They're also an ideal option for the adventurous bride-to-be, who might be worried about damaging an investment piece or looking for a back-up ring to take on her travels. Whether you choose a moissanite engagement ring as your main piece of bling or as a supporting accessory, there are so many beautiful iterations—cast in all metal colorways and cut into every possible shape—on the market.

Charles & Colvard Forever One Moissanite Solitare Engagement Ring, $741.30, charlesandcolvard.com

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Brilliant Earth "Cadenza" Ring, $2,530, brilliantearth.com

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Alexander Sparks "Crystal" Ring, $1,895, alexandersparks.com

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Kristin Coffin "Emerson" Ring, $3,400, kristincoffin.com

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Ice Trends Forever One Moissanite Diamond Art Deco Vintage Ring, $2,025, icetrends.com

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Lauren B. Jewelry Moissanite Pear White Gold Engagement Ring, price upon request, laurenbjewelry.com

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Allurez Cushion-Cut Halo Moissanite and Diamond Engagement Ring, $2,750, allurez.com

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Bario Neal Custom Moissanite Linear Cluster Ring, price upon request, bario-neal.com

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Olive Avenue "Birdy" Ring, $1,685, oliveavejewelry.com

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Andrea Bonelli Marquise Moissanite Tryst Ring, $1,098, andreabonelli.com

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Kobelli Pear Drop Moissanite V-Shape Ring, from $1,165, kobelli.com

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Olive Ave. Jewelry "Addie" Ring, $1,185, oliveavejewelry.com

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Golden Lilo Moissanite Engagement Ring, $2,700, etsy.com

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Brilliant Earth "Estelle" Ring, $4,030, brilliantearth.com

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Lauren B. Jewelry Moissanite Round Two-Tone Engagement Ring, price upon request, laurenbjewelry.com

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Yeefvm Moissanite Engagement Ring, $225, etsy.com

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Charles & Colvard Forever One Moissanite Swirl Bypass Ring, $1,029, charlesandcolvard.com

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Alexander Sparks "Alora" Ring, $2,795, alexandersparks.com

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Kristin Coffin "Estella" Ring, $3,400, kristincoffin.com

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Ice Trends Round Moissanite Engagement Ring, $1,455, icetrends.com

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Bario Neal Custom Moissanite Cluster Ring, price upon request, bario-neal.com

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Allurez Oval Moissanite and Diamond Ring, $2,100, allurez.com

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Andrea Bonelli Carved Moissanite Engagement Ring, $598, andreabonelli.com

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Olive Ave. Jewelry "Nora" Ring, $1,485, oliveavejewelry.com

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